Our hope that we might reach land before the forecast gale hit us proved false and we spent the last afternoon and all night as we approached the Norwegian coast in a rising Force 8.  By the time we made landfall yesterday morning (Tue) we felt as if we’d been through a full wash cycle, a fast spin and then been tumble dried (but without the dry bit!).  The prospect of making landfall on a rock-strewn lee shore in a gale was slightly nerve wracking, but thinking about it proved to be the worst of it and Rosinis behaved herself impeccably as we sailed with just a triple reefed main at 6.5 knots in massive following seas.  Only once did we catch a cockpit full as a wave broke over us, and the only damage we incurred was the loss of our Marchwood Yacht Club burgee at some stage during the night.  Our landfall was Marstein lighthouse at which point we turned dead downwind into Korsfjord and then wound our way through the leads into Bergen, taking another 3-4 hours.  We were passed in the early hours on the way in by a ship identified on AIS as RMS Queen Mary 2, also on its way to Bergen.  It seems to be a major destination/departure point for cruise ships....the place is overrun by Japanese waving selfie sticks!

 

We’re now moored in the old port of Vagen under the famous wooden waterfront buildings right in the heart of the city.  After an excellent sea food meal ashore yesterday evening, which we felt we’d earned, we spent this morning exploring, including a trip up the Floibanen funicular railway to a fabulous viewpoint overlooking the city.  Bergen is reputedly one of the wettest places in Norway and, so far, hasn’t disappointed in that regard: we’ve had continual heavy showers ever since we arrived.  Steve should be arriving from the airport shortly and we plan to be on our way again tomorrow morning, heading for Alesund which is a couple of days’ sail to our north.

 

Photos attached show a view of the fjords we weaved our way through on the way into Bergen, Rosinis moored in the old port, and the view over the city from the top of the Floibanen.  We are moored at the inner end of the closest harbour.