Træna Archipelago
Træna islands · Sanna island · Træna rock music festival
66°30.0'N 012°05.4'E
Depth
2–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Fair
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m in 2–6m on fair sand/rock. Actual depths far greater than CD — Norwegian tidal range 1-2m. Shore line essential. Anchor alarm absolutely critical — the outer Atlantic exposure is total on W-facing shores. Only use E and SE-facing coves. This is a serious offshore passage anchorage.
About This Anchorage
Træna is the most westerly inhabited municipality in Norway — a tiny archipelago of bare rocky islands 40nm offshore in the Norwegian Sea, so remote that the mainland is not visible from the highest point. The main island Sanna is a flat, sheltered circle of farmland surrounded by rock and sea. Despite its extreme remoteness, Træna hosts the annual Træna Music Festival (mid-July) — a remarkable outdoor rock festival inside a cave on the neighbouring island that has attracted international artists. The archipelago is a stone-age site of major archaeological significance (Kirkehelleren cave). For sailors, reaching Træna requires a 40nm open-sea passage from the mainland coast — a genuine offshore challenge.
Protected From
E · SE · S · NE
Exposed To
W · NW · N
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 2–8m, 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 90m before resting. Saltstraumen (4nm SE of Bodø): ONLY transit at slack water — never at any other state of tide.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Allemannsretten applies. Genuine offshore passage — survival suit mandatory. Weather window absolutely essential for the 40nm passage. Shore lines to island rocks. Træna Music Festival (mid-July): harbour area crowded — plan berth well in advance.
Hazards
- !Offshore passage 40nm from mainland: survival suit mandatory for all crew; proper safety gear and EPIRB required; satellite communicator essential
- !W, NW and N exposure to the open Norwegian Sea: never anchor on W-facing shores — Atlantic swell is constant
- !Fair holding on sand/rock: anchor alarm absolutely essential; re-check set carefully before sleeping
- !Weather windows: the 40nm open-sea passage to Træna requires a genuine 48h settled forecast — do not underestimate this passage
Skipper's Tips
- →Kirkehelleren cave: Stone Age settlement site (3,000 years of occupation) on the NE side of Sanna — one of the most significant prehistoric sites in northern Norway; accessible by dinghy
- →Træna Music Festival (mid-July): if your passage timing aligns, this is an extraordinary experience — rock concerts inside a cave on a remote island; check dates and book ahead
- →The 40nm passage from Sandnessjøen to Træna: depart at first light in a settled NE or E wind — the passage is in the W direction and the return is easier in W conditions
- →True remoteness: from Træna, the Norwegian mainland is not visible — this is genuine offshore island sailing; treat it with the respect of a passage to an isolated island
Facilities
Sanna village has a small shop, café and the ferry quay. Limited supplies — arrive self-sufficient. Fuel: Sandnessjøen (60nm E) or Bodø (80nm N). Water available at the village quay.
Nearest provisions: Sanna village shop / Sandnessjøen (60nm E) (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
July only for most sailors — the offshore passage requires consistently settled weather which occurs most reliably in mid-summer. Do not attempt before 1 June or after 31 August — North Sea conditions make the passage too hazardous.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
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.
Download Free for iOS