Sail still hoisted, approaching Bergen. Photo: Ina Schjøtt Brackman.

The unmistakable profile of the trimaran as it enters Bergen harbour.

It was a beautiful evening as we sailed under the suspension bridge that connects the mainland to Askøy, a large island just to the west of Bergen, and we continued slowly to the “City of Seven Mountains”, which has a magnificent approach from the sea. The calm waters of the harbour reflected a violet and blue sky.

Just before 22.00, we moored our trimaran to the side of another sailing boat – space is at a premium in the harbour that is the heart of Bergen. Now I’m going to have a quiet dinner with my son Max, who is returning to Oslo.

We’ll be on our way again a bit past midnight. The gentle wind makes for perfect sailing, and we see no reason to wait. Our next port of call is Ålesund, yet another coastal town with a rich and colourful history; more about that later. I expect our journey to take slightly more than 24 hours.

Børge and his son Max enjoyed a few hours in Bergen, before parting ways for now. Behind them can be seen the wind generator, which provides the power needed on board.

Børge and Thorleif during a relaxed moment in Bergen. Photo: Ina Schjøtt Brackman.

Leaving Bergen by night.

It’s a beautiful morning – at least so far. We’re just south of Stord, one of the largest islands in Western Norway. Our plan is to sail in sheltered waters up the island’s eastern shore.

The green arrow on the map on this link shows our position at 06.15.

Good coffee is essential, especially in the morning. Short of the boat actually capsizing, there is no chance of heavy seas throwing the kettle off this stove!