The Danes began their long-anticipated invasion of Norway today, sending a Viking boat in to land at Oslo. The 61 member crew will commence pillaging any moment now.
Well, ok, that was an exaggeration. What actually happened is the a faithful reproduction of a 30 meter long Viking boat sailed into Oslo harbor (more properly, was rowed into the harbor) in it's first long-range sea trial.
The Danish built 30-meter-long "Sea Stallion from Glendalough" is based on an 11th century ship, built near the settlement of Glendalough in Ireland, which had been sailed by Vikings to Denmark.
It took four years and 10 million Danish crowns (900,000 pounds) to build the new "Sea Stallion" using original techniques, tools and materials.
"We just didn't know how she would sail, but it was fantastic," the 40-year-old captain, Carsten Hvid, said, his hair and beard bleached blonde by the sun.
"If you stood at the back as she sailed and looked at the front you could see her moving and bending like a snake."
Pictures of the boat can be found here, here and here. I saw another reproduction of one of these boats once. They are really interesting. The 313 mile trip to Oslo was a practice run for a voyage planned for next year.
A voyage to Ireland. The pillaging was always better there, anyway.
Beautiful
Thanks for the links.
I’d like to go for a sail on one of those actually.
Me too, though it’s will stay a dream, as I can’t suffer the cold of Scandinavia
Would freeze to death in five minute I think. 
Though, on the Carribeans…
Good idea. They have rum to loot, too! Whoo hoo!
Pingback: Blue Crab Boulevard » A Calm And Rational Warning To Ireland