Contributions by John Lancaster-Smith

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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We've spent 3 nights here during SW F7-8. The harbour has occasional gusts but otherwise is great.
Good facilities, included in overnight berthing fee and open 24hrs.
The hotel/pub is open again under new ownership and is worth a visit.
The new fuel dock (next yo the nearby Joker store) has both gasoline & diesel (the cheapest I've seen in Norway this year).
Marina payment via GoMarina keeps it easy for us that cannot use VIPPS :-)

3 x helpful | written on 29. Jun 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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30m pier with approx 4m depth.
Water is not drinking water.
Berthing inside guest pontoon recommended due wash from passing ships.
Payment by VIPPS or bank transfer. Account number published on dock, proceed with NO40 for IBAN.
Mordal Båthåvn
A useful stop

2 x helpful | written on 10. Jul 2024

John Lancaster-Smith says:

area

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We've spent 3 nights here during SW F7-8. The harbour has occasional gusts but otherwise is great.
Good facilities, included in overnight berthing fee and open 24hrs.
The hotel/pub is open again under new ownership and is worth a visit.
The new fuel dock (next yo the nearby Joker store) has both gasoline & diesel (the cheapest I've seen in Norway this year).
Marina payment via GoMarina keeps it easy for us that cannot use VIPPS :-)

2 x helpful | written on 29. Jun 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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We visited in fairly benign conditions, light N/NW breeze.
Anchored in the middle of the pool with the only mooring to the south of us.
Whilst our (Rocna) anchor took a few moments to bite it did and on recovery it was full of silty sand.
We would visit again in similar conditions at this quiet time of the season.

2 x helpful | written on 11. Jun 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Fairly cosy spot, in other words not that much space.
We anchored in 10m pretty much where indicated.We were subsequently warned by a local that there are numerous chains, associated with the existing and previous pontoons. We therefore raised our anchor and set it again using an anchor buoy, to (hopefully!) save a sleepless night.
The jetty to the west of the beach in the satellite image no longer exists, though it's base can still be seen.
NB See photo regarding the position of the wreck

1 x helpful | written on 11. Aug 2025 | updated_on 11. Aug 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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A wonderful anchorage on the west coast of Burra.
Beautiful white sand in a bay that is protected from most wind directions.
Good walks and popular with wild swimmers also.

1 x helpful | written on 16. Aug 2024

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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For those who don't have VIPPS Stø is slightly difficult.
Payment at the community pontoon is straightforward as PayPal is also used but there is little/no space and BE AWARE of the pontoons mooring chains which protrude out from the end of the community pontoon.
Payment on any other pontoon requires alternative arrangements, perhaps asking a Norwegian to pay for you and providing them with cash?
That said; the harbour offers protection and the other pontoons have electricity but no water.
The locals are very helpful and the shower & laundry facilities clean & tidy.
The kafe also has great cakes.

1 x helpful | written on 21. Jun 2026

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Great anchorage central depth as shown and min depth we saw through SW approach was 2.6m.
There appears to be a 0.5-1kt current flowing NE most of the time.
Lots of bird activity which is wonderful, though denies a drone shot of the anchorage.:-)

1 x helpful | written on 17. Jul 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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If you are not able to pay by VIPPS then come armed with lots of NOK10 coins otherwise you will not be able to have a shower or use the laundry facilities.
Neither the supermarket or the chandlers are able to provide change.
There is recycling for glass & metal cans

1 x helpful | written on 17. Jul 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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A more attractive alternative, with tree lined shores to Hovsvågen just to the north.
Straightforward entry and anchor on the pinnacle of the 5m contour. Sand

1 x helpful | written on 17. Jul 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Anchor in approx 10m being sure to avoid the pipeline shown on the chart.
Good holding on sand and an alternative for those with >/=2m draft boats that cannot anchor inside the island.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Jul 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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We anchored off the main beach in approximately 6m in sand with some weed.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Jul 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Whilst there are a number of private moorings (one of which is partially submerged) there is some room to anchor in approximately 5 metres on sand.
Some noise from the adjacent road (not particularly busy). Small beach.

