During the spring, summer and fall months, weather and other scheduled events allowing, the Sae Hrafn is taken out on voyages twice a month (we try to schedule one Sunday and one Saturday voyage). Saturday voyages are usually begun at 10:00am, Sunday voyages usually start at around noon. There are occasional multi-day voyages but those are indicated ahead of time.
The ship is made ready for the voyage (e.g. bailing, bending sail(s) tightening any loose rigging, mounting the figurehead and tail, loading ship's gear (including PFDs) from the dock box, personal gear, etc.). When the ship is ready to leave dock, the rules of the voyage are read and commands are reviewed and explained to any newcomers, members' guests, or new members in the crew. (If an experienced crew member can be spared from ship preparation, a quick on shore course in commands and rowing may be given to such first-timers while the preparations are under way.)
Many voyages are performed primarily under sail (although the gods do sometimes decree that we will row against the wind ... both ways...and occasionally, if we have really angered them, also against the tides...), docking maneuvers are performed under oar power. All members who are physically able to are expected to row. Guests are given the opportunity to row. Rowers are shifted from port to starboard sides (with a break) in a regular pattern, usually 40 minutes on and 20 minutes off for each of the three rowing watches. Non-rowers, or those off watch, may be lookouts, steersmen or steerswomen handling the helm, preparing the rigging for sailing, keeping the log, serving as Bilgemaster, rehydrating themselves, etc.
The purpose of these voyages is to research the techniques of square-sail ships and how they differ in handling from modern sail ships. Also to teach the rigging of a Viking longship, the handling of a square-sailed vessel, the handling of the ship under oars, rowing commands, seamanship, Viking and nautical terminology, Viking history, local history of the area, team work, and to enhance awareness of Viking history in the general public. We also often have fun talking to locals, getting photographed, and learning new rowing songs.
Upon return to dock, the ship is secured and gear is offloaded, personal gear first followed by ship's gear which is stowed in the dock box. It is fairly common for the crew to then meet at a local restaurant to discuss the voyage, sights seen, things learned, and ask more detailed questions.
The Gyrfalcon is used either as an afterboat (dinghy) or in independent operations in sheltered waters. As an afterboat she can ferry as many as 4 persons ashore on each trip, with the fifth rowing back to the ship. She has also been used to scout out ahead of the ship in shallow waters and on water and provision runs. Because of her light-weight and shallow draft, the Gyrfalcon is ideal for riverine operations, and short portages sledged along on her keel. She is not, however, suitable for long distances solo or overnight voyages due to her very limited stowage space and low, narrow thwarts. When trailered to a launch site, her trailer remains dry while four or more crew hand her into the water or recover her and lift her onto the trailer cradle.
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