Final Few Days – Klaskvik
Another blue sky and sunny day in the Faroes and a beautiful day to sail the last bit to Klasvik. We slept late and had a proper English fry-up breakfast with tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, eggs, beans on toast, and tea. We had the morning to explore the little fishing village of Fuglafjardar. It had a charming harbor, a good sized grocery store, a big old wooden whaling boat with a wooden anchor, a church, and a school. Compared to some of the villages we’ve seen, this one seemed huge.
We had some time after walking around to learn about celestial navigation. It was all about using the sun and other sights to figure out your position on earth. It was just a quick overview, but it was fascinating.
We had quick lunch of soup, sandwiches, and salad and then prepared the ship to sail out. We’ve all got the process down now and know what all needs to be done. We work well together, and it amazes me how quickly we all just fall into the groove.
We only had to sail around a little cove, but we took our time and spent a few hours sailing back and forth tacking into the wind. Since it was our last day, we all wanted to make the most of it, especially since we had a strong wind and it was a sunny day. We had a few boats zip around to check us out, and a rowing team slow down long enough to take a good long look. It’s been fun to be the sight to see when we pull into an area.
We finally sailed into the little Klaskvik port and pulled the sails down for the final time. We folded them and put them into their bags to store for a few days until the next crew joins the boat on Monday. This is where it felt like the trip was truly coming to an end.
We all showered and went out to find dinner for our last night together as a group. There wasn’t a lot to choose from, but we found a steakhouse, which was a little odd since there aren’t any cows on the islands, but most of us had the Faroese salmon. It was a wonderful way to spend our last night with the group. The conversation was light and easy as we shared our favorite moments from the trip.
The next morning we packed up our duffel bags, deep cleaned the inside and outside of the boat, and said our goodbyes to those who were off to catch their flights. A few of us had a day or two in Klasvik before making our way home. I said some temporary goodbyes to the captain and first mate and made my way to the charming little Airbnb I was staying in for a few days.
My last few days in the Faroes were spent doing laundry, sleeping, exploring the quiet, but lovely town of Klaskvik and meeting up with my new friends for dinners.
On my final day, the sun came out, and I went for a walk to soak in every last moment and enjoy the views. I met up with a few people from the boat, and we hiked up the side of one of the hills bordering Klaksvik and enjoyed a dazzling view of the second largest town (5,000 people) in the Faroes.
We decided to walk just a little further and see the other side and saw where we had sailed from a few nights ago. We were rewarded with some beautiful, misty, sunny, magical views. It was a special way to spend my last night in the Faroe Islands.
So another epic adventure has come and gone. Sometimes I don’t even feel like these experiences are real. So much happens in such a small amount of time and I learn lessons that I reflect on for years.
Trip Highlights:
- Not getting crazy sea sick for days on end.
- Being able to do many of the sailing tasks that I’d never been able to do on the last trip because I was too seasick. For example, sweating (pulling) the mainsail up the mast, climbing up the mast a short way up and hanking (attaching) the mainsail to the halyard (rope) that pulled it up the mast, driving the boat off the pontoon and out of the harbor and getting down into the rope locker to put away or hand up the various items needed.
- Having a lot of little things about sailing start to make sense. The dots are all starting to connect and it makes me want to keep learning.
- Hiking on the island of Mykines and seeing up close and personal hundreds of puffins. I’m not a bird person, but something about standing in the midst of all of these beautiful birds circling the air above and then come in for a landing just feet from you and not even care that you’re there…I was and am still in awe at that experience.
- Being able to see and catch up with two of my dear crew mates from my last trip.
- Did I mention not getting crazy, “donate my organs to the sea gods” seasick? 🙂
Lessons Learned or Relearned:
- Life is better when you live in the moment and when you are present.
- Living life in the moment and at a slower pace makes it easier to see tender mercies, the beauty that surrounds us, and the gift that life and this world truly is.
- It’s possible to sail without getting sea sick, who knew!?
- That opposition in all things is a good thing, specifically nighttime and that I miss the stars when I can’t see them.
- That there are so many kind and wonderful people in this world and it’s worth stepping outside your comfort bubble to get to know them or at least saying hi. You never know, they may become a new friend.
- Off the beaten path places and adventures are my favorite.
- Life might just be too short to spend writing emails and attending meetings.
- To get back on that horse…even if it’s a rocking and rolling sailboat in the middle of the Atlantic that can cause severe sea sickness and the desire to die. It’s worth seeing and experiencing what’s on the other side.
It was an awe-inspiring adventure with some unforgettable experiences. Thanks for reading and letting me share a few of them with you. I’m hoping there was something that made you smile or spark your imagination.
So until the next adventure, wishing all of you sunny skies, your own adventures – big or small, a moment to slow down and live in the present, and to see, to truly see the beauty that surrounds all of us.
For more details on what gear I brought, my accommodation, public transportation while in Iceland and the Faroe Islands and travel insurance recommendations, check out the Packing and Logistics part of this trip.
How to Take This Trip
To take your own sailing adventure to the Faroes Islands or another exotic location, I would recommend checking out the company I went with, Rubicon3. This is now the second trip I’ve been on with them and I absolutely love their adventures! I have not been compensated to recommend them, it’s just an honest opinion. If you’re looking for unique adventures, small groups, breathtaking locations, off-the-beaten path trips, are open to learning new things and meeting wonderful people, it’s definitely worth exploring.
Questions about the trip?
If you have any questions about the trip, the boat, the gear, the flights, or the Faroe Islands, please feel free to reach out. You can leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer. Thanks!