Engineering:Odin's Raven

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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

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

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

Odin's Raven is displayed as a museum exhibit at the House of Manannan in Peel, in the former Peel railway station.[9]

References

  1. Margarita Gokun Silver, Published May 13, 2016 'A Modern-Day Viking Voyage' hakaimagazine.com, Accessed 12 May 2017
  2. 'Largest replica Viking longship ever built visits Isle of Man' Accessed 12 May 2017
  3. 3.0 3.1 BBC > Isle of Man > People > 'In the company of Vikings', 04/08/2009; Archived 13/11/2014 bbc.co.uk/isleofman, Accessed 12 May 2017
  4. Viking Longship Odins Raven in "Vesterled" see section "Building of the Viking ship by Roed Boatbilders" anesite.com/vikinglongship, Accessed 25 November 2018
  5. Ingram, Chapters 2/3 pp. 24-43
  6. Ingram, p. 19
  7. Ingram, p. 43
  8. 8.0 8.1 Ingram, Op. Cit.
  9. "House of Manannan". Isle of Man Guide. http://www.iomguide.com/manannan.php. Retrieved 2017-05-12. 

Books

  • Ingram, Michael (1982). The Voyage of Odin's Raven (with an introduction by Magnus Magnusson). Clearwater Publishing Limited. ISBN 0946363005. 

External links