Ship Modelling

Swedish Replica of the East Indiaman Götheborg III (1738/2005)

Data

Type/Class: Dimensions: Decks: Armament: Rigging: Crew:
Swedish Replica of 2005
East Indiaman "Götheborg III"
  • Total Length: 58,5m
  • Width: 10,84m
  • Height: 47m
    		• Stepped Deck
    3 decks, 1 gun deck     		10 salute guns 3 masted full rigger
  • 3-3-2 yards (fore-main-mizzen)
  • staysails
    		• max. 80 men (tpday), 150 men in 1750

    (the topgallant yards were not yet sent up when I made this picture ...)     		We could say that this is ship modelling - in 1:1 scale :)

    History

    1984 wreck of the Götheborg I rediscovered in the harbour of Gothenburg, Sweden.

    1995-2005 Special Purpose Ship Götheborg III, replica of a Swedish East India Man, built by Terra Nova as successor of Götheborg I and II. Profound research had been done to remake a historically correct and functional ship. In order to comply to modern maritme safety regulations, the compromise was to let her look old from the outside and to make her modern inside. So she is actually "two ships in one". As she was built to go to sea and sail, the rigging was fully reconstructed and tested successfully.

    2006-2007 Sailing from Sweden to China(!) and back(!) within over 300 days. On her way back, Chinese trainees were part of the crew!

    2009 Nordic sailing tour to Norway and Denmark in short legs (several days to 2 weeks), with 52 new trainees for each leg. See some impressions here :)

    2010 Sailing to Stockholm to take part in the Swedish Royal Wedding ceremony. Then sailing tours to Denmark, The Netherlands and Germany in short legs (several days to 2 weeks), with 52 new trainees for each leg. See some more impressions in the galleries :)

    Sources for Research

    Well, for the modeller and the wanna-be-sailor, THE sourse of all is in fact the ship in itself :) When she is not sailing, she is open for visitors every summer weekend in the harbour of Gothenburg, Sweden. Making photos is allowed. You can talk to the people and they will give You plenty of interesting facts. For the rigging, Björn Ahlander and Jens Langert are the two masters to talk to.

    The Götheborg III is operated professionally by the new Swedish East India Company SOIC. A key crew of 20 specialied people is continuously working on the ship, and on sail tours, 52 trainees of any age, sex or qualification is accepted - as long as You are no sofa potato :)

    Books

    TITLEAUTHORPUBLISHERYEARPAGES
    Historien om Ostindie Fararna
    (Swedish)    		 Lindqvist, Herman Hansson & Lundvall Förlag 2002 144
    Ostindiefararen Götheborg - En saltstänkt resa genom historien in i framtiden
    (Swedish)    		 SOIC 2000 24
    Ostindiefararen Götheborg - Resan till Kina
    (Swedish)    		 Kapten Peter Kaaling Jure Förlag, Stockholm 2008 182
    Ostindiefararen Götheborg seglar igen - The Swedish Ship Götheborg Sails Again
    (Swedish/English/Chinese)    		 Ingrid Arensberg SOIC 2005 128
    Ostindiska Kompaniet
    (Swedish)    		 Frångsmyr, Tore Förlags AB Wiken 1976 176
    Skeppsboken - Livet ombord på en ostindiefarare
    (Swedish)    		 Ahlander, B. + Langert, J. SOIC 2009 144

    Reconstructions

    The Rigging

    The Götheborg has a typical full rigging of the 17th century:
  • 3 yards at fore and main mast
  • 1 lateen sail and a topsail on the mizzen mast
  • 2 yards at the bowsprit.
  • staysails can be set, in practice mostly on the fore and main lower stays only

    • The Standing Rigging

    Bowsprit - Fore Mast

    Fore Mast - Main Mast

    Main Mast - Mizzen Mast

    Mizzen Mast

    Topgallant Mast
    • 2 shrouds
    • 1 stay
    • 2 backstays
    • 2 shrouds
    • 1 stay
    • 2 backstays

    Topmast
    • 5 shrouds
    • 1 stay
    • 2 staysail stays
    • 2 backstays
    • 6 shrouds
    • 1 stay
    • 1 staysail stay
    • 2 backstays
    • 4 shrouds
    • 1 stay
    • 2 backstays

    Lower Mast
    • 2 guys
    • 2 water stays
    • 7 shrouds
    • 1 stay + preventer stay
    • 8 shrouds
    • 1 stay + preventer stay
    • 5 shrouds (4 w. ratlines)
    • 1 stay + preventer stay

    The Running Rigging

    Bowsprit

    Fore Mast

    Main Mast

    Mizzen Mast

    Topgallant Sails

    Fore Topgallant
    ("Förbram")

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 2 Braces

    Main Topgallant
    ("Storbram")

    • 1 Halyard
    • 2 Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 2 Braces

    Top Sails

    Upper spritsail
    ("Skuvblinda")

    • 1 Outhaul, 1 Inhaul
    • 2 Topping Lifts
    • 2 Sheets
    • 2 Clewlines
    • 2 Braces

    Fore Topsail
    ("Förmärs")

    • 2 Halyards (p.+s.)
    • 2 Topping Lifts (p.+s.)
    • 2 Sheets (p.+s.)
    • 2 Clewlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Leechlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Buntlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Bowlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Braces (p.+s.)
    • 2 Reef Tackles (p.+s.)

