Sea Stallion celebrates 10th anniversary

On the 4th September 2004, Sea Stallion from Glendalough was named by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and afterwards launched by the 60-strong crew with help from the Viking Ship Museum's volunteer boatguilds.

With its length of 30m, Sea Stallion is the world's largest Viking ship reconstruction. The original ship - Skuldelev 2 - stands on display in the Viking Ship Hall together with four other ships, which were excavated from Roskilde Fjord in 1962.

The ship became world famous when it undertook the spectacular test sailing from Roskilde, north around Scotland to the Irish capital, Dublin, in 2007 and back to Roskilde, going south around the English coast in 2008. Along the way, the ship stopped at many harbours and it was possible to follow the sailing via a satellite map on the Viking Ship Museum's website. It was a huge communications success - 1.5 million people followed the journey during the 14 weeks.

Sea Stallion is celebrating its 10th birthday far from Roskilde. The ship arrived to Berlin's harbour today, September 4th, to prepare for the rowing trip through the city on the 6th September and the visit of the Queen and President Gauck on the 9th September, in connection with the opening of the exhibition, 'Die Wikinger' and the Viking Ship Museum's exhibition, 'Ships of the Vikings' at Martin Gropius Bau.

In recognition of the day, we have collected some of the most beautiful photos from Sea Stallion's many voyages.

The photos are taken by Werner Karrasch.

» Click on the photos to enlarge them

Click on the photos to enlarge them

4th September 2004, Her Majesty the Queen names the newly built Skuldelev 2 reconstruction 'Sea Stallion from Glendalough'
The ship is equipped with 60 oars and 60 shileds, which are mounted along the ship's upper edge, the gunwale..
Sea Stallion was built at the Viking Ship Museum's boatyard between 2000 - 2004.
In the early years, Sea Stallion sailed with an undyed sail: here, the ship can be seen on the trial voyage to Norway in 2006.
Cliffs and skerries provide a beautiful and unusual background on which the photographer can play with Sea Stallion's shadow.
Day of departure 2007. The course is set for Ireland.
21st July 2007 Sea Stallion rounds Cape Wrath, the most westerly point of the Scottish mainland.
Longship in a beautiful landscape near Loch Inver, 23rd July 2007.
Sea Stallion sailed with a crew of 60 men and women on the test sailing in 2007. There was a crew change along the way and more than 100 crewmembers took part in the voyage..
26th July 2007, Sea Stallion sailed by Inverie in beautiful sunshine..
Rowing with the mast down by the Isle of Carne, 29th July 2007..
Sea Stallion passes Duart Castle, close to the Caledonian Canal, 29th July 2007.
Rowing out to Port Ellen on the island of Islay, 31st July 2007.
'Stormy Monday'. Sailing in a storm on the Irish Sea, Monday 6th August 2007..
14th August 2007 Sea Stallion sailed in a great reception in Dublin.
Departure from Dublin, 29th June 2008. Photo is taken on the stretch from Dublin to Howth.
Low tide in Wicklow, 3rd July 2008.
The sail is reefed in the midship.
Sailing from Howth to Wicklow, 3rd July 2008
Sea Stallion's rudder is placed on the starboard side and is attached to the ship using a withy made from a twisted birch tree.
Evening sailing on the leg from Wicklow to Torquay, 6th July 2008.
The stage from Wicklow to Torquay included rough waves, 7th July 2008.
On the way from Portsmouth to Ramsgate on the 14th July, Sea Stallion sailed past the white chalk cliffs at Beachy Head..
From Den Helder in Holland, on the way home to Denmark, 1st August 2008.