Ships Sighted!

It has been a quiet 850 A.D. winter with little action on the waters, but residents of La Baie Verte are on  watch. Spring and prevailing winds are favorable for visitors, sometimes not friendly. Men from the North have been rumored to have been seen in the area and they are expected to return at any time.

"Land, Ho!"

Currently, it’s spring, 2016, and news of this nature would have little concern for residents of La Baie, now known  as Green Bay which received it’s earlier name of “The Bay Green” due to the color of the water as seen by Jean Nicolet, a French explorer.

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However, the rumors and sightings are current. Huge ships, such as “El Galleon Andalucia”, the replica of a Spanish Galleon of the historic Spanish fleet will be sailing along with nineteen other “Tall Ships” as they take part in a Tall Ship Race across The Great Lakes this summer.

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The 'Andalucia' is a 170 foot, 495 ton authentic wooden replica of a Spanish ship, sailing in this race for the first time. This festival of ships will sail the Great Lakes with port-stops along the way to Chicago, before reversing course northward to Green Bay. 150,000 people will be expected to greet these ships that are expected to dock when they arrive in Green Bay, the first of August, as the ships finish their racing schedule.

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Founded in 1973, Tall Ships America is a non-profit organization  created for youth education through

leadership programs as they take part aboard these sailing ships.Green Bay will be one of nine cities to

welcome the Tall Ships Challenge Great Lakes 2016 as they tour the Great Lakes. Other ‘local’ ships expected are  ‘The U.S. Brig Niagara’ from Pennsylvania, ‘Windy’ from Chicago and ‘Denis Sullivan’ from Milwaukee. Their closest ports in eastern Wisconsin will be in Chicago, July 27th, Green Bay August 5th and Duluth, the middle of August.

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However, the Men from The North will set sail April 24th and have the tall-ship fleet and North America  in mind.

 In May 2016, Draken Harald Hårfagre, the worlds largest viking ship built in modern times, leaves her home port in Haugesund, Norway to sail across the North Atlantic Ocean.
The purpose of the voyage is to retrace the Viking discovery of the New World.
After studying historic sagas and examining recovered sunken vikingships,  construction began on what would be the largest Viking ship ever built in modern times. Named after Harald Hårfagre, the king who unified Norway into one kingdom, the great dragon ship has regained  life. At 114 feet of crafted oak, 27 feet on the beam,weighing eighty tons, and with a 3200 square foot sail, this magnificent single-sail ship is rowed by 25 pairs of oars, each oar pulled by 2 men.Worthy of a king. This vessel was designed for warfare and the ability to sail across the oceans.In the Viking Age,attacks carried out from the ocean was in form of a

Warship Battle Formation

“Strandhogg”,which was ‘hit and run’ tactics, being highly mobile. However, as time went on, ships changed shapes to become larger and heavier with platforms in the front and back. This was done for the sake of sea battles, that made it possible to board ships that lay alongside each other.

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During all territorial struggles in Scandinavian history, many chieftains became kings and area kings battled for more control. Harald was a chieftain born of Halfdan,the Black and his mother Ragnhild Haraldsdotter (or perhaps  Sigurdsdotter). He grew to become a fierce warrior and a respected king.

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Harald was regarded as having unified Norway into one kingdom. His colorful history involves his love for a woman who would not marry him unless he became king of the entire country! While fighting to that end, Harold vowed not to cut his hair until he accomplished his goal. Having done so, his crown of hair gave him his name of King Harald Hårfagre, or Harald Fairhair ( Earlier rumored to be called 'Harald Tanglehair').

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Becoming the sole king, Harald had a dragonship  as well as many additional large ships constructed for his warfleet. His crews were highly loyal for their strength, and courage, chosen from the best men of every district. His command vessel was feared by all. Using the best of Viking technology learned from archeology and ships that were recovered, current shipbuilders recreated the Viking ship that sails to North America this summer.

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As this Viking ship leaves Norway, it will be steered past known Viking settlements, sailing past the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. These islands had served as restocking or rest stops on early Viking voyages on their way to North America.

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On the 1st of July, the Draken will join the Tall Ships fleet in Toronto, then sail on to Navy Pier in Chicago before it reverses course back to Green Bay to drop anchor August 5-7 to be viewed by welcome crowds who are expected to number 150,000 visitors. Following this festive occasion, the ships will continue homeward bound, while the Draken Harald Hårfagre will make way through the lakes, heading for New York where the Draken will spend the winter of 2016/17 in Mystic Seaport.

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This time, the arrival of a dragon-headed Viking ship is not to be feared. 

It arrives in friendship and will be welcomed in peace.