Draken Harald Harfagre - Viking Longship Replica

Title

Draken Harald Harfagre - Viking Longship Replica

Artist

Carla Parris

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photograph

Description

The Draken Harald Harfagre, pictured here on a visit to Portland Maine in late July, 2018, is a modern-day replica of the historic sleek and speedy Viking longships which were key to the dominance the Vikings enjoyed in warfare, politics, and trade during the medieval Viking Age from A.D. 800-1100.

The seafaring Vikings had a variety of vessels which included not only their warships, the drekar or dragon-headed longships, but also their knorr, which were primarily cargo-carrying ships. But it was the longships, with their menacing square sail and dragon-headed prow, which inspired terror in the hearts of medieval Europeans. These open warships, which were narrower, longer, and shallower than their cargo cousins, were built for speed and maneuverability, and permitted the stealthy Viking raiders to make lightning-fast hit and run attacks. Powered by oars, supplanted by sails, these ships had the strength to cross the ocean under sail, and the versatility to then switch to oars for raids.

One hallmark of the longships was their ability to sail in shallow water. With drafts of less than two feet, they could travel on rivers and inlands waterways as well as across seas. In raids, the boats could readily be hauled up onto land, permitting the Vikings to jump out, make their attack, and if need be, make a quick getaway.

The website for this modern-day Viking longship replica says that this Draken was named after Harald Harfagre who was the king who unified Norway into one kingdom. Constructed in Haugesund, Norway, this longboat is a 25-sesse (25 pairs of oars) vessel which measures 115 feet from stem to stern and is 26 feet wide. It is constructed in oak and carries 2800 square feet of sail. Its mast, made from a Douglas fir tree, is 79 feet tall. The ship’s design was based on archaeological materials, Old Norse literature, visual representations of Viking ships, and old sailing records.

The Draken, whose construction began in 2010, underwent sea trials in 2012 and in 2016 it successfully crossed the North Atlantic, helping to re-create the epic voyage of famous Viking explorer Leif Ericson, who discovered the New World.

The vessel’s July, 2018 visit to Portland was part of its 16-port 2018 East Coast tour which originated in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, where the longship had most recently been docked. The Draken Harald Harfagre was under the command of Swedish captain Björn Ahlander.

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August 7th, 2018

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