Risøyrenna (The Risøy channel)

When future Hurtigruten founder Captain Richard With settled in Risøyhamn in 1875, he immediately recognised both the opportunities and the frustrations of life on this stretch of coast. The shallow waters of Risøysundet made it difficult for larger vessels to reach the village, limiting trade and isolating the communities beyond. Determined to improve connections along Norway's coastline, he became a driving force behind plans to create a navigable channel through the sound.

Before the channel was dredged, local tradition says the shallow waters could even be crossed on horseback at low tide between Andøya and Hinnøya. After years of work, the 4.8-kilometre-long Risøy Channel officially opened in 1922, creating a safer and shorter route for ships sailing through Vesterålen.

The opening was a landmark moment in Hurtigruten's history. Richard With sailed through the new channel aboard the steamship DS Finnmarken, accompanied by King Haakon VII and a flotilla of around 400 boats celebrating the occasion. More than simply an engineering achievement, Risøyrenna strengthened the links between communities along the coast and helped fulfil With's vision of a better-connected Norway.

Today, the Coastal Express still passes through this historic waterway. As your ship glides through the sheltered channel, you're following a route shaped by the determination and vision of the man who founded Hurtigruten.