Largs Viking Festival 2006
Posted: Tuesday, 03 October 2006 |
Arran Viking Longship Society had our annual invasion of Largs Viking Festival earlier this month and with the sail up we were able to sail there and most of the way back! Those of the crew who could get the day off, sailed over on Saturday 2nd Sept. in about four and a half hours, sadly I had to work so I got the ferry over the following Saturday to join the crew at Largs Marina. We were a bit late because the mezzanine deck on the ferry broke, one corner of the mezzanine dropped more than 5ft. No one hurt and none of the cars were damaged, it just meant that the 11.05 ferry didn't leave till 2.15, which was handy as I was cutting it fine to make the 1.50!
Due to the delay we just had time to drop our kit off at the flat kindly provided by Largs festival and head down to the marina to grab some sandwiches and beer before heading out to sea. I didn't get a chance to see The Viking Village or The European Market but heard they were both fantastic.
We sailed down past harbour and along the front of Largs, the Millport Ferry gave way to us thankfully, it could've been a bit hairy otherwise, then we went back to the Marina to pick up the Vikings for the re-enactment of the Battle of Largs. We were a bit late getting back because the wind was in the wrong direction. We were rowing like comedy Vikings and going nowhere, luckily a lovely yacht pulled up and gave us a tow back to the marina and they even gave us a bag of beer! I can't remember what their yacht was called, answers on a comment below if any of the crew took note so we can thank them properly. Then we filled up with Vikings and set off into the sunset.
The Usual Suspects
That's could put their voices up a few octaves.
We dropped the actor Vikings on the beach, well ... made them jump into the sea because we couldn't get any further in. There was a certain degree of shadenfreud watching them leap into waist deep freezing sea but they took it like vikings, even the poor girl who slipped and went under. This display did help to explain why the Scots won the Battle of Largs. After wading out of the sea in full battle gear, their run up the beach was more of a sploshy waddle. Some of them had been wearing hand made kid boots, I hope they weren't ruined.
Once the Actor Vikings had disembarked we rowed out so we could sit off the pencil to watch the battle as the sun set behind us. We were treated to a stunning moonrise over the cliffs then a spectacular firework display. Without doubt we had the best seats, it was a heart stoppingly beautiful night. All the photos are courtesy of Margo and Ann as I forgot to take my camera. They haven't sent photos of the fireworks so you will just have to take my word for it that they were gobsmackingly gorgeous. Then it was off into town to make the traditional disgrace of ourselves.
The next day we wrapped up warm for the sail home. A charming gentleman in a kayak very kindly took a photo of the longship with us all in it. We sailed as far as Cumbrae before becoming becalmed, despite some strenuous rowing we weren't going anywhere. The boys were happy to wait till the wind got up again but one of the lady Vikings had been desperate for the loo since leaving Largs and after 6 hours at sea I thought she might do herself a damage. She kept mentioning it, then Sheila started so that set me off. Sheila kept trying to make us laugh, she was lucky there wasn't a horrible accident. Then Neil started talking about pelvic floors. This made us finally called in the Arran Adventure RIB for a tow for the last few miles. I haven't laughed so much in a long time, my sides still ache! We were ready for a wee dram when we got back, after a mass invasion of the pub comfort facilities.
Peter using the ancient art of communicating at sea.
We gave up the old curtain fashions for something more substantial for the sail home to Arran.
Mark had been hiding these essential rations until things got truly desperate, he took pity on us eventally.
A great big thankyou to Largs Marina for the berth and Largs Viking Society for inviting us. Looking forward to next year! We are also planning and Invasion of Ardglass in Northern Ireland and hopefully we will make it back to the Isle of Man Festival.
Any members think I've missed anything please let me know.
See Sept 2005 archive for last years Largs trip and July 06 archive for Isle of Man 06.
For more information or to join The Arran Viking Longship Association call 01770 600 627
Due to the delay we just had time to drop our kit off at the flat kindly provided by Largs festival and head down to the marina to grab some sandwiches and beer before heading out to sea. I didn't get a chance to see The Viking Village or The European Market but heard they were both fantastic.
