Sea History 005 - Autumn 1976

Page 23

OPERATION SAIL mouth . Of the new suit of sails she carried, nine were unrepairable, three badly damaged . Galloway dined ashore with First Mate Hegerstrom and Second Mate Hoen in a waterfront restaurant Monday, overlooking the ship. "We talked for a while," he concludes, "and then we said nothing. We sat there quietly, looking at the ship. Just looking at her and not saying anything ." Leifur Eiriksson: Iceland's Entry in Operation Sail Iceland's participation was first considered late in 1975. We decided to bring one of the two boats presented by Norway in 1974, on the llOOth anniversary of the settlement of Iceland in 874. These were replicas of the merchant Viking ships, of the kind used for bringing household and livestock from the Old World to the New World settlement. The same type of vessel was used on the west coast of Norway until late in the 18th century. No other vessel of this type would be in the parade; the Danish Viking ship replica Sebbe Als (SH No. 4, pp. 15-16) is of a different kind, the so-called "long ship" used for raids and warfare. The ship we chose, like her sister, had sailed from Norway to Iceland, making the passage in twelve days. But sailing her to America was out of the question, since the voyage would have to be undertaken much too early in the summer, when dangerous pack-ice still filled the passage south of Greenland (in ancient times the seafarers set out in early August). We were glad that the Iceland Steamship Company agreed to transport the ship, and Icelandic Airlines the crew. Leifur Eiriksson is a small ship, 40 feet long and 10 feet wide, with a mainsail of the square-rigged Viking type. There is also a topsail, not much used, and seven oars are carried aboard . Viggo Maack, naval architect of the Iceland Steamship Company, was named skipper, with a crew of six. We were outfitted with a set of replicas of ancient garments to wear, which had been made for the Millenial celebration of the founding of the Althing (Parliament) in 1930. We rehearsed in the ship for about a month, finding her able and remarkably fast-up to 15 knots! A lasting attachment was created. Our maiden voyage in America, on July 3, was made memorable by an unusual accident. Suddenly, out of the blue, a waterspout hit us and almost capsized the vessel. A lot of water got

into her as she Jay on her side, but by a quick , concerted effort we were able to pull down the sail and get the ship back on her keel. The sixteen-hour sail we had next day in Operation Sail was forever memorable to all of us. We were conscious of our own smallness, but all day Jong patrol boats and sailing boats came up to our side photographing and shouting encouraging comment. One was: "God bless you! You are the greatest!" SIGURDUR A. MAGNUSSON Chairman, Writers Union of Iceland

Maine and Virgin Island Cruises 95' Windjammer __ Harvey Gamage, __liiiiiilllm.ilillliiir' (2oa> 669-7068 Box R, 39 Waterside Lane, Clinton Conn. 06413

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The Perfect Gift Remember

~~THE

TALL SHIPS"

A superb collection of 20 plate-signed lithographic prints by Frank Braynard.

Eag le (U S A J 1936, the H os! S hip o f O peral m n Sail 1976 . 1s o n e o f the la rgest of ! he Tall S hips inc luded among the 20 lithograph s cont ained 1n the Of fici al OpSa1 I 76 Po rtfolio now available at $25 o r $4 7 50 1n !he Deluxe {Seri ally Nu m be red) Si g nature Ed1llon

Frank Braynard. marine artist and historian . has immortalized each o f these beautiful w1nd1ammers in a coll ect1on o f 20 original drawings By special arrangement with the artist and Operation Sall. the collection has been beautifully reproduced and presented in the luxurious hard-cover cloth-bound OpSa1I 76 Portfolio complete with a description of each vessel. the thrilling story of Operation Sall and those who made 11 possible Each of the 20 prints 1s a 14 " x 11 " lithograph . suitable for framing and destined to become a c0llector s treasure Makes a handsome gift Business firms and ind1v1duals alike are entit led to a 10 '.¡o discount on each order for ten or more portfolios

You may order now by calling collect (212) 267-5553 or by filling out order blank below.

Order promptly to ensure delivery in time for Christmas giving.

r----------------------------------------------------------------1 SABINE ART COLLECTION , Dept. SH -1 71 Murray Street, New York , N.Y. 10007 j Please se nd me _ _ Frank Br aynard's " Tall Ships " o ll1c1at porlfolios ol 20 hthog raph1c pun ts at $25 for l he complete set _ _ Deluxe Signature Edition portlohos at $ 4 7 50 for the complete set Add S2 95 per set tor postage and msurance Be sure lo add sal es tax 11 applicable

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