Exhibition at Gottorp Castle, 2003 - 2004
While the Nydam boat was on loan from Gotorp Castle to the National Museum in Copenhagen, Tilia Alsie was on loan from the Hjortspring Boat Guild to the museum at Gottorp Castle in South Schleswig.
Foto: Erik Christensen - Own work, CC BY 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37185269
During this year, some sailing trips were organised, partly on the lake near the castle and partly on the Kiel Canal near Rendsburg.
Some sailing stories
On the lake at Gottorp Castle
On Sunday 18 May 2003, we were invited to sail with Tilia on the lake at Gottorp Castle in connection with a market held at the castle.
A team of members had travelled to Gottorp the day before to take Tilia out of the Nydam Hall to water her thoroughly before sailing. The rest of the participants arrived at the castle on Sunday morning, so we were ready at the boat at 11am. It rained all the way from Als to Gottorp, but when we turned off the motorway to drive to the castle, the rain subsided and by the time we arrived at the castle it was dry and it stayed dry for the rest of the day despite heavy clouds.
A team of members had travelled to Gottorp the day before to take Tilia out of the Nydam Hall to water her thoroughly before sailing. The rest of the participants arrived at the castle on Sunday morning, so we were ready at the boat at 11am. It rained all the way from Als to Gottorp, but when we turned off the motorway to drive to the castle, the rain subsided and by the time we arrived at the castle it was dry and it stayed dry for the rest of the day despite heavy clouds.
Foto: Leif S. Andersen.
At noon, we launched Tilia into the water via a couple of ramps that were laid out from the shore into the lake. We did a couple of demonstration sails around the castle and there were a lot of spectators along the shore. Despite the watering the day before, a lot of water got into the boat, especially at the seams fore and aft.
We were then treated to lunch by Gottorp inside the castle itself - it was a nice treat. After satisfying our hunger, we sailed a few more trips with passengers - both employees of the castle and other interested parties.
In the late afternoon, we took Tilia out of the water again, emptied her of water and put her back in place in Nydamhallen.
Leif Stig Andersen.
We were then treated to lunch by Gottorp inside the castle itself - it was a nice treat. After satisfying our hunger, we sailed a few more trips with passengers - both employees of the castle and other interested parties.
In the late afternoon, we took Tilia out of the water again, emptied her of water and put her back in place in Nydamhallen.
Leif Stig Andersen.
On the Slien
From the logbook
The original plan was to sail both Saturday and Sunday with Mysunde as the final destination for Saturday's 8.5 nautical mile voyage, but due to a shortage of crew for the Sunday voyage, it was cancelled.
On Thursday, Kjær Rasmussen, Diederichsen, Valbjørn and Østergaard drove to Gottorp Castle, where they sealed Tilia (roughly), pulled it out behind the hall and filled it with water, and Diederichsen checked and watered it on Friday.
On Saturday we met in suits at 9:00 am, 19 men and women, and there was room for 4 guest oarsmen from the castle staff.
We pulled the boat on the combined cycle and footpath with a police escort across crossroads and at 10.30am Tilia was in the water with a full crew including the museum staff. When the helmsman had signed off, I took over the helm and command myself. It went fairly well with calling out to the crew.
On Thursday, Kjær Rasmussen, Diederichsen, Valbjørn and Østergaard drove to Gottorp Castle, where they sealed Tilia (roughly), pulled it out behind the hall and filled it with water, and Diederichsen checked and watered it on Friday.
On Saturday we met in suits at 9:00 am, 19 men and women, and there was room for 4 guest oarsmen from the castle staff.
We pulled the boat on the combined cycle and footpath with a police escort across crossroads and at 10.30am Tilia was in the water with a full crew including the museum staff. When the helmsman had signed off, I took over the helm and command myself. It went fairly well with calling out to the crew.
Foto: Leif S. Andersen.
We followed the sailing orders I had received from Valbjørn: departure from the marina and then north around the island of Möwenberg, past the Holm district and then the straight road towards the Stexwiger Enge narrows down to Stexwig, where we paused without going ashore. We then returned through the narrows and followed the south coast of Kleine Breite past Fahrdorf and landed the boat on a nice grassy slip on the west side of the island, blocking Haddebyer Noor.
We left Tilia, except Johannes Diederichsen, who took the first watch and we went to Hedeby Viking Museum, where we had a good tour and a good 3-course dinner. At 15:30 we met back at the boat and sailed back to Schleswig. Here we arrived at 16:30, picked up the boat and went to Gottorp Castle for dinner, which consisted of an almost overwhelming buffet.
We couldn't pick up Tilia until 19:00 as there was a triathlon on the carriageway with around 800 participants. At 19:00 we started, again with police assistance in critical places, and already at 20:00 Tilia was back in the hall.
