The Big Crossing...and Bergen

Days 24 & 25 : Saturday 23rd May through to Sunday 24th May, 2026.

Lerwick, Shetland to Bergen, Norway.

Duration 31.5 hours : Wildlife seen - puffins, fulmars, razorbills, gannets

Up a little earlier than planned (6am) due to an impressive, but noisy, tall ship being pushed into the the dock by a pilot boat right next to us....

...so showered and breakfasted, and then full of anticipation, we took the boat round to fill up on fuel and water....

...where the new crew, practised their rope handling skills and seemed ready for the start of the 200 mile journey ahead...

...so farewell lovely Lerwick...

...and goodbye Scotland...

The land disappeared but the sea state was kind - with waves just over a metre most of the way...

...sails up and motoring at over 6 knots...

...the sun slowly began setting late into the evening...

...and then the night watch began...where Cal and Cesca took the 10pm to 2am shift and the Captain selflessly took the lion's share from just before 2am till 6am... dodging a single buoy adrift far out to sea, and then the series of oil rigs that lay in our path...

...and after 28 hours we could make out a darker edge to the horizon...

and excitedly watched Norway edge closer and closer. The air smelt different, as we navigated our way through the skerries and bridges...

...smiles broadening with unbridled joy (and relief), as we all fully embraced the realization that we had finally made it...

...so now just the last dash to catch the 4.30pm pedestrian swing bridge - sails up, full throttle on...

...and through we went, to squeeze into the last space on the guest pontoon, helped by a friendly local... and tie up and stop in Marinaholmen, Bergen!!

...where the crew looked rather happy to step on Norwegian ground...

After some revitalising showers, we took the twenty minute stroll along beautiful streets..

..into the Bryggen district of Bergen, with its colourful timberclad buildings that line the wharf...

and then on to 'Pingvinen' to have our first, well-earned, taste of Norwegian fare - Reindeer steaks, meatballs and fish pie - all of which were delicious....and then to bed for the best sleep ever - but not before we compared Cal's passage plan with the real thing...which looked surprisingly similar!