The goal of the trim report is to find out how the dispertion of weight effects the fore and aft trim of the ship. This is an important factor both for the steering and manoeuvring of the ship, and for the way the ship behaves in the water.
Before the departure from Roskilde all the necessary equipment was stown away in the Sea Stallion. Both food, water and personal equipment.
The weight of ballast and equipment has to be divided down through the ship but with most weight in the area around the mast and aft of the mast. That is very important for the trim and balance and with that, the sailing capacity of the ship. Above that it is optimal in relation to turning the ship.
Before departure we removed ballast in the form of stones from the ship, so that the removed amount of weight was equivalent with the weight of the equipment and luggage put in.
When we did the test-sailing on the ship in 2006 from Roskilde to Norway and back again, we had put too much weight near the stems of the ship, were the hull was twisting a great deal, especially in a large swell. We estimated, that this was too straining for the hull, so this year we have tried to place more weight near the mid part of the ship.
In front of the center area, where ballast stones are places, is water and life rafts. Ropes and ankers are normaly found in the front of the ship, but are placed as far back as possibel, while lighter things, as the personal equipment of the crew and fenders, are placed in the front.
The boxes with navigation equipment are naturally placed abaft, next to skipper and mate.
The pantry is places abaft. Partly becauce the provisions are packed higher above the bilge water in this area, and partly becauce it's quiet and dry in this part of the ship, where no work for maneuring the ship is taking place.
While packing we where consius about the longship-trim. The hull needs to balance during a sail without being neither waether helm nor lee helm.
At the same time it's important that the ship has exactly that weight on bord that gives it a draft that gives the ship a sufficient stability and grib in the water.
The ship needs to be as light as possible to gain high speed, but not as light as it looses the grip in the water and careen to much, so the sail has to be reefed to soon. The forces of the sail and the weight in the hull needs to fit together, so speed and sequrity goes along.
During the sail for Dublin water and food supplies are under constant kontrol.
The weights are also under constant control when equipment are moved becauce of funktion or trim.
Weights, placing and any changes in these are recorded in a diary of those responsible. The research informations will be used for documentation of trim and sailing abillities of the longship.