Brønnøysund
Brønnøysund havn · Torghatten gateway · Brønnøy municipality
65°28.5'N 012°12.7'E
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m in 3–7m on good mud and sand. Actual depths far greater than CD — Norwegian tidal range 1-2m. Shore line recommended overnight. Torghatten mountain (tunnel through summit) is the primary natural attraction here — worth a day's diversion by dinghy and foot.
About This Anchorage
Brønnøysund is a coastal town in southern Nordland, famous primarily as the gateway to Torghatten mountain — a remarkable isolated coastal mountain with a natural tunnel 160m long and 35m wide drilled through its summit by wave action during the last Ice Age (when sea level was much higher). The tunnel is accessible by a 30-minute hike from the mountain base and frames an extraordinary view of the outer coast through the opening. Brønnøysund itself is a small service town with a good guest harbour and Hurtigruten connection. The surrounding Brønnøy archipelago has good inner-lead sailing.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
W · SW · NW
Setting Your Anchor in Nordland
Shore lines are mandatory in Nordland fjord arms. Norwegian practice: drop a bow anchor on the shallow nearshore shelf in 3–8m, then run a stern or bow shore line to the nearest fortøyningsbolter (iron ring) set into the cliff face. Use at least 7:1 scope on the anchor rode. Tidal range in Nordland is 1.5–2.5m (increasing northward) — actual depths are far greater than Chart Datum; always verify with your echo sounder. Survival suits (immersion suits) are mandatory for all crew on deck in Nordland: water temperature is 4–12°C year-round and hypothermia can incapacitate in minutes. Midnight sun (May–July) means 24h daylight — maintain a strict watch schedule and set your anchor alarm to 70m before resting. Saltstraumen (4nm SE of Bodø): ONLY transit at slack water — never at any other state of tide.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (anchor out)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Allemannsretten applies. Guest harbour available. Survival suit strongly recommended on the outer coast.
Hazards
- !W and SW exposure from the outer Helgeland coast: westerly swells significant in any sustained W wind
- !Outer coast passage: north and south of Brønnøysund are exposed sections requiring weather windows
- !Survival suit mandatory on deck above the Arctic Circle (just N of here)
- !Aquaculture farms in the surrounding archipelago — mooring lines pervasive in inner channels
Skipper's Tips
- →Torghatten mountain tunnel: the 160m natural tunnel through the summit is one of Norway's most remarkable natural features — the 30-minute hike from the base is essential; anchor off Torghatten island or go by local bus from Brønnøysund
- →Airport connections: Brønnøy airport has daily flights to Oslo — useful for crew changes on a long passage
- →The Vefsnfjord (30nm NE) is an accessible and wild fjord arm from here — worth a day's diversion
- →Stock up here for the passage north: next provisioning after Brønnøysund is Sandnessjøen (50nm N)
Facilities
Good range: supermarket, fuel, restaurants, pharmacy. Hurtigruten connection for crew changes. Airport with connections to Oslo.
Nearest provisions: Brønnøysund town supermarket (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August. The coast north of here crosses the Arctic Circle (66°33'N) — midnight sun conditions begin just north of Brønnøysund in early June.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
In Arctic Nordland, midnight sun means you can sail 24h — but fatigue and anchor drag are constant risks. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position even while you sleep.
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