''Odin's Raven'' is a 2/3 scale

replica A 1:1 replica is an exact copy of an object, made out of the same raw materials, whether a molecule, a work of art, or a commercial product. The term is also used for copies that closely resemble the original, without claiming to be identical. Al ...

of the Gokstad ship, which was sailed from Trondheim to Peel, Isle of Man, by a joint

Manx Manx (; formerly sometimes spelled Manks) is an adjective (and derived noun) describing things or people related to the Isle of Man: * Manx people **Manx surnames * Isle of Man It may also refer to: Languages * Manx language, also known as Manx ...

and Norwegian crew. The project formed part of the 1979 Manx Millennium Celebrations, and was conceived and planned by local businessman Robin Bigland.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

Technical details

''Odin's Raven'' is in length,

beam Beam may refer to: Streams of particles or energy *Light beam, or beam of light, a directional projection of light energy **Laser beam *Particle beam, a stream of charged or neutral particles **Charged particle beam, a spatially localized grou ...

, and draft to keel, ( draft to

steering oar The steering oar or steering board is an over-sized oar or board, to control the direction of a ship or other watercraft prior to the invention of the rudder. It is normally attached to the starboard side in larger vessels, though in smaller ...

). She was built at Rød Båtbyggeri, Fredrikstad, Elingaardskilen, near the entrance to Oslofjord. Technical advice was obtained from Alan Binns of Hull University, who sailed for the first half of the voyage; Eric Rudstrom, a

fembøring A fembøring is an open, clinker-built, wooden boat of the Nordland or Åfjord type, with similar proportions and appearance as smaller boats of the type (such as faerings). Fembørings traditionally are constructed of fir or pine, are rowed or ...

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. Following sea trials on Oslofjord, ''Odin's Raven'' was shipped to Trondheim.Ingram, p. 43

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 The Brent field was an oil and gas field located in the East Shetland Basin of the North Sea, north-east of Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, Scotland, at the water depth of . The field operated by Shell UK Limited was discovered in 1971 and w ...

Lerwick Lerwick (; non, Leirvik; nrn, Larvik) is the main town and port of the Shetland archipelago, Scotland. Shetland's only burgh, Lerwick had a population of about 7,000 residents in 2010. Centred off the north coast of the Scottish mainland ...

* Kirkwall * Rousay * Sule Skerry *Sheshader Bay, Eye Peninsula,

Isle of Lewis The Isle of Lewis ( gd, Eilean Leòdhais) or simply Lewis ( gd, Leòdhas, ) is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as ...

Stornoway Stornoway (; gd, Steòrnabhagh; sco, Stornowa) is the main town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland. The town's population is around 6,953, making it by far the largest town in the Outer Hebrides, as well a ...

, Isle of Lewis *

Portree Portree (; gd, Port Rìgh, ) is the largest town on, and capital of, the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Murray, W.H. (1966) ''The Hebrides''. London. Heinemann. Pages 154-155. It is the location for the only secondary school o ...

Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated b ...

(where the crew experienced a capsize during sailing evolutions for the camera) * Kyle of Lochalsh * Tobermory *

Oban Oban ( ; ' in Scottish Gaelic meaning ''The Little Bay'') is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William. During the tourist season, th ...

* Gulf of Corryvreckan *

Port Ellen Port Ellen ( gd, Port Ìlein) is a small town on the island of Islay, in Argyll, Scotland. The town is named after the wife of its founder, Walter Frederick Campbell. Its previous name, ''Leòdamas'', is derived from Old Norse meaning "Leòd's Ha ...

Islay Islay ( ; gd, Ìle, sco, Ila) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll just south west of Jura, Scotland, Jura and around north of the Northern Irish coast. The isl ...

(where she was met by HM Submarine ''Odin'') *

Portpatrick Portpatrick is a village and civil parish in the historical county of Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located on the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway. The parish is about in length and in breadth, covering . History ...

, Mull of Galloway, arriving at Peel, Isle of Man on 5 July 1979 ( Tynwald Day). 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".Ingram, Op. Cit.

Museum exhibit

''Odin's Raven'' is displayed as a museum exhibit at the

House of Manannan The House of Manannan is a museum in Peel in the Isle of Man. It is named after the "great mythological sea god" Manannan and covers the island's Celtic, Viking, and Maritime history. History The museum is located in the former Peel railway s ...

in Peel, in the former

Peel railway station Peel Railway Station ( Manx: ''Stashoon Raad Yiarn Phurt ny h-Inshey'') was a terminus on the Isle of Man Railway; it served the city of Peel in the Isle of Man and was the final stopping place on a line that ran between Douglas and the city. ...

References

Books

* {{refend

External links

Website for Rød Båtbyggeri
''roedbaatbyggeri.no'', Accessed 25 November 2018) 1979 ships Individual sailing vessels Rowing boats Ships built in Fredrikstad Viking ship replicas Ships preserved in museums