Our Replica
GAIA is a replica of the Gokstad Ship, it
was built in the winter of 1989-90 in Bjørkedalen, in west Norway.
The replica was built by the Bjørkeda family, the oldest ship builders
in Norway, these three sons and their father were commissioned to build
Gaia. Their family name Bjørkeda, comes from the remote valley
where the family has lived for hundreds of years.
This family took six months to build the Gokstad replica and tried
whenever possible to use traditional techniques.
These iron fastenings were couplings from the Viking originals. For corking
to make the boat water proof, they use strands of hint to tied the boat
just as it was a thousand years ago. The Gaia ship has full-length shadow
heal and it has been out of pine and oak. Gaia has 32 rowing oar holes
and one steering oar on the starboard side.
To lash the boat to the frames the Vikings used whale fibers. The Bjørkedal's
have to use their frames with modern materials but they still have crafted
theirs with the motion of the whales. The lashing of the frames is one
of the secrets of the Viking Sea worthiness.
When she was launch people lend a hand as she was eased to the water.
The island of Halhomen in the west of Norway was where Gaia was first
fitted out.
They were two other Viking replica ships here: Saga
Siglar, a Viking freighter and Dronningen , a
replica of the earlier 9th century Oseberg ship.
Technical Information
|
Name: |
GAIA |
|
Callsign: |
LGGI |
Built: |
1990, Bjørkedalen, Norway |
Class: |
NOR |
LOA: |
23,33 m |
Beam: |
5,25 m |
Draught: |
1,20 With rudder (0,75 without
rudder) |
Air draught: |
18 m |
Tonnage: |
26t Gr. reg. Tons, 10t net.
reg. Tons |
Sail area: |
120 m2 |
Rig: |
One mast with one square sail |
Engine: |
57 HP Volvo Penta diesel |
Materials: |
pine on oak ribs |
Passenger certificate: |
30 passengers |
Speed sailing: |
4-9 knots (17 knots max.) |
Speed with engine: |
5 knots (8,5 max) |
Speed rowing: |
2-3 knots |
|
Equipment : |
Jotron
EPIRB |
Tron
30S MkII |
Jotron
SART |
Tron
SART |
Jotron
hand VHF |
Tron
VHF |
Jotron
air |
2 life buoys with Jotron
4F
Flashing lifebuoy lights |
Simrad VHF |
RS8300 |
Silva compas |
Diesel fire and bilge pump |
2 life rafts, 20 and 25 persons |
55 Life Jackets, (Regatta Thermo Cruise) |
Philips GPS Navigator MK8 |
Garmin 12XL GPS |
Raytheon echo sounder |
Radar reflector. |
|