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Dear Diary,

it's been quite some time since I have written because I have been so busy
preparing for my sailing voyage with the Sea Stallion from Glendalough.
In May all the crew had safety training on how to use and look after our
life vests and life suits (I have mine on in the picture as well as my Sea
Stallion crew jacket - it fits nicely. You can also see my Thor's Hammer.
It was a present from a crew member Erik the Red. I think he may be distant
cousin of mine).

We also worked on preparing the ship - it had to be re-tarred and
repainted. All the hard work was worth it because on Sunday the crew of the
Sea Stallion left Dublin, Ireland at George's Dock and set sail for Howth
in north Dublin on our way to Roskilde in Denmark. It was amazing to sail
out of Dublin - a Viking city. We rowed and sailed - I think my brother
Leif is more used to rowing than I am since he is a warrior and I am a
trader!

We sailed up the River Liffey and out to Howth, past Ireland's Eye and
Lambay (two islands off Ireland). We docked in Howth on Sunday to a
fantastic reception - all the locals came out to see us and I spent some
time explaining about the ship and the voyage on the pier. All the crew are
very nice and welcoming especially midships where I am based.

Maybe I should tell you a little bit about the ship. The Sea Stallion as
you know is a reconstruction of the Skuldelev II that was excavated in
Roskilde Fjord. On board the ship is divided into four sections: Lofting,
Aftership, Midship and Foreship.
The Lofting is where the captain, his two mates and the helsman sit. The
mates give the commands for sailing under the watchful eye of Carsten, our
Captain and the helmsman steer the ship with the rudder.
The Aftership is the next section and they raise and lower the sail and
take care of some of the ropes attached to it.
The Midship is the next section. We are based around the mast and we look
after the sail and nearly all of the ropes! There is a lot of rope in
midship. I tied all the sizings on the sail after we had moored. They are
the little ropes that go around the sail and keep it all together when we
are anchored.
The Foreship is at the front of the ship and they manage the rope at the
front of the sail and keep a lookout so we don't hit anything! A very
important job.

Anyway, we are staying at Howth for the next day or two and I am on watch
tonight so I will be sleeping on the ship and making sure the mooring lines
holding the ship to the pier are ok. I'll try to keep my diary as often as
I can.
Take care.
Miss you all,
Erik