During July, 2008, approximately 95 Cruising Club of America, North American Station of the Royal Scandinavian Yacht Clubs, Irish Cruising Club, Clyde Cruising Club members and guests aboard 17 boats engaged in a cruise of western Norwegian waters and especially the Sognefjord. The cruise was chaired by Dave Tunick of New York who had spent months of preparation. David Brown was Cruise Treasurer.

The cruise began on Saturday, July 12 at Hjellestad Marina near Bergen on the southwestern coast of Norway. Depending on plane schedules, those chartering mostly arrived in Bergen a couple of days before the cruise began and enjoyed the sights of Bergen. Some on their own boats also arrived early.

Ten of the participating boats were chartered. After provisioning and checkout the fleet proceeded about 10 nm to Restaurant Cornelius on Holmen Island. Following drinks and hors d'oeuvres the opening dinner was held at the restaurant.

On Sunday, July 13 (day 2 of the cruise), a skipper's briefing was held and the fleet proceeded to Fedje, an island municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. While there , crews were able to visit the traffic control center for shiping in this area and the North Sea. The view from the control station tower was impressive with the largest oil rig in the world in the far distance. Also of interest was the chain driven ferry across the harbor.

On Monday, July 14 (day 3 of the cruise), the majority of the fleet headed for Balestrand well up the Sognefjord.

On Tuesday, July 15 (day 4 of the cruise), the fleet continued to Mundal onFjaerlandsfjord, the major northern branch of the Sognefjord. At Mundal the cruise participants weretreated at an outstanding reception and dinner at the Hotel Mundal by Ragnar Meyer-Knutsen.

On Wednesday, July 16 (day 5 of the cruise), the group enjoyed a visit to the Glacier Museum followed by a trip to the Jostedalbreen, the largest glacier in Europe.

On Thursday, July 17 (day 6 of the cruise), The fleet returned to Balestrand. In the evening, cocktails and dinner were held in the Kvikne's Hotel.

On Friday, July 18 (day 7 of the cruise) Fleet participants cruised to Solvorn and most caught the ferry across the fjord to Urnes for a visit to the Stave church there.

On Saturday, July 19 (day 8 of the cruise), the fleet assembled at Flam where they took the Flam mountain train (Flamsbana) to Myrdal with a stop at Kjofossen falls.

On Sunday , July 20 (day 9 of the cruise), the cruise participants traveled by bus to Borgund to visit a beautiful Stave church. On return to Flam, a cruise was made to Naeroyfjord, a World Heritage site and a few vessels remained there for the night.

On Monday, July 21 (day 10 of the cruise), the fleet headed for the western entrance of the Sognefjord for an overnight stop.

On Tuesday, July 22 (day 11 of the cruise), the fleet was in transit back to the vicinity of Bergen with several boats stopping at Lamoy/Herdla for an overnight anchorage.

On Wednesday, July 23 (day 12 of the cruise), the fleet headed into Bergen where cocktails and a closing dinner was held at the top of Mount Floien.

On Thursday, July 24 (day 13 of the cruise), the fleet disbanded with the charter boats returning to Hjellestad Marina.

The cruise guidebook for the 2008 Norwegian Fjord Cruise was extremely informative and well done. It was very complete and accurate and greatly assisted those that had not cruised in Norway before. Deluxe printed copies were distributed in the cruise packets which each boat received upon registering at the time of the cruise. A rough copy of the book may also be viewed, if desired, by clicking on the purple button below. It consists of three large pdf files which will entail a lengthy download. The deluxe book itself totals 60 pages and includes the cruise itinerary, destination descriptions, boat and crew listings, brief charts and additional helpful information for the cruise.

Click the above title to download guidebook

"Typical upper Sognefjord view"