Danish Viking ship visiting Sweden

Contrary to one thousand years ago, not to plunder or conquer but increase the interest in history.  

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  Sailing again! Well, almost. A replica of the Viking ship “Havhingsten” is coming to Sweden from its home in Denmark. The original ship was built around 1042 near Dublin, with oak from Glendalough, Wicklow, Ireland, hence the ship's name. The reconstruction was built at the shipyard of the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde from 2000 to 2004. The reconstruction is the second longest Viking longship that currently is found, it is used for research. Photo: Christian Bickel

• The Viking ship Havhingsten sailed off in early August from Dragør in Denmark. The crew was on course to Sweden on a mission to increase the interest in history in the people they meet on their way.
  “Havhingsten fra Glendalough” is a reconstruction of a ship that was dug out in the Danish city of Roskilde in 1962. This replica was completed in 2004, and is 30 meters (98 feet) long, and about 3.8 meters (12 feet) wide. “It sails great, and it is amazing to see how good the foundation is,” says Ivan Jakobsen, who works at Vikingskibsmuseet in Roskilde. He is one of 55 men sailing to Skåne on Havhingsten (which by the way means the Sea Stallion) on Tuesday. The goal for the day is to sail to Höganäs or Båstad. During Wednesday the ship continues to some other, so far unknown, destination. On Saturday at 11 am, the crew will show up in Copenhagen. The ship will be there all of next week, to later continue to participate at a Viking Fair at the Danish Nationalmuséet, August 17-18. For more about the ship and the events at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark, see: www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk