Statsraad Lehmkuhl – Bergen to Aalborg Expedition

August 22, 2019 Leave a Comment by Richard Sibley Expeditions

Bergen to Aalborg Expedition 2019
On Saturday 29th July we were briefed by the ships Sergeant and organised into watches, shortly afterwards we departed Bergen in somewhat changeable weather and headed for the open sea

Statsraad Lehmkuhl, Port of Bergen

Port of Bergen

A briefing from the ships sergeant

Departing Bergen

Sunday, we were off the Norwegian coast. After the early sun had disappeared we tacked and the morning watch was called to haul on the main tops’l sheets. By the end of the day we were under fore course, staysails and both lower and upper tops’ls as we headed south towards Denmark and into the night.

Early morning and blue sky

The cloud swept in but the sun tried to break through

the sun shone for a few moments as the captain came on deck

Hans the ships doctor

The watch leaders keep an eye on us

Hauling the main tops’l sheets

Keeping a watchful eye

Hauling the main tops’l sheets

The sun tries to break through

The cloud breaks at dusk

A North wind speeds the ships on her way south

Close to the Norwegian shores we occasionally pick up the network

Heading south, the deck compass at night

Monday, the sun returned and a storm was forecast, we were obliged to furl the fore course and as the wind increased towards the evening our upper tops’ls as well. By nightfall we were into a strong gale

Monday 01/07/19; 09:00 hours position N58º34,12′ E009ª17,0′ Wind WSW 25kn – Picture taken from the end of the main yard arm

View of the foremast

View to starboard

The view aft

View from the main topmast

On the foredeck

View from the steering position

Seabirds hover in the strong winds

Monday 01/07/19; 12:00 hours Position N58º27,7′ E009ª41,6′ Wind WSW 30kn – Furling the fore upper tops’l

Furling the fore upper tops’l

Climbing the rig

Strong winds and rough seas

Skagerrak

Sunset on the deck

Evening sun

Strong winds as the birds hover in the evening sun

As the night closed in the wind increased

As the wind increased conditions on watch got a bit wet

Tuesday we arrived in Aalborg, Denmark. But, not before picking up Haakon Steiner Vatle in the estuary. Haakon had arrived to give us some very animated and instructive shanty singing lessons. He had planned a spectacular entrance for the ship, we were to sing shanty’s from the yards as she entered the port of Aalborg