Odin's Raven
Odin's Raven is a 2/3 scale replica of the Gokstad ship, which was sailed from Trondheim to Peel, Isle of Man, by a joint Manx and Norwegian crew. The project formed part of the 1979 Manx Millennium Celebrations, and was conceived and planned by local businessman Robin Bigland.[1][2][3]
Technical details
[edit]Odin's Raven is 50 ft (15 m) in length, 11 ft (3.4 m) beam, and 3 ft (0.91 m) draft to keel, (4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) draft to steering oar). She was built at Rød Båtbyggeri,[4] Fredrikstad, Elingaardskilen, near the entrance to Oslofjord.[5]
Technical advice was obtained from Alan Binns of Hull University, who sailed for the first half of the voyage; Eric Rudstrom, a fembøring sailor; and Rolf Hansen, who had extensive experience of sailing traditional square-rigged boats. She is clinker-built of oak with galvanised iron fasteners, and her frames are lashed in place with nylon cord. A 20 HP motor was provided for safety reasons, but rarely used. The boat was skippered by Eddie Kaighin.[6]
Following sea trials on Oslofjord, Odin's Raven was shipped to Trondheim.[7]
Route of the voyage
[edit]Setting out from Trondheim on 27 May 1979, she was sailed by her crew of 16 via:
- Kjorsvik
- Ålesund
- Honingsvag
- Ninian Central Platform, Brent oilfield
- Lerwick
- Kirkwall
- Rousay
- Sule Skerry
- Sheshader Bay, Eye Peninsula, Isle of Lewis
- Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
- Portree, Skye (where the crew experienced a capsize during sailing evolutions[clarification needed] for the camera)
- Kyle of Lochalsh
- Tobermory
- Oban
- Gulf of Corryvreckan
- Port Ellen, Islay (where she was met by HM Submarine Odin)
- Portpatrick, Mull of Galloway,
arriving at Peel, Isle of Man on 5 July 1979 (Tynwald Day).[8][3]
As well as being followed by a film crew for BBC TV, the story of the project and the voyage was recorded in a book by Michael Ingram "The Voyage of Odin's Raven".[8]
Museum exhibit
[edit]Odin's Raven is displayed as a museum exhibit at the House of Manannan in Peel, in the former Peel railway station.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Margarita Gokun Silver, Published May 13, 2016 'A Modern-Day Viking Voyage'". hakaimagazine.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- ^ "Largest replica Viking longship ever built visits Isle of Man". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- ^ a b "BBC > Isle of Man > People > 'In the company of Vikings', 04/08/2009; Archived 13/11/2014". bbc.co.uk/isleofman. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- ^ "Viking Longship Odins Raven in "Vesterled" see section "Building of the Viking ship by Roed Boatbilders"". anesite.com/vikinglongship. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ Ingram, Chapters 2/3 pp. 24-43
- ^ Ingram, p. 19
- ^ Ingram, p. 43
- ^ a b Ingram, Op. Cit.
- ^ "House of Manannan". iomguide.com. Isle of Man Guide. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
Books
[edit]- Ingram, Michael (1982). The Voyage of Odin's Raven (with an introduction by Magnus Magnusson). Clearwater Publishing Limited. ISBN 0946363005.
External links
[edit]- Website for Rød Båtbyggeri roedbaatbyggeri.no, Accessed 25 November 2018)