Hire a Viking Longship
Introduction
The boats and ships found here are owned by Regia Anglorum. They are sailed and rowed by the membership at private events, but also form the centrepieces of reenactment events throughout the UK.
At 7 ships strong, Regia Anglorum has the largest fleet of reconstructed Viking ships in the United Kingdom. They are maintained and manned by dedicated volunteers and travel throughout the country and occasionally overseas to help filmmakers and television producers recreate the lives and times of the Vikings and their contemporaries some thousand years ago.
Details of the current fleet are below. Please note that maintenance is ongoing and dependant on volunteer labour, this might mean some of the below are unavailable. If you are considering hiring a boat, please enquire early to best avoid dissapointment.
The Bear on Lake Windermere© Grace Williams – Regia Anglorum
The Færings in combat at Gloucester Docks© Malcolm Butler – Regia Anglorum
| Boat | Type | Length | Beam | Suitable for | Transportation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear | Byrding | 33′ (11m) | 8′ (2.4m) | Warship or cargo ship (8 – 15 crew) (6 – 10 oarsmen) |
Trailer |
| Salmon; Valhalla; Heron | Karv | 47′ (14.35m) | 8′10″ (2.7m) | Warship or cargo ship (9 – 18 crew) (6 – 12 oarsmen) |
Flatbed trailer, with tractor |
| Squirrel; Rat | Færing | 20′ (6m) | Ferry or fishing boat (1 – 3 crew) |
Trailer | |
| Wolf (scrapped) | Snekkja | 50′ (16m) | No longer available | ||
| Black Tern (decommissioned) | Færing | No longer available |
| Boat | Weight (minus crew) | Draught (in ballast) | Air draught | Height | Width clearance with oars | Rigging stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear |
2t (unballasted) ≈2½t (ballasted) |
2′ (0.6m); 3′ (0.96m) with steering board |
20′ (6m) with mast up; 6′3″ (2m) with mast stowed |
22′ (6.6m) keel to mast tip; 8′3″ (2.6m) keel to top of stem/stern |
20′ (6m) Yard length; 290′² (27m²) Sail area |
|
| Heron | 2½t approx |
2′8″ (0.8m); 4′8″ (1.4m) with stearing board |
27′ (8.25m) |
4′4″ (1.3m) Gunwale at mid-point; 9′10″ (3m) Prow height |
32′ (10m); 13′2″ (4m) Oar length |
24′ (7.3m) Mast length; 16′ (4.9m) Spar length |
| Salmon | 2½t approx |
2′8″ (0.8m); 4′8″ (1.4m) with stearing board |
27′ (8.25m) |
4′4″ (1.3m) Gunwale at mid-point; 9′10″ (3m) Prow height |
32′ (10m); 13′2″ (4m) Oar length |
24′ (7.3m) Mast length; 16′ (4.9m) Spar length |
| Valhalla | 2½t approx |
2′8″ (0.8m); 4′8″ (1.4m) with stearing board |
27′ (8.25m) |
4′4″ (1.3m) Gunwale at mid-point; 9′10″ (3m) Prow height |
32′ (10m); 13′2″ (4m) Oar length |
24′ (7.3m) Mast length; 16′ (4.9m) Spar length |
| Squirrel | ||||||
| Rat |
| Boat | Transportation | Slipway launch | Crane launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear | On trailer, towed behind a suitable vehicle. Length of boat ontrailer is 36′ (12m). Rule of thumb: if an articulated lorry can get there, so can the Bear. |
4 crew required at launch. Slipway must be at least 10′ (3m) wide and have a solid roadway to at least 4′ (1.2m) to enable the boat to leave the trailer. | Contact us and crane company to discuss requirements. |
| Heron; Salmon; Valhalla | Flatbed trailer, with tractor | Not usually possible | Contact us and crane company to discuss requirements. |
| Squirrel; Rat | On trailer, towed behind a suitable vehicle. | N/A |