1 x helpful | written on 2. Aug 2026

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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As previously reported (in July 2025) due to the local topography any wind with W in it tends to funnel through the anchorage to the west of Kobbøya island in the position shown on the chart.
Arriving in a WSW wind we found it less gusty to the E of the island anchored in approx 6m.

1 x helpful | written on 21. Jul 2026

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Easy entry into a pool with a sand bottom we anchored in the middle in approx 5m

1 x helpful | written on 11. Jul 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Depth on recommended approach appeared to be as charted.
Navionics/Garmin showed perch as Isolated Danger but it's a SH mark in reality.
We anchored a little further in than shown as N wind.

1 x helpful | written on 12. Jun 2026

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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There's now a permanent mooring in the location shown.
We did manage to anchor approximately 400m before the position shown.

1 x helpful | written on 30. Jun 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Precedes the other anchorage shown by approx 400m and potentially offers better protection from southerly winds. Anchor in approx 8m

1 x helpful | written on 30. Jun 2025 | updated_on 30. Jun 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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We needed an anchorage protected from the NE and this area of Langøya isn't served well by any charts (Garmin, C-Map,Orca). As a result I've marked the Marine Qualities as Average as we made our approach very slowly following the recommended track, with a good look out forward and on the depth gauge.
It's a nice spot and appears to offer the shelter we sought.

1 x helpful | written on 14. Jun 2026

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Just north of Flatøya this anchorage offers similar depths on weed sand. Anchor in approx 9.5 metres.
Slight generator noise from fish farm to the west, otherwise a peaceful spot.

1 x helpful | written on 22. Jul 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Entry from the east straightforward

1 x helpful | written on 7. Aug 2026

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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The cable, previously mentioned as being 20m, has signs adjacent to it advising it is now just 16m and not 20m as shown on the chart

1 x helpful | written on 4. Aug 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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A beautiful area with stunning scenery.
We used the anchorage to sit out a strong SW wind.
The anchorage was somewhat prone to downdrafts.
NB If intending to visit be careful if using routing software. Garmin/Navionics suggested we approached from the North ignoring a 12m cable.
The approach along the South coast of Barøy is interesting though the depths (& cable!) were found to be as charted.
When we went to weigh anchor we thought we’d fouled, excellent holding.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2026 | updated_on 10. Aug 2026

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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A beautiful sandy beach on the east coast of Mainland Shetland approximately 9nm North of Sumburgh Head.
Good holding in sand, though some kelp can be found so ensure you are dug in especially in the western side of the bay.
A solitary buoy resides in the middle of the bay, it's purpose is unknown.
Our most recent visit saw an an arrival in a F6 Southerly wind with quite some swell until entering the bay itself which was without swell.

1 x helpful | written on 8. Aug 2024

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Another of Shetland's best beaches.
Offering shelter from the East through to the West, though with possibly a bit of swell from the West.
Good depths and sand, though weed patches to avoid.
One solitary (private) small boat mooring towards the Western end of the beach.

1 x helpful | written on 9. Aug 2024

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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Pay attention to rocks either side of entry. Chartplotter required

1 x helpful | written on 3. Jul 2025

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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We’ve only been here in settled conditions. Given its adjacency to a 984m peak there may well be potential for downdraughts.
Anchor in centre on the 4m sounding in sand.
A beautiful spot

1 x helpful | written on 21. May 2026

John Lancaster-Smith says:

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At the head of a 1nm inlet the anchorage provides plenty of space for a number of boats to anchor albeit in approximately 15m depths.
Attractive surroundings, with a number of number of functional buildings around the head of the bay.
There is no obvious place to go ashore.
Shelter should be good from winds ENE through S to WNW.
There is quite regular helicopter traffic heading out to the rigs

1 x helpful | written on 25. Jul 2024 | updated_on 25. Jul 2024

John Lancaster-Smith says:

description

NB This is on the island of Løkta

0 x helpful | written on 17. Jul 2025