--- title: "From the field — Arctic sailing journal | Boreal Yachting" url: https://boreal-yachting.com/journal description: "A field publication on Arctic sailing: voyage accounts, expedition reports, crew notes and reference articles on light, weather and wildlife in the North." lang: en --- Skip to content Journal # From the field The Boreal Yachting Journal is a field publication written from the boats and the base in Tromsø: voyage accounts, structured reports from named expeditions, short crew notes, and reference articles on how the Arctic works. It is published by an AECO member that has sailed Northern Norway and Svalbard since 2003. The Journal is not a marketing blog. It is a field publication. The point is to be the most useful and best-informed source on Arctic sailing in this region. ## Filter by stream Stories: https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/stories — First-hand voyage accounts, written by crew and guides. Expedition reports: https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/expedition-reports — Structured reports from named voyages: route, anchorages, weather, wildlife. Crew notes: https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/crew-notes — Shorter pieces from the team. Arctic knowledge: https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/arctic-knowledge — Authority articles on specific topics: light, weather, wildlife, regulation. Expedition reports ## 10 Days from Tromsø to Lofoten Tromsø to Lofoten is roughly 200 nautical miles of coast, normally sailed in ten days. The route runs south through Kvaløya, Senja and Vesterålen before crossing to Lofoten, with sheltered inside passages available in most weather. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/tromso-to-lofoten Expedition reports ## One week sailing and trekking in Lofoten A week of sailing and trekking in Lofoten pairs short passages between fishing villages with walks that start at the waterline. The boat carries the group to trailheads with no road, and the season runs from June to September under near-continuous daylight in midsummer. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/sailing-trekking-lofoten Expedition reports ## One week sailing and trekking on Senja Senja is Norway's second-largest island, with a west coast of steep granite ridges and few roads. A week aboard reaches the outer bays by sea and walks from the anchorage, which is the only practical way to link several of these ridges in one trip. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/sailing-trekking-senja Expedition reports ## Two weeks to Liefdefjorden: deep into Svalbard Liefdefjorden lies on the north coast of Spitsbergen, above 79°N, and needs about two weeks from Longyearbyen. The fjord ends at Monacobreen, a tidewater glacier several kilometres wide. Reaching it depends on the ice edge, which varies each season. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/liefdefjorden-svalbard Expedition reports ## One week from Tromsø: Senja, Lyngen and beyond A week from Tromsø normally covers Kvaløya, the Lyngen fjords and the eastern side of Senja without long open-water passages. Distances are short enough that a day's plan can change with the forecast and still reach an anchorage before evening. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/one-week-tromso Crew notes ## Plan your route: sailing suggestions for Northern Norway Route planning in Northern Norway is mostly about tide, wind direction and how far you are willing to sail in a day. This note sets out realistic distances from Tromsø, the sheltered inside passages, and which legs to keep flexible. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/plan-your-route Expedition reports ## One week sailing and trekking: Tromsø and Lyngen Alps A week between Tromsø and the Lyngen Alps combines short passages with daily walks from the anchorage. Lyngen holds peaks above 1,500 metres within a few kilometres of the water, so the boat replaces both the road and the car park. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/one-week-sailing-and-trekking-around-tromso-and-lyngen-alps Arctic knowledge ## Aurora borealis: how the northern lights form The aurora borealis is caused by charged particles from the sun striking gases in the upper atmosphere. Green comes from oxygen at around 100 to 300 kilometres. Tromsø sits under the auroral oval at 69.6°N, and the viewing season runs from late September to late March. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/aurora-borealis Arctic knowledge ## The Arctic climate: what to expect The coast of Northern Norway is warmed by the Norwegian Atlantic Current, so the sea stays ice-free all year despite lying above the Arctic Circle. Summer air is usually 8 to 15°C and winter around freezing at the coast, with weather that changes within hours. https://boreal-yachting.com/journal/arctic-climate ## Start planning your Arctic journey. Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you within two working days with a considered answer — not a template. Speak to us directly: https://boreal-yachting.com/contact Cookies on this site We use essential cookies to run the site. Analytics cookies stay off unless you accept them. 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