2005 Viking market in the Historic Open-air-museum in Eindhoven
The recruit crew :
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 |
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Daniel
Heremans |
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Geert-Jan
de Haas |
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Luuk
Thijssen |
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Vincent
Verhelst |
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|
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Inge
van Stokkom |
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Reinhard
Rubbenkamp |
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Daniel
Heremans |
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Ton
de Ruiter |
Ripple in the Genneper waters
At the command "Gelijk", all six oars dip and glide through the water.
The first stroke is the heaviest, as the ship rests deep in the water and labours to wake up.
However, each stroke goes easier as the Orm responds and comes alive, skimming the waves.
Calm, concentrated, we merge into a single animal : ship, captain, mate, bow-man and rowers.
In a trance we fly over the water.
Once the ship’s inertia is broken, the rest is smooth sailing.
Much too soon we have to stop and turn around, the small expanse of water on which we are sailing having been swallowed by this beast.
We row a few more times up and down, and then lower the sail.
This is a new experience for me, I have not sailed before.
There is just a little wind yet already we are gaining speed.
Wonderful!
On this early Saturday morning we are sailing without an audience, without having to show the public anything, just for ourselves and the ducks alongside.
In the afternoon a large crowd gathers to watch.
As I step in the ship, I feel a wave of nerves.
It is just my second time in this ship and I wonder if I will remember every aspect of the training well.
Because there is a stiff breeze angled to take us on a collision course with the shore, the moment of sailing away is tense.
All goes well...the oars touch and pull through the water in a synchronized dance and the water’s resistance to the ship is already melting again.
On return, the captain gives us a celebratory dram.
In spite of the short time that we have known each other as rowers, we feel as one crew.
Two times more we sail away and return safely.
One time of which we add a tenth person by hijacking a virgin ( who liked it more than her distraught performance showed.)
After three days, the Viking market in Eindhoven has ended, the vikings going on to other markets or back home, and the Orm sailing away.
Witten by : port 3, Inge van Stokkom
