Lofoten Unbound

Sailing with Join The Crew

For travellers who want to spend more time under sail and be fully involved in life on board. Take an active role in the crew, help hoist the sails, steer the yacht and experience the adventure of sailing firsthand. The focus is on unforgettable days at sea, shared challenges and life as a real crew.

This is a mile-building trip!

We will sail considerably more nautical miles than on our other trips. See “Difficulty Level” for further details.

How challenging is the tour?

• During our week, we will cover approximately 280 nautical miles.
• During the day, we are usually active for about 7 to 10 hours (including swimming stops).
• You do not need previous sailing experience to join this trip. However, we strongly recommend having completed at least one sailing trip, as this tour involves considerably more sailing than our other trips and the area typically offers windier conditions.
• Being able to swim freely for at least 20 minutes is a must.

This tour is right for you if you meet the following criteria:

• You have a strong interest in sailing and are ready to take on new sailing challenges.
• You are motivated to play an active part in daily life on board. This includes sailing, preparing meals, tidying up and washing the dishes after eating.
• For the hike up Reinebringen, you should have an average level of fitness and a good head for heights. The route takes us up and down around 2,000 steps, but the view is magical!

Your Crew:

• The onboard language is English.
• Most guests book as solo travellers.
• You’ll be sharing the boat with an amazing crew of people from all over the world.
• On every boat: JTC skipper from our Academy.
• Right after booking, you’ll get access to the group chat for all participants.
• The crew chat opens after the crew allocation, approximately two weeks before the start of the trip.

Cabin & Crew Arrangement:

• If the yacht is fully booked up to two weeks before departure, we aim for a 50/50 gender mix on board.
• Your cabin mate will be of the same gender.
• Couples and small groups are relatively rare.
• Groups of 4 or more should book their own private yacht. More info here!
• Any preferences regarding crew allocation can simply be added in the booking form.

Our Flotilla (Multiple Yachts):

• All yachts booked for the same dates travel together as one flotilla. Sometimes flotilla consists of English and German speaking yachts.
• During the day, the yachts regularly meet while sailing.
• Shared swimming stops are planned spontaneously on site.
• If we don’t cook dinner on board, we usually go to the same restaurant together.
• At night, each yacht either anchors separately or we raft the yachts together.
• Shore activities are organised together as a group.

• All yachts are exclusively reserved in advance for our crews.
• All yachts are equipped with the heating system.
• If there are multiple options available for a specific date, you can choose the yacht standard that suits you best.
• Detailed information about the yacht standard can be found in the respective description.Your exact yacht model will be announced after the crew allocation, approximately two weeks before the tour starts.
• Most trips take place on classic sailing yachts (monohulls).You can find an overview of all catamaran trips here.

 

Easy payment:

• Deposit: 30% of the tour price upon booking.
• Final payment: 6 weeks before the start of the tour.
• Payment methods: Bank transfer, Credit card, ApplePay, AndroidPay, Klarna.

Reserve for 5 days at no cost:

• Your reservation will be held for 5 days, just select it in the booking form.
• Possible until 6 weeks before the start of the tour.
• If you don't book, the reservation will expire automatically after 5 days

Cooking or Dining Out:

• We usually prepare our meals on board ourselves.
• On some days, we have the opportunity to eat out ashore in the evenings.
• When cooking, we can form teams of two, so that each person takes turns cooking/washing up. However, everyone usually helps out anyway.

Preparation in advance:

• In the crew chat, we can discuss meal and beverage planning before the tour begins.
• If you have any intolerances or allergies, please inform us in advance in the crew chat so that they can be taken into account during shopping.

Shopping:

• On the first day of the tour, we'll plan our shopping together using the JTC shopping list. You can find this in your crew area under "my tours".
• As a crew, we all buy groceries together for our week.
• Each person should bring two large cloth bags so that we don't have to use plastic bags on site.
• If the supermarket is not within walking distance, we can have the groceries delivered to the harbor by taxi.
• During the tour, we have the opportunity to buy small items on land.

