DRAKEN VIKING LONGBOAT.

VIKING LONGSHIP DRAKEN

FACTS

August 24, 2018

The Draken Harald Harfagre is a clinker built Viking Longship, reconstruction of

what the Norse Sagas, data of interest, refer to as a “Great Ship”.

April 26, 2016, she left her home port Haugesund , Norway on an expedition to sail

to America to explore and relive one of the most mythological sea voyage, the first

transatlantic crossing and the discovery of the New World, over 1000 years ago.

As of this date, the Draken, has crossed the Atlantic, sailed the Great Lakes, sailed down

the Erie Canal to New York City, berthed at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut

,

and the week of August 20^th , 2018, visited and docked at the Lewes town dock after seeking

a rest in the Delaware Breakwater on her way to Ocean City, Maryland, on a tour of the

East Coast. At every dock stop along the way, thousands , turned out to see the example

of ancient seafaring.

The Draken Harald Harfagre was launched in 2012, not a replica of any know ship, but

reconstructed based on historic documents, archeological findings, and Norwegian

boatbuilding traditions. .

She carries one large square sail , 2800 square feet, which will drive the ship at a speed

of 14 knots, or, shecan be rowed by 100 oarsmen , with 25 pair of oars, each oar having two oarsmen.

Specifications are; 115 feet long, 26' 2” beam, 78' 8” high, an 8 foot 2 inch draft, her

hull is oak, her mast is Douglas fir and the sail is silk, the rigging is hemp.

The Draken Harald Harfagra is named after King Harald Harfagra, the king who unified

Norway and sat his royal seat in Avaldsnes near Haugesund , Norway, the home

port of the vessel.

Abstract: Source Mystic Seaport Museum world wide web. 2018.

Wikipedia world wide web:

Draken Herald Harfagra, in English “Dragon Herald Fairhair”, is a large Viking

longship , built in Haugesund Norway and brings the seafaring qualities of a warship

from Norse Sagas to life, a ship that combines ocean crossing 'sailing' capabilities with

a warships use of oars.

Construction was funded by Sigurd Asse, a Norwegian oil tycoon in 2010.

She is 115 feet, 26 foot beam, displacement of 95 metric tons, is of oak and carries

2800 square feet of sail. Launched in the summer of 2012 its initial period was exploring

how to sail and row the ship and experimentation with the rigging .

In 2014 summer Swedish Captain Bjorn Ahlander took the longship on a three week

sail from Norway to the British Isles , Liverpool, Isle of Man, Orkney and Shetland.

In 2016 Expedition America took place, from Norway to Newfoundland, retracing the

Vikings transatlantic crossing and the discovery of the New World. There were port stops

at Shetland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, then Newfoundland.

Arizona Daily Star, Tuscon, Tuesday July 10, 2018 reports that the “Viking Ship”

to start voyage along East Coast from Mystic to Booth Bay Harbor, Maine. The ship is

powered by sail and oars, with a crew of 32.

Sunday,, July 24, 2018, Chicago Tribunes Kim Janssen, reported the captain of the

Viking warship accusing U. S. Authorities of 'rudeness' when as the ship was bearing

down on Chicag and entered the Great Lakes and U. S. waters, they needed to hire a $400

per hour pilot.

Todd Haviland, director of Great Lakes Pilots said the captain knew of the federal laws

requiring pilots. Tall Ships America director Patricia Lock agreed the Vikings were

told but misunderstood because the Canadian waters did not require pilots. The Sons of

Norway Heritage Group raised $61,000 to get the vessel to Chicago but not enough to join

in the races.

Captain Ahlander said the American people were very welcoming but now the fees will

mean fewer stops, and less people will get to see Draken Viking Longship and learn of

Vikings voyages to America hundred of year before Chistopher Columbus