Catégorie : Svalbard 2017

Même s’il est ambitieux, il nous servira de fil rouge que nous adapterons comme chaque année en fonction des conditions et des envies.

Les informations sur les différents mouillages proviennent du « Cruising Guide de Phyllis Nickel & John Harries » édité en 3 volumes. Une véritable mine d’or pour tout navigateur amoureux des côtes norvégiennes.

Site web : ici

images puisées en partie sur Google Earth

Part I

Longyearbyen

78°14’ N, 15°38’ E

This place was once a coal town but now there is just one active mine nearby that produces coal for the power plantown, with a population around 1500, remains the Norwegian administrative centre for Svalbard, and increasingly a tourist destination.

Although some visitors describe the town as unattractive, others are quite enthusiastic (the scene from the anchorage is rather industrial, but once ashore, much nicer) the town is expanding substantially; to the point that it has displaced Tromsö as the site of the world N-most university.

Anchorages, Moorings

There are two floating pontoons for visiting boats, which are often full, necessitating rafting several boats deep (250kr/24hrs). Note that cruise ships using the large concrete dock may block access to the N floating dock with their mooring lines; ask the harbourmaster (VHF Ch 12) for arrival and departure times so that you dont get blocked in. If there is no room at the pontoons, anchorage is available between the dock and towhe Coal Quay to the NW although the bottom shelves  off steeply and the holding is very poor.  The concrete quay is reserved for cargo vessels and cruise ships.

Things To Do

There is a church, various shops, restaurants and pubs, a hotel, an excellent museum, a Sunday evening cinema, a swimming pool at the school, automobile rental, and bicycles and windsurfers for hire. Info-Svalbard is the Tourist Information office at which arrangements can be made for tours in the area. Norsk Polarinstitutt sells a variety of maps and aerial photographs.

1. Poolepynten

78°27.1’ N, 11°47.8’ E  –  64 NM

There is a walrus colony on the point.

Anchorages, Moorings

It is possible to anchor just NW of the point in settled weather.

Things To Do

You can go ashore just W of the point and walk along the beach to visit the walrus colony. Never forget that these are wild animals so do not approach too closely. Also, it is important not to disturb the walrus in any way, though their smell will probably be enough to keep you from getting too close.

2.  Blomstrandhamna (Kongsfjorden)

78°59.6’ N, 12°04.2’ E  –  52 NM

This anchorage may offer shelter in conditions that make Ny Ålesund or Peirsonhamna unsuitable, but it is often full of ice.Beware the 1 m shoal Austnesbåen, .2 nm SE of Austneset. Breøyane and Guissezholmen are both Bird Sanctuaries which must not be approached closer than 300 m between May 15th and August 15th.

Anchorages, Moorings

It is possible to anchor in the entrance, particularly to the N, with some shelter from ice. It is also possible to anchor in Nordvågen and Sørvågen and also along Kongsfjordletta NW toward Kapp Guissez. There is often a trekking tent camp in the area.

Things To Do

The glacier has retreated making Blomstrandhalvøya (peninsula) an island, which it is now possible to circumnavigate.

3. Trinityhamna (S Magdelenefjordenz

79°33.6’ N, 11°03.5’ E  –  53 NM

The fine scenery in Magdelenefjorden makes it a prime target for cruise ships. On some days there may be several cruise ships in the fjord, some disembarking hundreds of passengers. The Sysselmann often has a patrol stationed in the nearby hut. The Waggonway glacier, at the head of Magdelenefjorden, calves off a lot of ice, which in E winds can block the fjord and fill the anchorage with ice. Note that the tidal stream runs strongly off Magdelenehuken, N on the flood.

Anchorages, Moorings

This delightful anchorage has a substantial area of sand, 4 to 5 m depth, behind an enclosing sheltering spit (Gravneset). The holding on the W side of the spit is steep and stony and not good. Passage is safe S of Donkerholmane and landing ashore is easy.

Things To Do

There is a monument and grave sites nearby. The graves on Gravneset are usually fenced off during the summer months. At the NE corner of the fjord, there is a colony of little auks believed to number over 200,000.

4. Virgohamna (N Danskøya)

79°43.3’ N, 10°56’ E – 16 NM

You must get a special permit from the Sysselmann to visit Virgohamna, but it is well worth the effort since the site contains the amazingly well preserved and extensive remains of the Andrée balloon and Wellman zeppelin launches. There are also remains from whaling.