Tilia had been in the water from 10:00 to 16:30 ~ 6½ hours and had sailed for 4½ hours.
By skipper Knud Skov Rasmussen
We left Tilia, except Johannes Diederichsen, who took the first watch and we went to Hedeby Viking Museum, where we had a good tour and a good 3-course dinner. At 15:30 we met back at the boat and sailed back to Schleswig. Here we arrived at 16:30, picked up the boat and went to Gottorp Castle for dinner, which consisted of an almost overwhelming buffet.
We couldn't pick up Tilia until 19:00 as there was a triathlon on the carriageway with around 800 participants. At 19:00 we started, again with police assistance in critical places, and already at 20:00 Tilia was back in the hall.
Tilia had been in the water from 10:00 to 16:30 ~ 6½ hours and had sailed for 4½ hours.
By skipper Knud Skov Rasmussen
On the Kiel Canal at Rendsborg
Apparently, it is difficult to make fixed appointments for sailing in Germany. The first agreement was to sail on Sunday the 4th, but it was changed to Saturday, but a new agreement with city councillor Jochen von Allwörden was to sail for one hour on Friday the 3rd from 5pm to 6pm to accommodate NDR.
Despite the changes, we managed to assemble a crew of 16 men and women.
Johannes and Chresten went to Gottorp Castle a few days in advance and with the help of the museum, they got Tilia out to be sealed and filled with water. It was very leaky.
On Thursday it was taken to the shipyard in Rendsborg and launched with a mobile crane. Johannes stayed with the boat and drained it overnight.
The crew gathered at the pier at 4pm and here we met the German rowers. We picked three plus a boy as a bailer. The extra suits we brought came in handy here.
Despite the changes, we managed to assemble a crew of 16 men and women.
Johannes and Chresten went to Gottorp Castle a few days in advance and with the help of the museum, they got Tilia out to be sealed and filled with water. It was very leaky.
On Thursday it was taken to the shipyard in Rendsborg and launched with a mobile crane. Johannes stayed with the boat and drained it overnight.
The crew gathered at the pier at 4pm and here we met the German rowers. We picked three plus a boy as a bailer. The extra suits we brought came in handy here.
Foto: H.P. Rasmussen.
The plan was changed once again. Now we were to sail from 17:40 to 18:10, so we suddenly had plenty of time, which we used to train ourselves and our German crew members in sailing and various manoeuvres and salutes. We then put into calm water in a bay and rested for half an hour. At 17:30 we approached the ‘Begrüssungsstelle’ and heard them playing ‘King Christian’ while the Dannebrog slid to the top and was presented. Of course, we saluted in the proper manner, and now we were suddenly called forward to the parade sail, while Gebühr introduced us over the many large loudspeakers that were placed all along the long quay. Here was also the finish line for the races. It was then 17:35 - another change in the programme.
The 400 metre course was packed with spectators and we sailed back and forth a few times, performing turns on the spot and big turns, full speed and braking, and of course greeting the crowds. Occasionally we could see ourselves on a big screen, as broadcast by NDR. After 20 minutes we returned, again passing the ‘Begrüssungsstelle’ (we considered taking a few more passes to be greeted).
Just before 7pm, Tilia was back on the block coach ready for the transport to Gottorp. Everyone was happy with the trip except our ladle, he hardly saw anything because he was too busy ladling. Especially at the seams a lot of water came in.
After changing, we were invited to a large two-storey party tent where we were treated to salmon sandwiches, beer, wine and water.
At 8pm we said goodbye and headed home. As with the previous two voyages, we were incredibly lucky with the weather. It was pouring with rain both out and home, but during the sailing we had sunny weather.
By Knud Skov Rasmussen
The 400 metre course was packed with spectators and we sailed back and forth a few times, performing turns on the spot and big turns, full speed and braking, and of course greeting the crowds. Occasionally we could see ourselves on a big screen, as broadcast by NDR. After 20 minutes we returned, again passing the ‘Begrüssungsstelle’ (we considered taking a few more passes to be greeted).
Just before 7pm, Tilia was back on the block coach ready for the transport to Gottorp. Everyone was happy with the trip except our ladle, he hardly saw anything because he was too busy ladling. Especially at the seams a lot of water came in.
After changing, we were invited to a large two-storey party tent where we were treated to salmon sandwiches, beer, wine and water.
At 8pm we said goodbye and headed home. As with the previous two voyages, we were incredibly lucky with the weather. It was pouring with rain both out and home, but during the sailing we had sunny weather.
By Knud Skov Rasmussen
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The text in this article has been translated from Danish to English using the free DeepL translation programme.