Print text2001 — The sixth stage of the Rus-project
Date: June 24 — July 5, 2001
Route: Vyborg (Rus) — Kotka (Fin) — Loviisa (Fin) — Helsinki (Fin)
In summer of the year 2001 the final stage of the Rus-project by the Viking ship Heimlosa Rus from Vyborg (Russia) to Helsinki (Finland) was organized. Max Pryazhevsky, the member of the Smolensk Viking-Nevo club and the participant of two previous voyages of the Heimlosa Rus through the Black and the Azov seas (1999) and along the Don and the Volga rivers (2000) took part in the expedition. The crew of the ship consisted of 10 Vikings from Finland, Russia and Sweden.
The crew of the ship:
- Fredrik Koivusalo, captain, the leader of the Rus-project (Finland),
- Reijo Kallio (Finland),
- Dick Lindberg (Finland),
- Henri Bergius (Finland),
- Petri Koivuniemi (Finland),
- Patrik Koivusalo (Finland),
- Teemu Nurmi (Finland),
- Esko Pesonen (Finland),
- Aleks Jatsoun (Sweden),
- Max Pryazhevsky (Russia).
The expedition started from the old castle in Vyborg. After paper works with Russian border officials the Viking ship Heimlosa Rus set the course to Finland. Good fair wind let to cross the border and cover the distance of 40 sea miles for the one night. Next morning the ship berthed on the Lapuri island. In 1977 an old Viking ship wreck was found here and in 1996 the Heimlosa Rus was built in the image and likeness of this ship. After six years of sailing around the Europe the Viking ship came back home.
Soon the wind had changed and made impossible the putting up the sail any more. The crew had to row during the night time when the wind was going down. After several days early in the morning the Heimlosa Rus came to Kotka — the big seaport on the Finnish coast. During the rest time the crew-members spent the whole day in contacts with journalist and everyone who wanted to hear the story about brave voyages of the Heimlosa Rus. Max and Aleks made an simple fishing-rods and provided the crew with the fresh fish for a day.
At night Vikings took the oars again and next morning reached the Beksudden island where the ancient Viking fire places kept. These fires consist of stone rounds about four meters in diameter which were using for Viking ships navigation in 11-12 centuries. After short rest on this island Heimlosa Rus continued its voyage.
The ship spent next two days in small town Loviisa where took part in the annual Small Ships Race. Heimlosa Rus was built as ancient Viking ship for far sea voyages so it could not to compete with light and manoeuvring coastal boats. In spite of small false start Heimlosa Rus was behind the all other participants of the Race after half an hour.
The wind was going down little by little and it was possible to row during the day time soon and after couple of days to put up the sail again. The Heimlosa Rus spent several nights in the well-protected natural harbors which might be used by Vikings thousand years ago. On July 5 the Heimlosa Rus successfully reached Helsinki, the final point of the voyage. The ship covered the distance of 140 sea miles in all. In such way the six-year voyage of the Heimlosa Rus and the historical Rus-project came to the end.
The sport-expeditionary club “Viking-Nevo” was taking part in the international Rus-project during three seasons. And for sure it will be more new voyages and historical projects in the future.
