On the picture above, three crewmembers are trying to tix the wind wing to the stem. The stem wings function is not to show wind direction, but to show who's coming . Its gilded metal glistens and reflects in the sun, so that you can see that this is a particularly fine vessel.
The stern wing on the Sea Stallion is an exact copy of a weather vane from Söderala church in Sweden. It is made of gilded copper, and its design shows that it originally sat in the stem of a ship. The design depicts a large animal - perhaps a lion - which defends itself against a snake and a small animal. It is made in Ringerike-style, mainly used in Scandinavia in the period 1000-1050 - longer in Ireland , where it was very popular. Such wings - veárviti - are often referred to in the sagas from the early Middle Ages, where they seem to have been part of the standard equipment on large warships.
Havhingsten set fra masten
When sailing the Sea Stallion, both sail and oars come in to play, so the crew must be adept at both. Usually the focus is mainly on the sail, but the crew's abilities by the oars are not to be mistaken.
Ida Wolf Ravn Berg, from the Sea Stallionhas shot a great film of the Sea Stallion for oars. She is filming from the top of the mast- don't not worry, she is strapped in place.
» <link https: www.youtube.com external-link-new-window internal link in current>Watch the fim here..