Another scenic tour along the Vestland and passing Statt

South Pacific Familyadventure 2008
Claes Brodin
Mon 17 Jun 2019 16:59
We left Hardbacke before sunset bound for Ålesund 125Nm further north. This leg is very scenic passing through the archipelago with loads of islands,narrow straits,fiords and snowdressed mountains in the east. Allthough the sun still sets below the horizon (not after passing the polar circle 450Nm further north) it´s never really dark.
Only problem is the infamous Statt.
Statt is a peninsula with as bad reputation as Lindesnes (the south tip of Norway) or worse. So many ships have ended their days in the vicinity of Statt and still today Statt causes problems for shipping. A combination of currents,frequent gales,and continental shelf creates steep and dangerous waves and Norwegian authorities have now finally decided to build the worlds first ship tunnel through the neck of the Statt peninsula !
Our timing coordinated with the Norwegian shipping forecast was perfect though(Norwegian weather for mariners is just excellent on yr.no), passing Statt early morning in calm waters,well aware of an expected gale in the evening.On the last picture below, Statt doesn´t look very much to the world.
Thank´s to a northsetting current we maintained a speed all time over 7kts and made landfall in Ålesund a couple of hours before e.t.a,just after lunch.

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