History

Historically Stormy

The sea route past Stad and Vestkapp is notorious for its strong currents and shifting winds. Many ships have ended their voyage in these waters that are often referred to as the most volatile weather fronts in Norway. In the few kilometres from Sildegapet in the south to Ervik in the north as many as 58 ship wrecks have been located. In other words, Stad has been a historically stormy region.

The Vestkapp plateu has also been called “Kjerringa”. This name can be translated to a version of the name "woman” and be closely related to the word “loved one” (“Kjæringa”/ “Kjæraste”). Legend has it that women have been coming to the cliff to scout for their loved ones out at sea since the beginning of time, while waiting for them to come home.

With its stormy history, seafarers have always tried to avoid to cross Stadhavet in bad weather. To the east of Vestkapp you find Dragseidet. The name has its origin from the vikings, as they used to pull their boats over the land between Leikanger in the north and Drage in the south (Drage kan be directly translated to “pull” and eidet is “land”). This was the shortest and easiest distance to cross by land to avoid the wild seas around the western cape. St. Olav also used this route during the Christening of Norway toward 1030 a.d..

During the next few years, the world’s first full-scale ship tunnell will be built at the inner most part of the Peninsula. This will be the first chapter of the future history of shipping and ocean transportation past the most ruthless area of the Norwegian coast line.