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

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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

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Setting out from Trondheim on 27 May 1979, she was sailed by her crew of 16 via:

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

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

References

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  1. ^ "Margarita Gokun Silver, Published May 13, 2016 'A Modern-Day Viking Voyage'". hakaimagazine.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Largest replica Viking longship ever built visits Isle of Man". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Viking Longship Odins Raven in "Vesterled" see section "Building of the Viking ship by Roed Boatbilders"". anesite.com/vikinglongship. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  5. ^ Ingram, Chapters 2/3 pp. 24-43
  6. ^ Ingram, p. 19
  7. ^ Ingram, p. 43
  8. ^ a b Ingram, Op. Cit.
  9. ^ "House of Manannan". iomguide.com. Isle of Man Guide. Retrieved 12 May 2017.

Books

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