78°13′N 015°38′E · LONGYEARBYEN · JUNE–JULY 2027 · PROVISIONAL
Svalbard sailing expedition, summer 2027
Where the sun forgets to set.
Fair Haven, north-west Spitsbergen · stock photo. In the lens: our chart of Isfjorden, 78°13′N.
- Season
- June–July 2027 · provisional
- Length
- About 10 days · provisional
- Joins
- Longyearbyen (fly via Oslo or Tromsø)
- Guests
- Up to 8
- Language
- Crew speak English & Spanish
- Light
- 24-hour daylight
- No payment on this site
- Dates provisional
Svalbard lies between Norway and the North Pole: on the great circle, Longyearbyen is 518 nm from Tromsø and 707 nm from the Pole. In June and July the sun circles the sky and never sets. The plan is Spitsbergen's west and north-west coast from Longyearbyen: Isfjorden, Kongsfjorden and Ny-Ålesund, Krossfjorden, Magdalenefjorden, Raudfjorden. When the ice chart allows, we push north toward 80°N: possible, never promised. Cap II has a double hull, an ice-plated bow and a protected propeller. We sail to the ice edge, never into the pack.
At midnight on 21 June 2027 the sun is still 11.7° above the horizon.
AI-generated film · walrus on a drifting floe, Svalbard
AI-generated film · a polar bear on the sea ice, Svalbard
AI-generated film · a glacier calving, Svalbard
AI-generated films of the kind of scenes on this route. Wildlife is never guaranteed, and we keep 300–500 m from polar bears.
The route
- Planned route
- Provisional
- Positioning passage
| Leg | nm | km | Waters | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tromsø to Bjørnøya (Bear Island)532 km · Barents Sea · passed, no landing | 287 nm | 532 km | Barents Sea | passed, no landing |
| Bjørnøya (Bear Island) to Longyearbyen431 km · Barents Sea | 233 nm | 431 km | Barents Sea | |
| Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund113 km · Spitsbergen west coast · about 90–110 nm by sea | 61 nm | 113 km | Spitsbergen west coast | about 90–110 nm by sea |
Great-circle distances between harbours; the sailed track is longer and weather-routed.
Stop by stop, with running totals
Tromsøhome port
Leg: 287 nm
Bjørnøya (Bear Island)passed, no landing
total 287 nmLeg: 233 nm
Longyearbyen
total 520 nmLeg: 61 nm
Ny-Ålesund
total 581 nm
A sample plan
Example, not a schedule — weather and ice decide.
| D1 | Longyearbyen | Board in the afternoon, cabins, safety briefing. |
|---|---|---|
| D2 | Isfjorden | Trygghamna and the Alkhornet bird cliff; by law, 5 knots within 500 m of bird cliffs until 31 August. |
| D3 | North along the coast | Forlandsundet to Kongsfjorden, a midnight-sun passage in watches. |
| D4 | Ny-Ålesund | The research village, and the Kongsfjorden glaciers; we keep well back from calving fronts. |
Days 5–10
| D5 | Krossfjorden to Magdalenefjorden | Landings only at designated sites. |
|---|---|---|
| D6 | Smeerenburg and Virgohamna | Whaling and expedition remains, protected because they're older than 1946. |
| D7 | Raudfjorden | And toward 80°N if the ice allows, staying outside the Moffen walrus reserve. |
| D8–9 | West coast | South along the west coast to Isfjorden. |
| D10 | Longyearbyen | Disembark. |
The light
Whatever the final dates in June–July 2027, every Svalbard departure sails in 24-hour daylight: in Longyearbyen the sun stays up from 19 April to 23 August 2027.
Show the numbers
| Month | Longyearbyen | Tromsø |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jun 2027 | 24.0 h | 24.0 h |
| 15 Jul 2027 | 24.0 h | 24.0 h |
| 15 Aug 2027 | 24.0 h | 18.1 h |
| 15 Sep 2027 | 14.5 h | 13.4 h |
| 15 Oct 2027 | 6.6 h | 9.2 h |
| 15 Nov 2027 | 0.0 h | 4.1 h |
| 15 Dec 2027 | 0.0 h | 0.0 h |
| 15 Jan 2028 | 0.0 h | 0.4 h |
| 15 Feb 2028 | 0.0 h | 7.4 h |
| 15 Mar 2028 | 11.4 h | 11.7 h |
| 15 Apr 2028 | 21.0 h | 16.2 h |
| 15 May 2028 | 24.0 h | 22.3 h |
- Longyearbyen The sun stays up from 19 April to 23 August 2027. At midnight on 21 June 2027 it is still 11.7° above the horizon.
