Anchorages in the Westfjords

Extreme remoteness — complete self-sufficiency required

The Westfjords are Iceland's most remote peninsula and some of the most demanding sailing in the North Atlantic. Williwaws of 40–60 knots funnel from the highland plateau into fjord entrances with virtually no warning. Fuel is available only at Ísafjörður and Patreksfjörður. Mobile coverage is absent in most inner fjords — carry a satphone or SSB radio. SAR helicopter response is 1.5–2 hours in good weather. Avalanche barriers at Flateyri mark the site of a 1995 avalanche that killed 20 people. Tidal range 3–4m with strong tidal currents at fjord mouths. The Westfjords are extraordinary — but they demand serious preparation.