Anchorages, Moorings

There is anchorage in 10 m depth to the W of the small island Æøya in kelp. The innermost little cove is very shallow.

Things To Do

Go ashore and wander around what can only be described as a museum in the rough. Take nothing and be very careful to observe the restrictions that will be detailed in your permit from the Sysselmann.

5. Ytre Norskøya (Nordvestøyane)

79°51.2’ N, 11°38.4’ E – 16

NM Note that part of the S shore of Ytre Norskøya is protected as a natural heritage site and landing is not allowed. A map detailing the off bounds area is available from the Sysselmann in Longyearbyen.

Anchorages, Moorings

This pleasant cove, open to the E, offers good shelter in SW winds.

Things To Do

This island is especially fine for hiking, with reindeer, foxes, many grave-sites at the SW, and a large bird colony to the N.

 

Part II

6. Krokvika (N Liefdefjorden)

79°41.8’ N, 13°42’ E – 42 NM

Anchorages, Moorings

There is more depth than charted in this excellent very sheltered anchorage in the cove inside the crook of the spit. There is a large anchoring area in 3 to 4 m with good holding.

Things To Do

There is good hiking to see reindeer, foxes and perhaps polar bears.

7. Hornbækpollen (SW Liefdefjorden)

79°36.3’ N, 12°39.9’ E – 18 NM

Anchorages, Moorings

This is an especially well-sheltered and beautiful anchorage. The anchoring shelves are not very wide, it is 20 m deep in the centre, and some of the bottom is very soft mud, so care is required to get secure holding.An excellent anchorage has been reported in Lernerøyane S of Hornbækpollen.

Things To Do

There is good hiking and a glacier close by. A short easy scramble up to the top of the moraine shelf at the N side of the anchorage, below the large kittiwake colony, will put you in the midst of extensive fox territory. Texas Bar is an old trapper’s hut 2 kms NE of the anchorage. The cabin is in regular use and is well kept. It is unlocked and could be useful in an emergency.

8. Vulkanhamna (E Bockfjorden)

79°28’ N, 13°25’ E – 19 NM

Anchorages, Moorings

This anchorage is across Bockfjorden from Jotunkjeldane, an area of hot spring activity and off which it may be possible to anchor temporarily in fine weather.

Things To Do

There are two (cool) hot springs at Jotunkjeldane, not far from an extinct volcano cone, with warmer springs a very meandering 7 km SSE (there are several streams to be waded along the way—high boots needed) at Trolkjeldene, 79°23.3’ N, 13°28.5’ E (shown on Blad B5 of the 1:100,000 topographic maps).

9. Mosselbukta (NE Wijdefjorden)

79°52.8’ N, 16°03’ E – 48 NM

This anchorage was used by whalers.

Approaches

Den Norske Los suggests you keep a good distance off the N shore on entry. Identify Polhemøya (the island with the remains of Norden-skiøld’s overwintering house “Polhem”) and the two islets just to the W of Polhemøya. Pass to the S of the islets on entry.

Anchorages, Moorings

If depths permit, good protection can be found in Polhemhamna, the bay to the E of Polhemøya, or it may also be possible for smaller vessels to anchor between Polhemøya and the islets, in 4 to 6 m depth. The given waypoint is about .5 nm outside the unnavigable lagoon (Mossellaguna) and offers better protection in W winds than might be supposed. Anchor in 13 m depth.

Things To Do

It is interesting to visit the ruins from the 1872 over-wintering expedition of 67 men led by Nordenskiøld. There is also a trapper’s hut (Polheimhytta) nearby.

10. Alicehamna (SE Raudfjorden)

79°44’ N, 12°14’ E – 75 NM

Approaches

Note Svalisbåen, depth 1 m, to the W of Alicehamna.

Anchorages, Moorings

This is a fine anchorage except in S winds, when lying NE of Bruceneset is preferable because of ice calving from the Raudfjord glacier.

Things To Do

You can visit the old trapper’s hut (Raudfjordhytta), now in some state of disrepair. There is an old grave next to the cabin and another grave by the cairn on top of Bruceneset. There is especially fine hiking along the lakes to the NNE.

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