Arrival

• Airport: Harstad/Narvik.
• Our Marina: Harstad Havn KF.
• Your route from the Airport to Marina on Google Maps.

Check-In:

• Your crew will meet at 1:00 PM in a café, which will be announced in the crew chat.
• If you are arriving late, please inform your skipper.
• We will leave the starting port on Sunday morning.

Check-out:

• At the end of the trip, we will reach our destination port as planned on Friday around 5:00 PM.
• We will spend the last night in the harbor and leave the boat on Saturday at 9:00 AM.

How do I book my flight?

• Ideally, book your flight so that you are on time for the first meeting at the café (or the day before, so you are more rested and can certainly get to know some of your fellow sailors the evening before).
• Your flight should ideally depart no earlier than Saturday around 12:00 PM, so you can have a relaxed breakfast with your crew after the week. If that's not possible, you can book your return flight from 7:00 AM on Saturday.

What should I pack?

• Most crew members travel with hand luggage only.
• In any case, you should bring a soft travel bag rather than a suitcase, as suitcases take up too much space in the cabin.
• To help protect the environment, please bring biodegradable toiletries such as shampoo and sunscreen.
• If you would like to spend a night outdoors beneath the stars, you should also bring a sleeping bag.
• A towel, pillow, pillowcase, woollen blanket and fitted sheet are provided on board on almost all trips.

Climate

• Warmest months: July and August
• Average temperature: 15°C during the day and 10°C at night
• Average number of rainy days: 11
• Coldest months: January and February
• Average temperature: 1°C during the day and –3°C at night
• Average number of rainy days: 18

Mobile coverage & electricity

Mobile coverage

• Mobile coverage is available on most days and along most of our route.
• Depending on the bay, weather conditions and the day’s sailing route, you may occasionally have no reception.
• There are generally no roaming charges, although additional fees may apply depending on your mobile provider.

Electricity

• Smartphones and other small devices can be charged on board using a 12V socket.
• In most marinas, other devices such as cameras and laptops can be charged using shore power (220V) while we are docked.
• Nevertheless, we strongly recommend bringing a power bank.

Currency, prices & tipping

Currency

• The local currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK).
• Card payments are accepted almost everywhere and are sometimes the only available payment method. Maestro and Cirrus debit cards are generally accepted.

Prices

• A restaurant meal costs approximately €20–50 per person.
• Examples: an inexpensive meal around €12, a local beer from a supermarket around €3 and a cappuccino around €4.50.
• Grocery prices vary depending on the shop, location and available products.

Tipping

• A typical tip is between 5% and 15%.

Culture

• The Lofoten Islands are famous for their breathtaking landscapes, dramatic mountains, deep fjords and the Northern Lights in winter.
• Stockfish, traditionally dried on wooden racks, is one of the region’s main exports and an important part of the local cuisine.
• Historic fishing villages with their distinctive red rorbuer cabins are a defining feature of the islands.
• Drinking alcohol in public places and parks is prohibited.
• You may occasionally find a roadside table offering baskets of cherries or strawberries on a self-service basis. Payment is usually made using an honesty box or PayPal.

Safety

• The Lofoten Islands are generally considered a safe destination for solo travellers.
• Keep important documents and cash in a secure place.
• We recommend carrying a printed or digital copy of your documents.
• As in any tourist destination, you should remain aware of the possibility of pickpocketing.

Entry requirements & vaccinations

EU/EEA and Swiss Citizens

• You will need a valid national identity card or passport.

Citizens of other countries

• Please check the latest entry requirements for your nationality before booking.

Vaccinations

• No compulsory vaccinations are required for entry.
• Your routine vaccinations should be up to date according to your country’s official vaccination recommendations.
• If you have any questions, please consult your GP or a travel medicine specialist.