Southern Norway ready for a cruise - and Tall Ships Races 2025
The school ship photographed during sailing (Photo: Kjell Inge Søreide)
The full rigger Skoleskipet Sørlandet departed from quay six in Kristiansand in glorious sunshine on Saturday, August 31. On board the ship were 67 expectant pupils from eight different countries - all of them excited about what experiences the journey on the "seven seas" will bring.
The ship's first destination is England. It will then travel to Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Cape Verde, Grenada, Guadeloupe (archipelagos south of Cuba), Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Denmark before returning to Norway in June next year, in good time to be ready for next year's big event - Tall Ships Races 2025 in Kristiansand.
Many people had butterflies in their stomachs as the young sailors waved goodbye to their loved ones on Saturday afternoon. Around 100 friends and relatives turned up to wave goodbye to the young sailors (Photo: Kjell Inge Søriede)
Renovated for NOK 34 million
The school ship Sørlandet is the world's oldest full rigger in year-round operation and the ship needed extensive maintenance to renew its sailing license. The almost 97-year-old "dama" is owned by the Fullriggeren Sørlandet Foundation.
The full rigger was refurbished at Bredalsholmen dock and vessel preservation center from May to August. The results include a beautiful new main deck made in a traditional style, a newly overhauled rig and the replacement of twelve steel plates on the hull.
- It was demanding to get the financing in place," says director Knut Arne Gjertsen.
Both the foundation and friends of the Fullrigger were delighted when Sparebanken Sør and an anonymous donor made the extensive repairs possible. The ship also receives support from the public sector.
- The gift we received this spring enabled one of Norway's and Southern Norway's most significant cultural treasures to undergo the repairs needed to get the ship ready for the Tall Ships Races in Kristiansand in 2025," said Gjertsen.
CEO Knut Arne Gjertsen (photo: Kjell Inge Søreide)
Invited partners on inspection
Local supporters, including Kristiansand municipality and Agder county council, were invited to a guided tour on board the full rigger on Friday, August 30. The school ship Sørlandets Shantykor entertained with great choral singing.
The shanty choir had a number of great shanty songs on the repertoire (photo: Kristiansand Municipality)
The full rigger Sørlandets Shantykor (Photo: Kristiansand Municipality)
- It's great to have this traditional school ship in the region, and we look forward to a pleasant reunion with the beautiful ship during the Tall Ships Races next year," says municipal director Camilla B. Dunsæd.
Camilla B. Dunsæd (Photo: Kristiansand Municipality)
Project manager Marianne Osmundsen Tronstad was also present at the inspection.
- For all of us who are particularly fond of sailing ships, we're now counting down to July 30 next year. That's when the Tall Ships Races festival kicks off in Kristiansand, and we're looking forward to inviting everything that can crawl and walk down to the harbor - and not least, we're looking forward to opening up Lagholmen to the public. At quay six, the school ship Sørlandet will shine alongside all the other beautiful sailing ships coming to the city as part of Tall Ships Races 2025," concludes project manager Marianne Tronstad.
Marianne Osmundsen Tronstad (Photo: Kristiansand Municipality)
On its way out of Kristiansand, the Fullrigger drove past Kilden and Kunstsilo (Photo: Tress Design)
