Expedition America 2016
On April 24 Draken Harald Hårfagre will leave her home port in Haugesund, Norway and sail off for a great challenge across the North Atlantic Ocean.
The aim is to explore and relive one of the most mythological sea voyages – the first transatlantic crossing, and the Viking discovery of the New World more than a thousand years ago.
The project will create cross-border meetings and inspire people to go beyond the horizon in a modern Viking saga. Along the traditional route, the ship will pass historical Viking settlements at Shetland, Faroe Islands, Island and Greenland.
Upon reaching the American continent, Expedition America 2016 will sail on visiting ports in Canada and USA.
Follow the Expedition’s Facebook-page for latest updates www.facebook.com/drakenharaldharfagre
The Explorer
The Norwegian entrepreneur, Sigurd Aase, is the initiator and owner of Viking Kings A/S, the company behind Draken Harald Hårfagre-project. It all started by Mr. Aase’s strong interest in history, that led to the construction of the world’s largest Viking ship built in modern times.
Mr Aase is originally from Haugesund, Norway – the homeland of the Viking Kings.
The world’s largest Viking ship
The Vikings left almost no record of how they built their ships and how they sailed them. There are many who have tried to recreate viking ships, some of them are replicas of the ships which has been archaeologically found and some of them are inspired from the norse sagas. Draken Harald Hårfagre is built with inspiration from the Gokstad ship, the ships mentioned in the sagas and from knowledge of traditional boatbuilding tradition.
Draken Harald Hårfagre is 35 meters long, 8 meters wide and the mast reaches 24 meters. She is sailed with a 260 square meters large sail and rowed with 25 pairs of oars. During the trail sailing the summer of 2014 she reached a top speed of 14 knots. When sailing expedition America she will be crewed by 32 skilled sailors.