Reading

Charts and Books
The charts, Norges Sjøkartverk: BÅTSPORTKORT SERIE B, C and D are a MUST for the south coast. They are detailed enough for any safe navigation. I strongly recommend to buy the relevant folio of the Smallcraft Charts, and nothing more. For inshore use these charts are a MUST and you don't need other charts except for real OFFSHORE sailing. The size of these charts is very convenient compared to the full size charts.
(see list of charts below) (12-99)

I found that three types of charts document the entire Norwegian coast.

• Small scale charts (300 series, 1:300,000) for overview,
• Some medium scale charts (1:200,000) which are nice to have but not really necessary and
• Big scale charts 1:50,000) which I bought for the whole west coast. A small fortune!

  I bought my charts just in bookstores, even in small towns. While some areas could be sailed with the 300 series, I found that the big scale charts often proved to be an absolute must for safety. The big scale charts are also sold in small chart table format for the southern part of the Norwegian west coast, which was handy for my chart table. A number of charts with even larger scales I found unnecessary.

  I had contemplated to buy the Norwegian pilot or "Den Norske los", which comes in seven volumes and is quite expensive. However, I managed with the Norwegian Cruising Guide from John Armitage and Mark Brackenbury, and the Ferie & Fritidshavner by Gunar Steen Iversen, sold by the Norwegian Travel agency. The first book covers an enormous amount of good places to visit providing good descriptive information as well as nautical information by area. The second book describes and provides overviews of Norwegian harbours but only goes as far north as Tromsø. This book appeared to me to be more targeted at motorboats rather than sailboats, which means one has to evaluate the proposed spot with the depth of water and the height of any bridges in mind. However, the text is also in German and English and well illustrated with pictures. (17-99)

  The Smallcraft Charts are sections from the Main chart series. The format, approx. 45 x 35 cm. Additional information for recreation purposes is inserted on these charts. The scale of the charts in the series is mainly 1:50.000. They are sold in series in plastic folders.