Hordaland » Loyal Reiser AS

The Loyal is a 85 foot wooden ketch built in Rosendal in Hardanger in 1877 by the same man who built ”Gjøa”, the ship Roald Amundsen sailed through the Northwest passage. She was originally built for the herring trade off Iceland, and has sailed the oceans with herring, stockfish and salted cod since she was launched in 1877. Her principal operational waters were the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Black sea, but her longest voyage has been around Cape Horn with stockfish for Chile.

The Loyal had a reputation for being a fast and efficient sailing vessel, and held the record from New York to Haugesund, a distance she covered in 18 ½ ¬ days. Her first engine was installed in 1934, but she still operated under sail until the middle of the fifties when she was rigged down.

The Loyal has always been based on the west coast of Norway. After having carried fish produce for over a hundred years she was bought by John and Svanhild Hausberg and their son Audun. 20 years later she had been restored to her original glory as a sailing vessel, but with the comfort and security added that our time expects. She was relaunched in 1997, and the best of old and new is united in her. She is living maritime history, and her goal is to perpetuate and preserve our seafaring traditions and skills to all who wish to sail in her.

Seeing Norway’s magnificent coastline from a sailing vessel slowly gliding up the fjords is a heady experience. Active participation in sailing manoeuvres heightens and broadens the understanding of the forces of wind and water.

The Loyal now sails the Norwegian fjords, with trips to Shetland and The Orkneys. She is licensed for 60 passengers on daytrips, and 18 on sailing trips. We can offer sail training courses, trips with friends and/or family, company trips, weddings, historical expeditions and much more. We arrange trips and expeditions to your specifications.

During the summer the Loyal is based either in Bergen or Forlandsvaagen in Sotra. Her operational season is from may out September, but it can be extended on request.