    Fore Top Studdingsails
    ("Förmärs Ledsegel", p.+s.)

    • 2*1 Halyard, 2*1 Downhaul
    • 2*1 Topping Lift (Boom)
    • 2*1 Sheet, 2*1 Tack

    Main Topsail
    ("Stormärs")

    • 2 Halyards (p.+s.)
    • 2 Topping Lifts (p.+s.)
    • 2 Sheets (p.+s.)
    • 2 Clewlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Leechlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Buntlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Bowlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Braces (p.+s.)
    • 2 Reef Tackles (p.+s.)

    Main Top Studdingsails
    ("Stormärs Ledsegel", p.+s.)

    • 2*1 Halyard, 2*1 Downhaul
    • 2*1 Topping Lift (Boom)
    • 2*1 Sheet, 2*1 Tack

    Mizzen Topsail
    ("Kryssmärs")

    • 1 Halyard (p.+s.)
    • 2 Topping Lifts (p.+s.)
    • 2 Sheets (p.+s.)
    • 2 Clewlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Leechlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Buntlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Bowlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Braces (p.+s.)

    Lower Sails

    Spritsail
    ("Blinda")

    • 1 Outhaul, 1 Inhaul
    • 2 Topping Lifts (p.+s.)
    • 2 Sheets (p.+s.)
    • 2 Clewlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Buntlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Braces (p.+s.)

    Fore Course
    ("Focksegel")

    • 2 Jeers (p.+s.)
    • 2 Topping Lifts (p.+s.)
    • 2 Sheets, 2 Tacks (p.+s.)
    • 2 Clewlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Leechlines (p.+s.)
    • 4 Buntlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Bowlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Braces (p.+s.)
    • 2 Preventer Braces (p.+s.)

    Fore Studdingsails
    ("För Ledsegel", p.+s.)

    • 2*1 For Studding Boom Guys
    • 2*1 Aft Studding Boom Guys
    • 2*1 Studding Boom Martingale
    • 2*1 Topping Lift (Boom)
    • 2*1 Halyard, 2*1 Downhaul
    • 2*1 Sheet, 2*1 Tack

    Main Course
    ("Storsegel")

    • 2 Jeers (p.+s.)
    • 2 Topping Lifts (p.+s.)
    • 2 Sheets, 2 Tacks (p.+s.)
    • 2 Clewlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Leechlines (p.+s.)
    • 4 Buntlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Bowlines (p.+s.)
    • 2 Braces (p.+s.)
    • 2 Preventer Braces (p.+s.)

    Main Studdingsails
    ("Stor Ledsegel", p.+s.)

    • 2*1 For Studding Boom Guys
    • 2*1 Aft Studding Boom Guys
    • 2*1 Studding Boom Martingale
    • 2*1 Topping Lift (Boom)
    • 2*1 Halyard, 2*1 Downhaul
    • 2*1 Sheet, 2*1 Tack

    Mizzen Sail
    ("Mesan",Lateen)

    • 1 Halyard, 1 Peak Halyard
    • 1 Clewline
    • 2 Sheets (p.+s.)
    • 4 Brails
    • 2 Braces (p.+s.)

    Crossjack
    ("Beginerå")

  • (no sail, yard only)
  • 1 sling
  • 2 Topping Lifts (p.+s.)
  • 2 Braces (p.+s.)

    • Stay Sails

    Fore Top Staysail ("Förestängstagsegel")

    • 1 Halyard, 1 Downhaul
    • 1 Sheet (!)

    Jib ("Klyver")

    • 1 Halyard, 1 Downhaul
    • 1 Sheet (!)

    Main Staysail ("Storstagsegel")

    • 1 Halyard, 1 Downhaul
    • 1 Sheet (!)

    Main Top Staysail ("Stormärsstagssegel")

    • 1 Halyard, 1 Downhaul
    • 1 Sheet (!)

    Main Topgallant Staysail ("Storbramstagsegel")

    • 1 Halyard, 1 Downhaul
    • 1 Sheet (!)

    Mizzen Staysail ("Kryssstagsegel")

    • 1 Halyard, 1 Downhaul
    • 1 Sheet (!)

    Mizzen Top Staysail ("Apa")

    • 1 Halyard, 1 Downhaul
    • 1 Sheet (!)

    Belaying Positions

    This only TRUE original belaying scheme that I know about an "old" ship is printed in the book "Skeppsboken" by Björn Ahlander / Jens Langert (available at SOIC), a lecture book for all trainees and visitors of the ship.

    The plan in the book is also geometrically correct - I just made a schematic view of it, like all my other schemes that I present at these pages:


    The belayings here in Swedish and English