(Above) The Draken Harald Hårfagre two hours into its 38-day journey from Norway to Chicago. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

27-Apr-16 – The world’s largest Viking ship built in modern times is on its way to Chicago. Draken Harald Hårfagre departed Haugesund, Norway, on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Haugesund time, following a Dragon’s Head Ceremony.

The ship is a recreation of a Viking ship based on archeology, Norse literature, and Norwegian boatbuilding tradition. It is 114 feet long, 26 feet wide, 78 feet tall, and has an 853 square foot sail.

On its way to Iceland, the ship ran into rough sea and had to stop in the Shetland Islands of Scotland for repair to rigging that holds up the mast. On Wednesday, the ship was in Lerwick, the main port of the Shetland Islands.

From Iceland, it will sail to Greenland, Canada, and United States, following the same route Vikings took a thousand years ago. Its 3,000-mile journey will take it to Navy Pier, where it will participate in the annual Tall Ships Festival scheduled for July 27-31.

(Above) Red line at right indicates path the Draken Harald Hårfagre has traveled so far.

The roughest part of the journey may still be ahead.

“The area that should be respected more than anywhere else is the waters of Cape Farewell by the coast of Greenland, among the most dangerous waters of the world,” said Captain Bjőrn Ahlander (left) before departing on Tuesday.

A multi-national crew of 32 men and women were selected from 4,000 applicants. Captain Ahlander expects them to be in “great physical and mental condition.”

“The work onboard is heavy, wet, and cold,” he says. “They will be exposed to rain and cold weather with only short breaks to sleep.”

Vikings were Scandinavians who conducted raids into Europe and elsewhere from the eighth to eleventh centuries. The Dragon’s Head Ceremony they performed mounts the dragon-shaped head to the front of the ship. It will protect the ship and crew from perils such as bad weather, unforeseen raids, and sea monsters.