Draken Harald Hårfagre

What happens if you build a Viking ship using ancient knowledge – and then point the bow towards America? That was the idea behind Draken Harald Hårfagre.

Built in Haugesund, this enormous wooden ship is 35 meter long and eight meter wide. A 24-metre mast carries a massive 260-square-meter sail. Draken is the largest Viking ship sailing in modern times. But perhaps the most impressive thing about her is not the size.
She actually crossed the North Atlantic.

Building a Viking great ship

Draken Harald Hårfagre is not a replica of one particular Viking ship. Instead, the project explored how the great ocean-going Viking ships described in the Norse sagas may have looked and performed.

The builders combined archaeological knowledge, the sagas and traditional Norwegian boatbuilding techniques. Construction began in Haugesund in 2010, and Draken was launched in 2012. The result is impressive.

Draken measures 35 meter from bow to stern and eight meter across. She has 25 pairs of oars and can carry a crew of around 100 people. Despite her size, Draken is an open wooden ship. There are no comfortable cabins below deck. That becomes rather important when you decide to sail to Greenland.

Across the North Atlantic

After several years of testing the ship at sea, Draken was ready for her greatest adventure. In April 2016, she left Haugesund on Expedition America. The route followed the old Viking sailing routes west. Draken travelled via Shetland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland before continuing to Greenland.

From there, the crew crossed the North Atlantic towards Newfoundland. They encountered cold weather, fog, icebergs and difficult seas along the way.

On 1 June 2016, Draken reached St. Anthony in Newfoundland.

A 35-metre Viking ship built in Norway had successfully crossed the North Atlantic. The expedition later continued through the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the Great Lakes.

More than a replica

There is an important difference between Draken and famous ships such as Oseberg, Gokstad and Myklebust. Those ships are based on actual archaeological discoveries. Draken is different.
She is a modern interpretation of the large ocean-going Viking ships described in the sagas. Archaeological evidence was combined with traditional craftsmanship and knowledge preserved by Norwegian boatbuilders. In that sense, Draken is a giant experiment.
Instead of simply asking what Viking ships looked like, the project explored what they could actually do. Crossing the North Atlantic provided a pretty convincing answer.

Practical info

Draken was built and had her first home port at Vibrandsøy in Haugesund, but after a dispute with Haugesund municipality, its home port was moved. It now sails from Kopervik at Karmøy.

Draken Harald Hårfagre is an active sailing ship rather than a permanent museum exhibition. Therefore, her location and opportunities to visit can change.

Check the official website for the ship’s current location, events and visiting information before planning your trip.

YouTube video by Draken Harald Hårfagre