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the Götheborg Courier | October 2005
Sailing dreams
Many people’s dreams have come true, and many wild plans and improbable ideas have been realized as the full scale replica of a full-rigged ship from the 18th century has gradually taken shape at the Terra Nova shipyard in Göteborg.
Nowhere in the world during the last one hundred years has anybody built a ship that is comparable to the Götheborg. Under the hull planks she is full of modern equipment, above the deck she is a full-rigged ship that will sail the high seas from Sweden to China just as her predecessor in the Swedish East India Company did over 200 years ago, reflecting Swedish shipbuilding art at its best all the way.
The ship has been built as ships were in the 18th century – in oak and pine, with sails of hand-sewn English linen – as they were built for the East India Company. The figurehead and other decorations are carved by hand, and all the cordage is hemp. No pains and no costs have been spared in the construction of a stable, authentic ship from the years when the seas were plied by vessels of timber, rope and cloth.
The Götheborg has proven to deliver excellent sailing performance and, for the first time in 201 years, a full-rigged ship built in wood will set sail from Sweden for the long voyage to China. There will be many ports of call along the route, and you are most welcome onboard to look over this unique vessel.
Robert Hermansson, Editor-in-chief
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Unique 18th century hull
in modern version. The main dimensions of the newly built Götheborg are taken from archives and so they correspond closely to the original. n
An historic
retrospective
The story of the first ship named the Götheborg started in Stockholm at the end of the 1730’s.
Sheathing with tar, oak and nails
to protect the hull from shipworm
Ocean-going ships have been sheathed since the end of the fifteenth century when the Portuguese and Spanish conquered the seas.
 The Götheborg is rigged
in the old-fashioned way
Rigging an 18th century ship is like travelling in time without a guide. We can search in old documents, but much of the information was never printed.
The ship’s fittings are forged by hand
Most of the iron fittings are forged by hand at the Volund smithy in Skärhamn.
Several thousand square metres of sail
are sewn by hand in the sail loft
The Götheborg has 26 sails with different names. All of them are hand sewn in half-bleached linen.
Hidden high technology in a wooden hull.
The Götheborg will have the same appearance as her predecessor when she is rigged and ready at the quayside and when she rides the waves with full, trimmed and sheeted sails.
The launch – a day of festivities
Royal splendour, brilliant sunshine, crowds of well-wishers and great entertainment. Could there possibly be a better setting for this historic launch?
The ship is fitted with smart solutions on all decks. There is a lot of top quality equipment packed into the Götheborg.
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The masts give character to the ship
After the launching on 6 June 2003 we could at last see the sky instead of a steel roof. We, the riggers, had looked forward to this for a long time.
Important ties formed as China’s foreign minister visits the Götheborg
The Chinese foreign minister, Mr Li Zhaoxing, promised a warm welcome for the Götheborg when she arrives in China.
Queen Silvia christens
the Götheborg
On 3 September 2004 the Götheborg was christened in the harbour near the Opera in Göteborg. A large number of guests were invited to the ceremony, including of course the project’s main patron, King Carl XVI Gustaf, and its godmother, Queen Silvia.
Mythological decorations with much symbolism
I am one of the few professional ships carvers in Europe and has been working on the Götheborg project for over five years.
A ballast of lead
Weight and stability are needed to keep the Götheborg on an steady keel. We estimate that 350 tons of lead as ballast will give her good sailing characteristics.
In safe captains’ hands
Captain Peter Kaaling was appointed master of the Götheborg at its christening.
The ship’s boats – two sturdy sloops with important missions
The ship’s boat is an important piece of equipment on an 18th century ship.
Mast skipper and team leader
Working as mast skipper on the Götheborg means being the key person on the deck.
Eight tons
of food onboard
Imagine that you are standing in a cramped galley on a sailing ship in a howling gale in the Bay of Biscay, cooking food for the whole crew.
The seaworthiness is tested
with today’s methods
During the project, one of the most important questions has been how the Götheborg will measure up to current sea safety requirements.
The seafaring cognac
Cognac was first distilled in the 1600s but it was not until the 1700s that the brandy became fashionable.
Engine-room log shows development
Selected notes from the engine-room log of the Götheborg and comments on the events that have driven developments onboard.
Sea trial with 50 cadets
Anders Movert works at a consultancy in Göteborg.
Can the Götheborg really sail?
Over the years there have been many doubts expressed about the sailing and manoevring capabilities of the Götheborg.
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