Norwegian Fjords on Leader

Voyage Number	L-090725
Voyage price	£650
Voyage Dates	25/07/2009 - 19:00 - 31/07/2009 - 13:00
Depart from	Bergen
Finishing Port	Bergen
Voyage area	Norway
Voyage type	Sailing Holidays
Vessel	Leader
Availability	Available
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Voyage Description

Hardanger Fjord in Norway

This summer, Leader will again be spending three weeks sailing in the famous fjord region of Norway. From her base in Bergen, the gateway to the fjords, there will be plenty of time to explore the region during one of three six-night voyages.

Situated where the sea and mountains meet, the charming and traditional city of Bergen is the gateway to the fjord region, and the fjords in this area are many and varied.

The World Heritage listed fjords were formed in the last ice age by glaciers gouging their way through mountain ranges to the sea. The largest and most famous are the Sogne and Hardanger fjords with their numerous tributaries and Bergen is situated between the two.

The contrasts between the fjords and the mountains are best appreciated at water level and what better way to visit these ancient sites than on an historic vessel.

There will be plenty of time to go ashore and explore both Bergen and the surrounding coastal villages and we would aim to arrive at a new place each evening after the day's sailing.
 

Hardanger Fjord Norway

Leader in Norway  

Cheap flights into Bergen arrive late on Friday evenings; we can put you up overnight on Leader for the official start of your voyage at 7pm on the Saturday. You will be asked to leave Leader in the morning whilst the ship is cleaned and provisioned for your Fjord voyage. Bergen has good Museums and plenty of cultural entertainment so regard the extra day as a good opportunity to explore this historic port.

Day One

After you have joined Leader you will be shown around the boat by the crew and there will be safety briefing before you get under way.
If you go north towards Hardanger Fjord and the other attractions in that direction is dependent on the weather and the skipper’s judgment of what is best. It could be you head South to towards the Songe Fjord.

Day 2 – 5
You will be sailing from one scenic fjord to another and having time to explore ashore and sample the local food and culture. It is very expensive to eat out in Norway so be grateful that you can take all your meals on the Leader who has her own cook.

Day 6
You will be back in Bergen in good time to make your connections.

Bergen is easy to get to, from the rest of Norway and from abroad. Thanks to direct flights from London, you only need to change planes once to reach Bergen from far-away destinations. You can also take direct sea routes from Denmark and Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England, as well as from the Faeroe Islands, Iceland and Shetland. Scandinavian Airlines (www.flysas.com) and Norwegian (www.norwegian.no) both fly from the UK to Bergen.

Cheap Fights

How to get to the harbour from the airport: Domestic air connections are very good, from thelocal airport Flesland.Airport Bus: The Airport Bus has frequent departures to and from Bergen Airport Flesland and is a comfortable way of travelling that takes you all the way to the city centre. Connections between ordinary passenger services and the Airport Bus are available at a reasonable price. For departure times please see www.flybussen.no. Taxi: Bergen Taxi Company: (+47) 55 99 70 00 www.bergentaxi.no Taxi 1: (+47) 55 50 00 37 www.taxi1.no

How to get to the harbour from the railway station:

Norwegian State Railways (NSB) runs an extensive network of services and the train station is situated just a 10 minute walk from the harbour. There is also a free bus ride on bus no. 100 from Olav Kyrresgate (near the Post Office) to the Bus Station and the Railway Station, as well as from outside the Bus Station that brings you down to the harbour.

How to get to the harbour from the bus station:

The bus station is situated just a 10 minute walk from the harbour. There is also a free bus ride on bus no. 100 from Olav Kyrresgate (near the Post Office) to the Bus Station and the Railway Station, as well as from outside the Bus Station that brings you down to the harbour.

Bergen is easy to get to, from the rest of Norway and from abroad. Thanks to direct flights from London, you only need to change planes once to reach Bergen from far-away destinations. You can also take direct sea routes from Denmark and Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England, as well as from the Faeroe Islands, Iceland and Shetland. Scandinavian Airlines (www.flysas.com) and Norwegian (www.norwegian.no) both fly from the UK to Bergen.

Cheap Fights

How to get to the harbour from the airport: Domestic air connections are very good, from thelocal airport Flesland.Airport Bus: The Airport Bus has frequent departures to and from Bergen Airport Flesland and is a comfortable way of travelling that takes you all the way to the city centre. Connections between ordinary passenger services and the Airport Bus are available at a reasonable price. For departure times please see www.flybussen.no. Taxi: Bergen Taxi Company: (+47) 55 99 70 00 www.bergentaxi.no Taxi 1: (+47) 55 50 00 37 www.taxi1.no

How to get to the harbour from the railway station:

Norwegian State Railways (NSB) runs an extensive network of services and the train station is situated just a 10 minute walk from the harbour. There is also a free bus ride on bus no. 100 from Olav Kyrresgate (near the Post Office) to the Bus Station and the Railway Station, as well as from outside the Bus Station that brings you down to the harbour.

How to get to the harbour from the bus station:

The bus station is situated just a 10 minute walk from the harbour. There is also a free bus ride on bus no. 100 from Olav Kyrresgate (near the Post Office) to the Bus Station and the Railway Station, as well as from outside the Bus Station that brings you down to the harbour.

Leader is a former Brixham sailing trawler, one of the largest of her type ever built in 1892 at the boatyard of A. W. Gibbs in Galmpton on the river Dart. She fished in UK waters until 1907, when she was sold to new owners in Scandinavia. She remained there as a working vessel until the 1960's, when she became a sail training vessel under the flag of the Swedish Cruising Club. In 1985, she was taken to the West coast of Scotland, where she was used for sailing charter holidays.

In 1996 she was brought home to South Devon, and operated from Dartmouth until 1999, when she returned to Brixham.

Leader is rigged as she would have been when first built, as a gaff ketch. She is 80' long on deck, and 105' overall. She displaces about 110 tonnes in sailing trim. She has a beam of 19'6" and a draft of 10'.

Down below, Leader has been fitted out for her modern role. She has accommodation for twelve guests and five crew, a large saloon area, a galley with a large, gas cooker, two heads, two hot showers, and a generator that supplies a ring main with 240v electricity. She has a well equipped nav. station with modern navigation equipment including Radar, GPS and DSC VHF Radio.

Leader was one of the largest of the sailing trawlers, known, despite their Ketch rig, as the 'Big Sloops'.

The Rig

Leader is rigged now just as she was when she fished under sail, over 100 years ago. She has a 'Gaff Rig', indicating that the Main and Mizzen sails are hoisted using a 'gaff', a spar attached to their upper side. The Ketch rig (two masts) was used to divide up the sail area, making each sail easier to handle by a small crew. The large number of sails (up to eight) makes it easy to 'change gear' by hoisting or lowering sails as required, depending upon the strength of the wind.

The Ketch rig is very versatile; good in light winds, when extra sails can be set (such as flying jib and mizzen staysail), good in heavy winds (she can sail under mizzen and staysail alone) and good for manoeuvring (the mizzen can be used to help to balance and turn the boat).