Forbundet KYSTEN’s landsstevnet 2024, Bodø.
What better for the organisers than bright sunshine, clear blue skies and summer temperatures on opening day. Must have been most encouraging after all the effort and time the members of local club “Salta” had put in to make the arrangement a success.
The inner harbour before the influx of those partaking. The outer harbour. Fresh prawns from the trawler make a good brunch.
Second attempt, hopefully not erased…….
Things really got started later on thursday with several teens of boats arriving in an enormous flotilla. Sail, motor and steam. Steam? Yes one, which made its presence (smelled) apparent.
Vessels large and small, all representing traditional usage and craftmanship. All looked after by enthusiastic volunteers. Fortunately there was a gentle SW breeze, which meant that the sailing boats could show off a little.
Large numbers of people had come out to the mound at the end of the jetty to enjoy the sight. A small pity that this was the only day without bright sunshine.
Then (most of) the boats congregated in the inner harbour:
I imagine the local fire-prevention chief was on holiday.
The static displays were all on the theme of tradition; boat building, rope making, smithying, wood carving, farming in the North, fish drying, fish smoking, local food, food from seaweed, stone-age food, clothing, and more….My eye got caught by (only the lower boards) the amazing and beautiful shape of a model of a coastal sailing freighter, to be built full size later when funding is secured. These boatbuilders knew what they were doing, all without drawings and specifications, by experience over generations.
And there were many interesting lectures and talks, of which maybe the most interesting and disturbing was one by Julia Olsen of Nordlandsforskning, (University North), about the Arctic Sea area, its development over recent years; ice cover changes, fishing, tourist activity, industry, shipping routes, effect of global warming and its contribution. It is predicted that the Arctic Sea will be ice-free in the late summer of 2050, thus contributing exponentially to global warming. Disturbing!
On friday there was a regatta, again blessed with a gentle SW breeze, which blows the right way for sailing in this fjord. Large variation is size and sailing ability, which spread the fleet quickly and made photo taking difficult.
The fleet was effectively dispursed toward the end by two cargo ships arriving and barging their way.
The Event culminated in the Grand Dinner; More welcomings, speeches, prizes giving and taking with thankyous, songs, play acting, and above all, happyhubbubb.
I had earlier found a clinic to update my hearing aids, but even then my hearing couldn’t understand. Pity, as there were obviously many good stories told.
The menu was of course of local specialities: Starter, a very tasty variant of smoked salmon. Main, a way of presenting resusticated dried cod which must be an acquired taste. Desert, a cloudberry something, very tasty.
I left before the end, as the noise had risen to a level shown as “dangerous” on my apple watch, and it was very wearying.
Lovely evening sky just after sunset on the way back to Josin at a quarter to eleven:
Suitable pic for me to end a most enjoyable Event.
Next morning, sunday, early, weather and wind perfect for southbound sailing, so I managed to get away at 7, and that was after breakfast!
Another blog about that, later.
Alls well
SouthboundJohn
Josin's 2025 cruise 