RIB expedition to Store Torungen lighthouse outside Arendal with an overnight stay.
Store Torungen lighthouse is paradise on earth when we arrive after a long day at sea. There is a wonderfully friendly lighthouse keeper who tells us about life at the lighthouse. On Store Torungen we stay in the Tourist Association’s cabin, so we cook, make up the beds and tidy up after ourselves when we leave. The evening can be used for swimming, walks and a trip up the lighthouse.
Depending on weather, wind and passengers we pass or stop at, and tell a little about: Færder National Park, Færder lighthouse, Svenner lighthouse, Stavernsodden lighthouse, Tvistein lighthouse, Jomfruland lighthouse and Lille Torungen lighthouse.
The weather on our September/October tours is often very rough, with a gale and waves 2–3 metres high. That makes it a fantastic experience when you sit well dressed in a survival suit in a RIB that handles such conditions without problems, and can simply enjoy it. When we then come ashore at Store Torungen it feels like arriving in heaven on earth.
Practical information
- Bring as little luggage as possible. What you bring is packed in waterproof bags. There is no dress code, just normal everyday clothes.
- A sheet sleeping bag
- Food and drink
- A toiletry bag with any medication
- Swimwear and a towel
- A windproof jacket (for walking a little when we arrive)
- Otherwise just a change of ordinary everyday clothes for lunch, dinner and breakfast, and time in the bar.
- A wool sweater (a navy-style sweater is fine)
- Your own steel thermos with something hot in it
- Some small snacks if you know you get hungry between meals
- Trainers or light walking shoes
- Luggage is strapped in waterproof bags on the foredeck.
Anything fragile or that does not tolerate salt water is not insured and should stay at home, that is, it is brought at your own risk. Do not bring glass bottles.
Beyond this we have a very free programme and everyone helps as deckhands along the way. If there are places, islands or lighthouses nearby that you have heard about or want to see, we can make small detours. We also take weather and conditions into account. In very rough seas we drive more inshore; in flat water we may go a little further offshore.
This is the longest of our two-day trips, a full 180 nautical miles. Large parts of the tour are in open sea, as there are not as many inshore options as, for example, to Väderöarna. That means this is also the roughest tour we run, because we have to get there, and we usually run it in September/October.