OSLO FJORD

Fjord with islands and capital city

The Oslo Fjord (Oslofjorden), which starts just north of the border with Sweden, is both the 70-mile approach to Norways capital city, and a rich cruising ground in its own right. Groups and islands offer scope for intricate rock-dodging and a wide choice of anchorages on either side of the outer fjord, and on the W side of the head of the fjord. Oslo, sprawled across the NE corner of the inner fjord, has a fine waterfront overlooking a maze of islands. The summer evenings are long and light, there is no need to worry about tide, and the rocks hold the heat of the sun. The water has been known to be over 20°C well into September, and its surprisingly clear and clean, given the amount of traffic and lack of tide.

Holding tanks are the norm for local yachts, and may well become compulsory in the area. In winter many of the bays and inlets are better suited to ice skating. Boats are either laid up ashore, or are protected by air bubblers which prevent the water from freezing. The main shipping channels are usually kept open.

Tide and current

There is so little tide in the Oslo Fjord that it can be ignored. Currents are more affected by local weather and topography than tide. The general flow to the outer fjord is anticlockwise: N along the Swedish coast, W across the mouth of the Oslo Fjord, and SW down the Norwegian coast. In calm weather, the prevailing flow is outgoing, but strong S wind results in a strong N-going current, particularly in the narrow section of Drøbak. Uncomfortable seas and a W-going current of 1-1.5 knots can occur off the SE end of Tjøme, the Sandefjord and Larvik fjords and across the mouth of Langesund. In the wider S reaches, a choppy sea builds up quickly. S winds and low pressure in the Skagerrak and the Oslo Fjord can also result in higher levels of water.

Approach and navigation

Entry to the Oslo Fjord from the Skagerrak, the sea between Denmark, Sweden and Norway, is guarded on either side by prominent lighthouses: Torbjørnskjær to the east and Færder to the west. It can be approached from Sweden, from Denmark across the Skagerrak, or as a continuation of a S coast cruise. Navigation in the fjord presents no difficulties, but this is a busy seaway and yachts should respect the need of commercial shipping, especially in the Drøbak narrows and the Oslo area.

The main fjord is well marked and will lit, but in mid-summer lights are barely needed. In the S section, there is plenty of scope for intricate daytime rock- and island-hopping on either side. The channels through the islands are well marked. 

The route taken here is anticlockwise from the Swedish border, up to Oslo then down to Larvik. It is equally possible to cross and re-cross the Oslo Fjord.