Posted on 07/01/2007 12:16:55 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
ROSKILDE, Denmark - A 100-foot-long replica of a Viking longship glided out of a Danish fjord Sunday with 65 crew members determined to sail across the North Sea to Ireland.
Roughly 4,000 people watched the Sea Stallion of Glendalough begin the attempt to relive the perilous journey its Viking forebear made some 1,000 years ago.
The ship is billed as the world's biggest and most ambitious Viking ship reconstruction. It was modeled after a warship excavated in 1962 from the Roskilde fjord after being buried in the seabed for nearly 950 years.
"The Vikings are coming back. Be prepared," skipper Carsten Hvid shouted before jumping on board the wooden longship.
The crew of sailing enthusiasts and history buffs plans to sail the ship on a 1,200-mile voyage to Dublin, which was founded by Vikings in the 9th century. The planned arrival date is Aug. 15.
The expedition aims to gain a better understanding of the challenges the Vikings faced on their long journeys. There is no shelter from crashing waves, wind and rain on the open vessel. The crew have a minimum of privacy in the confined space.
Crew members wearing baseball hats, windbreakers and life vests hugged family members before boarding the ship.
"I am not nervous but there is some funny tickling in my stomach," said crew member Lasse Rahn, a 21-year-old student from Flensburg, Germany. "I am so excited."
Unlike the Vikings, the crew is aided by modern technology: a GPS satellite navigation system and radar, and the ship will be accompanied by a modern support vessel with medical and rescue experts.
The goal is to sail nonstop to Dublin by crossing the North Sea and rounding the northern tip of Scotland. But the plan could change depending on the weather.
"If we get 10 hours of rain and storms, we still need to be able to laugh to survive," said Claus Oreskov, 46, a Danish crew member. "What all crew members have in common is that we all are a bit crazy."
Using replicas of Viking era tools — craftsmen built the 7.5-ton Sea Stallion using 5,250 cubic feet of oak and 7,000 hand-forged iron rivets.
The Vikings entered history in the late eighth century, when Christian monks chronicled the first Norse raids on the coasts of northern Europe. The Vikings were also skilled craftsmen and traders, establishing commercial networks as far away as Constantinople — today Istanbul.
In Britain and Ireland, the raids gradually grew into full-fledged invasions led by Danish and Norwegian kings. The first Viking settlements in Ireland have been dated back to 840.
The Sea Stallion from Glendalough sails Sunday July 1, 2007 from the fjord in Roskilde, Denmark. The 11th-century Viking longship reconstructed to its original condition in Denmark set sail on Sunday for a seven-week voyage across the North Sea to its home port of Dublin, powered only by sails and oars. The Sea Stallion from Glendalough is the largest Viking warship ever rebuilt. (AP Photo/John McConnico)
Viking longship to sail across North Sea - The Sea Stallion of Glendalough ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840744/posts
Posted by NormsRevenge
On News/Activism ^ 05/27/2007 7:36:50 PM PDT · 25 replies · 1,185+ views
When we were in Ireland last fall, Mr. Mercat and I stumbled upon the Brenden, the boat which sailed from Ireland to Newfoundland in the 70s. We bought and read the wonderful book about the voyage, The Brenden. I strongly recommend it. I am excited about this story also. The human spirit is amazing!!!
I visited the museum in Oslo where the Viking longships are restored and on display. As I gazed at the craft I marveled at the Vikings acumen and courage which took them to the Greenland, New Found Land, and even the Inland waterways of North America!!!
I grew up in West Central Minnesota, near where the Kensington Runestone was unearthed, the local museum had a smaller replica of a Viking longship there, I remember climbing on it as a kid.
It took some cahonies to sail the distances and waters they travelled, for sure.
wow! what an adventure!
The Vikings were followed by the Swedes in 1637.
A graphic on the reconstructed 11th century Viking longship which set sail from Denmark to Dublin.(AFP Graphic)
That is COOL!
this is way cool. I am half Danish, and supposedly have a Viking ancestor named Oxfang. I built a model of this boat for my Mom.
if you are starting a pinglist for this subject, please put me on it.
Thanks for the post.
Of course this thread is incomplete without the Immigrant Song with the Viking Kitties http://www.jugglingcats.com/video/viking_kittens1.htm
Viking longship to sail across North Sea - The Sea Stallion of Glendalough
AP on Yahoo | 5/27/07 | Jan M. Olson - ap
Posted on 05/27/2007 10:36:50 PM EDT by NormsRevenge
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840744/posts
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