- Longyearbyen · July average July averages about 7 °C in Longyearbyen and it rarely rains much. Wind, fog and spray make it feel colder.
Computed at sea level for 2027–28 with the NOAA solar equations (sun's centre at −0.833°); mountains shorten the visible sun by days.
What's included
Included05
- Your berth aboard
- All meals aboard
- Sailing instruction and a place in the watch system
- Safety equipment and briefings
- Sea time logged and signed by the skipper in your own logbook
Not included04
- Flights to and from the joining port
- Travel insurance with sailing and medical-evacuation cover (required)
- Hotels and meals ashore
- Personal clothing and kit (the list is in the dossier)
Final list in the dossier; any change is confirmed in writing before you commit.
Rules and safety
Svalbard
Governor of Svalbard (Sysselmesteren)
- §1
Permit
Every tourist trip in Svalbard needs a permit from the Governor of Svalbard (Field Safety Regulations, in force since 1 January 2026). We apply at least 8 weeks before each departure.
Source: lovdata.no · FOR-2025-06-06-940 - §2
Search-and-rescue insurance
The same rules require search-and-rescue insurance for every tourist trip, with minimum cover set by zone.
Source: lovdata.no · FOR-2025-06-06-940 - §3
Guides
From 1 July 2027, paid trips beyond the settlements must use Governor-approved Svalbard guides.
Source: lovdata.no · FOR-2025-06-06-940 - §4
Polar bears
The law keeps everyone at least 500 m from polar bears from 1 March to 30 June, and 300 m from 1 July to the end of February. Sightings are never promised and never chased.
Source: sysselmesteren.no · environmental rules 2025 - §5
Walrus and birds
150 m from walrus haul-outs, and no faster than 5 knots within 300 m of them. No faster than 5 knots within 500 m of bird cliffs from 1 April to 31 August.
Source: sysselmesteren.no · environmental rules 2025 - §6
Protected areas
Landings only at designated sites, with a guide. Ships with more than 200 passengers are banned; Cap II carries a handful of guests.
Source: sysselmesteren.no · environmental rules 2025 - §7
Heritage
Everything people left before 1946 is protected. Look, don't touch.
Source: visitsvalbard.com · rules - §8
Moffen
The walrus island near 80°N is closed from 15 May to 15 September, with a 300 m belt around it. We stay outside.
Source: sysselmesteren.no · Moffen Nature Reserve (PDF) - §9
Drones
Banned in protected areas, and within 500 m of bird cliffs from 1 April to 31 August.
Source: sysselmesteren.no · environmental rules 2025 - §10
Ice
We sail to the ice edge, never into the pack. Breaking fast ice is banned in Svalbard.
Source: sysselmesteren.no · environmental rules 2025
Who it suits
Beginners welcome: you sail as crew, with instruction aboard.
You'll climb in and out of a tender and stand watches in cold, wet wind; tell us about any medical condition before you commit.
Minimum age: in the dossier
Up to 8 guests.
Crew speak English and Spanish.
The boat
- Type
- Aluminium sailing yacht, built by CNB
- Length
- 23.5 m / 77 ft
- Sail number
- USA 42
- Guests
- Up to 8
- Ice protection
- Double hull, ice-plated bow and protected propeller
Crew questions.
Will we see polar bears?
Maybe, from the boat and at a distance. The law keeps us 500 m away until 30 June and 300 m from 1 July, and we never chase wildlife. Sightings are never promised.
Will we reach 80°N or the ice?
Possible, never promised. The ice decides, and it doesn't sit still: pack ice off the north coast can move 30 nm a day. We go to the ice edge only when the ice chart allows, and never into the pack.
How do I get to Longyearbyen?
Fly SAS or Norwegian via Oslo (about 3 h) or Tromsø (about 1.5 h). Bring your passport (or national ID card, if you're an EU/EEA citizen): Svalbard is outside Schengen.
How cold is it?
July averages about 7 °C in Longyearbyen and it rarely rains much, but wind, fog and spray make it feel colder. The kit list is in the dossier.
What changes on 1 July 2027?
From that date, paid trips beyond the settlements must use Governor-approved Svalbard guides.
Is it safe ashore with polar bears?
On a permitted trip, polar-bear safety is the operator's job, not yours. The plan is distance first; deterrents, and a rifle carried by a trained guide, are the last resort.
