SAILING THE NORTH
The ocean is an integral part
of the Icelandic life
The vast ocean surrounding Iceland is rich and beautiful, home to some of the best fishing grounds in the world. As an island nation, sailing is in the blood of the Icelanders, and fisheries have for centuries been the largest part of the Icelandic economy, making it a traditional life style for many. After the economic developments within the last decade, tourism has been on the rise as the main driver for financial growth with more people than ever seeking to explore the Icelandic nature and connected to that, the Icelandic way of living.
Icelanders are internationally recognised for their good diet, healthy lifestyle and longevity as a result. To find out what a traditional Icelandic life connected to the ocean is constructed of, we met up with Kjartan Ólafsson, an independent sailor and fisherman. He finds himself in the intersection between the paradigm shift in the Icelandic economy, working both as a traditional fisherman and operating a tour company, taking tourists out onto the Atlantic Ocean.
First time at sea at 14
Kjartan, age 68, first got into fishing at the age of 14, when he spent his first summer out at sea. "Back in the day there was nothing called child labour. Instead, we were considered a part of the crew. Bullying of the new arrivals was rough in those days, but it was all meant to make us kids tough. I was big and had a strong stomach for the sea, so they pretty quickly forgot about me. After that first summer, I could return home with more than enough money to buy myself a moped, that was pretty exciting for a young kid." The year later, Kjartan went out for another summer season and returned with enough money to buy himself a brand-new Jeep Wrangler. Year to year, his knowledge of the profession at sea became better and better, knitting the man and the sea closer to each other.
Since then, the sea would forever remain a part of his life. Kjartan worked as a fisherman until he, at age 25, decided to try something else, entering the police force for twelve years. "I had my share of adventures in the force, but I never felt quite satisfied. I had a hard time spending most of the day sitting down in a police car or in front of the desk at the station. In particular, I was missing the hard, physical work, the freedom and serenity connected to being out at sea, so I decided to turn back," says Kjartan, who even during his years at the police force went out at sea once in a while after working hours. He just couldn't be without the sea.