A Viking Saga

Voyage Highlights

• Visiting the unspoilt remote Faroe Islands
• Wildlife and Wilderness
• Ocean Sailing
• Dramatic Scottish Highland landscapes
• The rugged wilderness of the Westfjords

Life on a sailing voyage

On a sailing voyage we never use the word itinerary, as skippers will always be aiming for the best sailing and shore landings for the forecast and most idyllic or sheltered anchors and ports. They are as keen as you to include some of the highlights describe, but you have to go with Mother Nature, not fight her. The description below is based on what we think might be possible, based on past trips, or experience, but nothing is guaranteed on a sailing voyage. If the following voyage description is not fulfilled for any reason, Maybe Sailing and Maybe Sailing Youth Initiative cannot be held responsible.

Ullapool

Your adventure begins in Ullapool, a town in the remote mainland highlands..  When you arrive in Ullapool you just know you’re about to begin an unforgettable adventure.  The harbour town is the portal to discovering a dramatic highland landscape, rich in its natural and historical heritage.  As we leave this Highland treasure, you’ll discover an ever-changing terrain of mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches.  When it comes to heart-achingly beautiful scenery, the highlands of Scotland deliver.

The Faroes

Adrift in the whirling rhythmic North Atlantic Sea, a different world lingers. An idyllic escape, peacefully set among lush green valleys, imposing basalt cliffs, grand treeless moorlands and waterfalls plunging directly into the wind whipped ocean.  Unfathomable beauty mysteriously tucked away like a figment of a child’s imagination.  There will be opportunities to go ashore and visit these unspoilt islands, often referred to as Europe’s best kept secret!

We will visit Torshavn, the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands.  Torshavn is in the southern part on the the east coast of Streymoy.  To the northwest of the city lies the 347 metre high mountain Husareyn, and to the southwest, the 350 metre high Kirkjuboreyn.  They are separated by the Sanda River.  There will be time to explore the city, admiring the old town with it’s turf roofed houses and winding little streets.  There will also be the option to visit Kirkjobour, the oldest know settlement of the Faroes, dating back to Irish monks who had settled here before the age of the vikings.  The settlement has a white church perched by the sea, in a remote and moody setting.  There is also an 1100 year old house there, which is still inhabited, and still has some of its original timbers!

We leave Torshavn and head through Hestfjordur past the islands of Koltur and Hester before entering the famous Vestmanna Sound to view the famous bird cliffs.  These cliffs provide safe nesting places during the summer months for thousands of sea birds such as puffins, razorbills, guillemots and fulmars.  We will spend the night in the township of Vestmanna before our passage to Iceland.

Leaving the Faroes we begin our passage to Iceland, 600 NM across the North Atlantic Ocean,  a 5 day ocean passage. Keep your eyes peeled for Whales and enjoy this taste of ocean sailing.

Iceland

Magnificent scenery, clarity of light and the raw power of nature make Iceland a truly amazing place to visit.  Immerse yourself in ethereal panoramic landscapes and breathe in the pure mountain air of this unspoiled land. Watch waterfalls cascade from the rugged cliffs and spend hours watching the Whales and Dolphins, from the deck.

We arrive in the town of Heimaey, on Vestmannaeyjer (Westman Island), our first stop in Iceland.  With a day to explore the island, there will be the opportunity to climb to the top of Eldfell, a volcano that erupted in 1973, covering one third of the town in volcanic debris.  Another option is to walk to the South side of the Island to view the nesting birds from above

From Vestmannaeyjer we make our journey towards the Westfjords.  Like giant lobster claws snipping away at the Arctic Circle, the Westfjords is where Iceland’s dramatic landscapes come to a riveting climax.  The opportunity to anchor in fjords along the way will depend on the weather and wind conditions as we make our journey North.

Isafjordur

Our final destination on this epic adventure is Isafjordur, a hub of activity in the Westfords and by far the area’s largest town.  Isafjordour is a pleasant and prosperous place and an excellent base for those who want to explore Iceland on foot after the sailing adventure.  The town is hemmed in on all sides by towering peaks and the eerily dark wates of the fjord.  You can take a bus, along the winding roads to Reykjavik or a scenic flight from Isafjordur to Reykjavik.  The real charm and character of this town is it’s remote location and surprising urbane attitude.

What is included in the voyage cost:

• All meals on board Blue Clipper – including daily breakfast, lunch and evening meal
• Refreshments throughout the day
• Use of safety equipment
• Accommodation in a twin en suite cabin
• All instruction and lectures on board by fully qualified crew

What is not included:

• Travel to and from the boat
• Personal travel insurance. Check out Top Sail for specialist Tall Ship sailing travel insurance
• Alcoholic and soft drinks
• Any shore excursions and meals on shore (unless otherwise stated)
• VISA fees