Risør Wooden Boat Festival

New dates to be determined

Let's go to the Risør Trebåtfestival!

Travel with us to the Risør Trebåtfestival for a once-in-a-lifetime, off-the beaten-path adventure to Europe's largest and oldest wooden boat festival. Much like Port Townsend, Risør, Norway has an environment of wooden boat builders and boats—it's about time we visited. Join us for a four-night, waterfront stay in Risør during the Festival followed by time in Oslo, Kristiansand, and Lofthus.

Trip Summary

  • Next trip dates TBD
  • Four-night, waterfont stay at the The Risør Hotel—the front porch of the Festival!
  • Explore the backroads of the coast to the south and loop back to Oslo through the mountains including a stop at Lofthus on the shores of Norway’s famous Hardangerfjord.
  • Time in Kristiansand and Lofthus
  • Three nights in Norway’s capital city, Oslo, including visits to the Viking Museum, the Norwegian Maritime Museum, the Fram Museum, and more.
  • Led by fun-loving Port Townsend locals

International Trips Planning Party

March 4, 2018 | 2:00 PM | NWMC
Come to our next planning party to learn more about all three of our international trips—that's right; you'll have a chance to hear about Norway, the BVI Flotilla, and Tasmania. Meet the trip leaders, see photos of where we'll be going, ask questions, and get answers!

See the Facebook Event

Additional Trip Resources

Take a look at the following links to learn more about the Festival, Risør, and Norway.

Risør Wooden Boat Festival
Norwegian Coastal Federation
Kragerø Video
Norway Video

About Risør

Risør, Norway and the waterways and mountains of southern Norway are picturesque, idyllic, and charming—especially in summer! A coastal town with an active boatbuilding community, Risør has a preserved wooden boat culture with a long history of wooden boat building.

About Oslo

Norway's capital city is a site-to-see in August, with warm weather, long days (16 hours of daylight!), and world-class museums. Home of the world's best-preserved Viking ships, Oslo is the perfect place for exploring Norwegian culture and maritime history.

About Risør

Risør, Norway and the waterways and mountains of southern Norway are picturesque, idyllic, and charming—especially in summer! A coastal town with an active boatbuilding community, Risør has a preserved wooden boat culture with a long history of wooden boat building.

About Oslo

Norway's capital city is a site-to-see in August, with warm weather, long days (16 hours of daylight!), and world-class museums. Home of the world's best-preserved Viking ships, Oslo is the perfect place for exploring Norwegian culture and maritime history.

Cost: $5000/person

Includes:

  • Trip leadership
  • Lodging
  • Transportation in Norway
  • Oslo and Festival passes
  • All breakfasts and four dinners

Doesn't Include:

  • Airfare
  • Many dinners and all lunches
  • Gratuities
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal Expenses

Trip Leaders

Inger and Sean Rankins

Inger is a native of Norway who has lived in Port Townsend for the last 30 years. She will be our direct link to all things Norway, having grown up in Kristiansand.Sean and Inger have been sailmakers for over 30 years, specializing in marine canvas. She has been on and around boats her entire life—“I have never lived more than two kilometers from the water!” They both have a love of Nordic boats and own a 26′ Danish Spidsgatter and a 20′ Norwegian Spissgatter keelboat. Sean will happily tell you the ins and outs of every curve of the boats we will see in Risor.

Heidi Eisenhour

Heidi has lived in the Port Townsend area since 1981 and met Sean and Inger when they were first here in 1989. “I remember the early days of meeting Inger and Sean as some of the happiest of my life. I specifically remember laughing more than I ever have in one stretch on a day that summer with Inger.” Heidi is Chief Operating Officer at the Northwest Maritime Center and has a serious hobby in cooking and hospitality. She looks forward to being the logistics (and laughter) coordinator for the trip.

Save the Date: Future Trips

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All photos credited to Visit Norway.