Rurik 2003

Rurik 2003

Täby Vikingship Guild

RURIK 2003

In year 863 the svea viking Rurik arrived on the river Neva and became ruler in "Holmgård" (Novgorod)

VIKING PLYM back home from sailing east to St Petersburg After a hard-working but entertaining week in St Petersburg our ship is now back in her harbour in good shape. All parts of the RURIK 2003 project has be accomplished with great success. The viking camp, the runestone replicas and the multinational viking fleet raised interest from media and the people of St Petersburg, residents and visitors came to visit us in the thousands. To row or sail exactly where Rurik year 863 and tsar Peter year 1703 rowed was really making history living. Here are pictures from a memorable adventure. In year 2000 we sailed in New York and now it was really fine to go east - the main historical direction for the svea vikings. It was also fine to meet all the friends in Norseman, Philadelphia, USA once again and also all the other crews from both Norway and Sweden. Chief Carl carved
From their Svea coast they travelled far away and followed Russian rivers down to Miklagård (Istanbul).	The ships had to be small (10-12 m) to be hauled when needed.Our ships have historical size.	RUS people rowing. Probably the first picture of a viking ship.
This event was supported by the Swedish governement and Swedish companies will had great marketing opportunities. Sponsors invited people to the camp and manned our oars on the river Neva - exactly where both Rurik and later tsar Peter rowed.
We arrived as friendly vikings ! Traders - not warriors
Strange encounter. Where the viking route met the silk road trading could take place.	This Russian monument stands in Kiev by the river Djnepr.	This is a modern view of Istanbul. A thousand years ago the same view was overwhelming to the Nordic travellers.
Sjöhistoriska Museet highlights vikings

As many of you already know the following ships have been shown in a small but spectacular exhibition at Sjöhistoriska museet (National Maritime Museum) in Stockholm: Silverfisk, Regin, Aifur, Krampmacken, Norseman, Viking Plym, Mjösen Lange, Tälja and Thor Viking. All these and also Glad and some more had planned for sailing east, but some ships unfortunately could not participate. When the fleet was rowing and sailing east July 12 this exhibition was opened as a salute to all the crews at sea. The museum has known since long that the viking ships ought to be exhibited much more - Carl Norberg have with this exhibition succeeded in helping them a bit on the way.... We have been told that the visitors have enjoyed the exhibition very much. These exhibition was open until October 2003. It has shown the visitors that we make history living.