Author: admin

Spread over the month of May…

Distance steamed from Stavanger: 620 NM
In the early hours of the morning SBB was rung and Aurora altered to the north to board the Southampton Pilot at the Nab Tower to the east of the Isle of Wight. Once safely on board the Pilot then assisted the Bridge team with navigating the vessel through the Southampton approaches,  passing first the St. Helen’s anchorage. Heading westerly, Aurora followed the northern coast of the Isle of Wight and just after Cowes began her first turn, to starboard, at Brambles Bank. Shortly afterwards the second turn, this time to port, at Calshot brought Aurora onto a heading passing Fawley Oil Terminal to port. Once abeam of Dock Head the Captain took the Conn and slowed the vessel to approach the berth starboard side to the quay at Mayflower Terminal, ending her Northern Lights cruise.

Aurora’s overall distance steamed for Norway Cruise R720P: 3297 nautical miles.

Noon position: 53° 51‘N 003° 10’E
Distance steamed since departure Stavanger: 329 NM
Weather: Rain showers moderate vis at times
Temperature: 12°C
Wind: South westerly, Force 5/6
Sea state: Slight seas and short moderate swell

Aurora steamed southwards throughout the morning passing Dogger Bank to starboard around 11.00am. She then entered the routeing schemes to guide her through the production platforms of the North Sea coming abeam of Great Yarmouth around 3.30pm. Aurora continued navigating in the TSS passing the port of Dover around 9.00pm before altering to the west and making her approaches towards the Isle of Wight.

Distance steamed from Alta: 941 NM
Weather: Dry, good visibility, 6/8ths cloud
Temperature: 4°C
Wind: Variable, Light airs

As Aurora neared land passing the island of Utsira to port, she altered more to the east and passed south of Karmoy, before slowing down to embark her local Pilot at Skudenfjord pilot boarding ground. Then, taking a large turn to starboard and rounding the island of Kvitsoy, the vessel was brought on to a southerly heading entering the Kvitsoyfjorden.

Aurora entered the port, the Captain swung the bow to port until the vessel was lined up with the berth, then came astern on the engines and began thrusting onto the berth. With the vessel safely alongside Strandkaien, clearance was granted by the local authorities and guests were then free to explore the city of Stavanger.

After a bright and sunny day, Aurora’s guests and crew made their way back on board and the Bridge team made the ship ready for departure. The Captain took the Conn, thrust Aurora off her berth and then came ahead on the engines out into fjord water. Once through the Skudenesfjorden following reciprocal tracks out, Aurora took a large turn to port passing between the mainland and the island of Alstein. Once again heading southwards she approached the Feistein Pilot ground and disembarked her Pilot.

Once clear of the islands and shallows, a south south westerly course was set and Aurora proceeded towards her home port of Southampton.

Noon position: 64° 21.9‘N 007° 03.2’E
Distance steamed since departure Alta: 584 NM
Weather: Dry, good visibility, 4/8ths cloud
Temperature: 6°C
Wind: Easterly backing westerly, Force 5
Sea state: Slight seas and short moderate swell

Aurora left the Arctic Circle at around 3.45 am and continued on her south westerly heading throughout the day through the Norwegian Sea.

Around 8.00pm Aurora altered to the south entering the North Sea. Passing the oil fields and rigs to starboard she continued south using the traffic lanes until around 2.00am she altered to the south east to make her approaches towards the coast.

Noon position: 70° 16.0‘N 018° 25.3’E
Distance steamed since departure Alta: 144 NM
Weather: Dry, good visibility, 4/8ths cloud
Temperature: 3°C
Wind: South easterly, Force 5
Sea state: Slight seas and short moderate swell

Following extended departure checks due to her prolonged stay alongside and with all guests and crew back on board, Aurora was given clearance to sail at 2.40am.

The Deputy Captain gave the order to let go the lines and thrust Aurora off the berth to starboard. Once a a safe distance he then swung the bow to starboard to bring Aurora on to a more north westerly heading Once abeam of Amtmannsnes light, the pilot took the Conn and set courses back out of the fjord.

By 6.00am Aurora was clear of the fjord and rounding the top of the uninhabited island of Silda. She then altered to the south west to make tracks for the Pilot station at Fugloy. At 8.20am the pilot ladder was rigged on the port side and the local Pilot disembarked.

Aurora then made her way northwards passing the island of Nordfugloya to port before proceeding outside 4NM from land and altering to the south west once more.

Aurora maintained a south westerly course for the rest of the day keeping the Norwegian islands on he port side. By 10pm Aurora was passing Lofoten itself and continuing south south westwards.

Weather: Dry, good visibility, mostly cloudy
Temperature: -10°C
Wind: Southerly, Force 2

Aurora lay quietly alongside the quay in Alta throughout the day as guests explored the frozen landscape of one of Norway’s most northern inhabited areas.