Skjoldungen has had a changeover day for the crew, and the newly appointed crew member Preben Sauerberg has sent this report home from Norway:
By Preben Sauerberg:
Skjoldungen is still in Risør on Sunday, July 28, where we have been for a few days. We: Nina, Magnus and I arrived at Risør in the middle of the night a few days ago. The next morning we woke up on the most incredible little island not far outside Risør.
We were very pleased to see the crew when we met for breakfast next to Skjoldungen, which was anchored at the boatyard.
The high-pressure weather bathed in the morning in warm sunlight. Glass clear water around the island gave the whole experience a magical glow.
Meetings with people who have the courage to share
The island we live on is really two islands close to each other. The family that owns the islands has three houses on one island, and we live in the boathouse apartment on the other. We met the owner Niels and he turned out to be the kind of person who has the courage to share his place with others.
Motor boat or tricycle?
During the day we sailed to Risør, which is a nice little town totally overrun by the motorboat people, who fill the harbor to the breaking point.
The part of the fjord that leads into Risør is filled to the brim, and Skjoldungen is the foreign element, all equal we must pass by and wonder about.
We rowed to and from Risør, which is completely abnormal. At home, parents give their children a tricycle. Here they get a motor boat.
Viking ship meets Viking ship
Later we returned to the island, Risør Slip, where we get a good talk with Niels and his son.
While we are eating, we discover Saga Farman, a Norwegian pendant to the cargo ship Ottar, just slightly larger.
Claus S. quickly gets us into Skjoldungen, and 5 minutes later we border Saga Farman as they pass the island with course towards Risør.
We agree to meet on their ship in the evening. It was a really good reunion with Steinar, skipper, Viggo Karsen and Danish Lars.
It turned into a really enjoyable evening with exchanges of sailing experiences and other robber stories.
The evening was concluded with an agreement to meet to try sailing with Saga Farman the following day.
Electric motorized Viking ship
Today we have sailed with an electric motorized Viking ship. A very different experience. We brought our own life raft as they did not have fleets for everyone on board.
We maneuvered sideways from where Saga Farman was moored. The four screws are operated manually and with clear messages back and forth between the four engine managers and the commander. In no time we were free from the harbor and the big diesel generator was started.
Due to the wind conditions we stayed in the fjord where Viggo took over the command. We set sail and got to experience how well Saga Farman sails. 8 knots in light wind. As the sail neck could not be set permanently, Viggo chose to shorten the training course.
We were somewhat surprised that the mast swings quite far from side to side. In the afternoon we said goodbye to our Norwegian friends at Saga Farman.
After returning to the island, the rain tumbled down as lightning and thunder knocked around us.
As you can see, we have a great trip. And tomorrow we try to reach Virginland (Jomfruland). Give that a thought...
