World’s oldest full-rigged tall ship

The tall ship Sørlandet was launched in 1927 in Kristiansand as a training vessel for Norwegian mariners. Displacing 499 tons, it has a length of 208 feet, a beam of 22.3 feet, and a draft of 14.6 feet. Its mainmast has a height above the waterline of 111 feet. Its 27 sails carry 2,690 square feet of canvass. A 560 KW auxiliary engine was installed in 1958. The engine can propel the ship at 14 knots, but in a stiff wind, Sørlandet has made 17 knots under sail. On its maiden voyage in 1927, it was inspected by HM King Haakon and HRH Crown Prince Olav and then continued on to London with 90 student sailors on board. In 1933, it sailed to Chicago and served as the official Norwegian pavilion for the “Century of Progress” World’s Fair. During World War II, Sørlandet served as an accommodation vessel for German submariners. Restored after the war, it again served as a sail training vessel for the Norwegian merchant marine. Between 1974 and 1977, it was held be private owners, but returned to public service in 1977 and is now owned by the city of Kristiansand, which also serves as its homeport. In 1980, the ship was opened for use by both sexes, all ages, and all nationalities to increase knowledge of and appreciation for the sea. It has made multiple crossings of the Atlantic and in 1986 participated in the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. As a sail-training vessel, Sørlandet carries 60 students a faculty of nine, and a professional crew of eleven. Operating as an excursion vessel, it carries up to 150 passengers. Future plans call for the recently refurbished Sørlandet to make a two-year round-the-world cruise, but for 2015, Sørlandet will be making shorter cruises visiting ports in Norway and throughout northern Europe.