Norwegian sea

Like many landlubbers I enjoy BBC Radio 4’s shipping forecast, with its exotically named sea areas. I assumed that beyond North Utsire you dropped off the edge, but recently my wife and I ventured across the 61st parallel, where the North Sea and the Meteorological Office stop. We wish we’d done it sooner.

Being of a certain age we sailed in more comfort than the Vikings, few of whom lived past 45. Not all tourists reach the Arctic …