Vikings are sailing to Ireland

The Sea Stallion, a Viking ship has set sail for Ireland from Denmark, the port of Roskilde, recreating the voyages undertaken by Norsemen 1000 years ago. The 30M long replica, is said to be the world's largest reconstructed Viking vessel. It is based on a ship made nearly 1,000 years ago in Ireland, which in 1962 was excavated from the Roskilde fjord.
A crew of 65 volunteers will travel the 1,200 miles to Dublin, using only oars and the wind in their sails.
"The Vikings are coming back. Be prepared," Captain Carsten Hvid shouted before jumping onboard the ship.
The original, was made in 1042, is believed to have been made by Danish Vikings in Ireland. The boat sank in the Roskilde fjord at the end of the 11th Century, while defending the country's coast from Norwegian Vikings.
The replica was constructed from around 300 oak trees and 7,000 iron nails and rivets. It has a top speed 15-20 knots , equipped with GPS satellite navigation and radar for safety. A modern support boat with medical and rescue experts will also accompany the ship.
Viking ship replica, the Sea Stallion
The aim of the voyage is to sail to Dublin across the North Sea and around the north tip of Scotland. The crew say the toughest challenge will be the weather, with no shelter on the open vessel from crashing waves, wind or rain. "After all, we are testing the construction. Can it resist the rough weather? And the nights get really cold," Louise Henriksen, a 27-year-old historian and crew member, said.
"If we get 10 hours of rain and storms, we still need to be able to laugh to survive," said Claus Oreskov, 46, a Danish crew member. "What all crew members have in common is that we all are a bit crazy."
The ship is scheduled to reach Dublin on 14 August.
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Vikings are sailing to Ireland