Island Offshore Race to the Arctic - Waiting List Open

Boats in the port of Kristiansund Per Kvalvik © Per Kvalvik / visitnorthwest.no

Everyone wants to sail to Lofoten

Island Offshore Race to the Arctic, the 4 legs race from Lindesnes to Lofoten in 2026, opens a waiting list after the race was sold out in two and a half weeks.

In recent years, participants have waited until the last minute to sign up for races. The Island Offshore Race to the Arctic received 60 entries in two and a half weeks. The organiser is now encouraging people to sign up for the waiting list.

"The regatta has received an enormous response in the community, both internationally and here at home in Norway. We had hoped for 30 boats at the start, now we are already over 60. This is a dream come true," says Sigmund André Hertzberg, Chairman of Shorthanded Sailing Norway.

Working with the ports

The ports and sailing associations along the Norwegian coast have met the initiative with great enthusiasm. The challenge for the organiser is to secure safe harbours for all participants at all stopovers. Work is under way to plan with all the ports to be able to increase the number of boats somewhat. The regatta also hopes to announce the stopover port at Helgeland shortly.

"The ports we work with are super enthusiastic. There is great support for the regatta along the entire coast, and many fantastic places we could stop. Now we hope that together with local forces we will be able to find room for a few more boats in all the ports, so that we can allow more participants," says Andreas Tinglum in the regatta committee.

The port of Kristiansund Per Kvalvik - photo © Per Kvalvik / visitnorthwest.no

The waiting list is open

The boats that sign up from today will be given a place on the waiting list without paying. If more boats are allowed, they will be offered to pay and get a place in the regatta. Similarly, they will be o;ered to take over places if someone drops out.

So far, there is one American, three Swedish, five German and 49 Norwegian boats that are registered in the racing class with 3-4 legs, two boats are registered for participation in two legs and two boats are registered in the cruising class. In total, there are 61 boats registered and several already on the waiting list.