Viking replica ship leaves Kent's shores

A replica of a ninth century Viking ship is preparing to leave the Kent coast and return back to Scandinavia.

The Saga Farmann, a replica of the Norwegian Klåstadship which was built in 998 AD, previously sailed from Norway to Istanbul and travelled back through the Mediterranean and the French canals to London last year.

Emma Helgurson, who is from Sweden and is second in command on the ship, said: "I really like going back to the basics, doing this brings back something that we might have lost and forgotten."

The boat left the Isle of Sheppey on Wednesday and sailed round to Ramsgate on the East Kent coast in what Helgurson described as "rough weather".

The ship will now travel to Sweden, via Belgium, Holland and Denmark over the course of 15 weeks.

Crew members from across the Europe will learn how to sail the 21-metre ship, made only with hand tools from oak trees, across northern Europe.

Finn Christensen, who is from Denmark, said he has an interest in Viking ships from childhood.

He said: "Today is the first time I get to work on a ship like this.

"We are using traditional methods, all the ropes are called something different, all Norwegian names, so we have to learn them.

"It is physically very demanding to sail this ship and can be dangerous if things get out of control."

Bill Parr, from Westgate-on-Sea, said: "I got up at 02:00 this morning and we made our way round to Ramsgate.

"There's lot of great people doing this, it's fantastic, I have made some good friends."

The ship does have an engine, but is is only used when there is no wind.

It is also equipped with all the modern safety equipment, electronics and lights required for crossing the world's busiest shipping lane, the English channel.

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