We sailed down past harbour and along the front of Largs, the Millport Ferry gave way to us thankfully, it could've been a bit hairy otherwise, then we went back to the Marina to pick up the Vikings for the re-enactment of the Battle of Largs. We were a bit late getting back because the wind was in the wrong direction. We were rowing like comedy Vikings and going nowhere, luckily a lovely yacht pulled up and gave us a tow back to the marina and they even gave us a bag of beer! I can't remember what their yacht was called, answers on a comment below if any of the crew took note so we can thank them properly. Then we filled up with Vikings and set off into the sunset.
The Usual Suspects
That's could put their voices up a few octaves.
We dropped the actor Vikings on the beach, well ... made them jump into the sea because we couldn't get any further in. There was a certain degree of shadenfreud watching them leap into waist deep freezing sea but they took it like vikings, even the poor girl who slipped and went under. This display did help to explain why the Scots won the Battle of Largs. After wading out of the sea in full battle gear, their run up the beach was more of a sploshy waddle. Some of them had been wearing hand made kid boots, I hope they weren't ruined.
Once the Actor Vikings had disembarked we rowed out so we could sit off the pencil to watch the battle as the sun set behind us. We were treated to a stunning moonrise over the cliffs then a spectacular firework display. Without doubt we had the best seats, it was a heart stoppingly beautiful night. All the photos are courtesy of Margo and Ann as I forgot to take my camera. They haven't sent photos of the fireworks so you will just have to take my word for it that they were gobsmackingly gorgeous. Then it was off into town to make the traditional disgrace of ourselves.
The next day we wrapped up warm for the sail home. A charming gentleman in a kayak very kindly took a photo of the longship with us all in it. We sailed as far as Cumbrae before becoming becalmed, despite some strenuous rowing we weren't going anywhere. The boys were happy to wait till the wind got up again but one of the lady Vikings had been desperate for the loo since leaving Largs and after 6 hours at sea I thought she might do herself a damage. She kept mentioning it, then Sheila started so that set me off. Sheila kept trying to make us laugh, she was lucky there wasn't a horrible accident. Then Neil started talking about pelvic floors. This made us finally called in the Arran Adventure RIB for a tow for the last few miles. I haven't laughed so much in a long time, my sides still ache! We were ready for a wee dram when we got back, after a mass invasion of the pub comfort facilities.
Peter using the ancient art of communicating at sea.
We gave up the old curtain fashions for something more substantial for the sail home to Arran.
Mark had been hiding these essential rations until things got truly desperate, he took pity on us eventally.
A great big thankyou to Largs Marina for the berth and Largs Viking Society for inviting us. Looking forward to next year! We are also planning and Invasion of Ardglass in Northern Ireland and hopefully we will make it back to the Isle of Man Festival.
Any members think I've missed anything please let me know.
See Sept 2005 archive for last years Largs trip and July 06 archive for Isle of Man 06.
For more information or to join The Arran Viking Longship Association call 01770 600 627
Comments
I know this might sound like an odd question but have you always had a longship to play in? Who thought it up? How do you orginise it all? Who pays for it? How does it all work? Isn't it a long way for a night out? I am amazed! I would have thought this would be on the news or something! Do all the islands have longships and just don't bother mentioning them? Is this some elaborate hoax?
Laughing Boy from Luton
Of course it's not a hoax LB. Shetland have one called Odin's Raven. It's perfectly normal to have a longship. How else would the islanders do all that raping and pillaging. And swallying...........
Flying Cat from indignation ident
Wonderful adventure. Next time the Vikings go invading, perhaps they should wear old fashioned wellies? ... or gore-tex boots? # About the lady Viking who would have given her queendom for a loo: why - particularly in the absence of shifting gale force winds - did she not "do it" on the side (all other eyes averted, of course). Perhaps you should carry a wide-mouth bucket for such emergencies next time? (only half-kidding).
mjc from NM,USA
Hi Laughing Boy, sounds like you need an island holiday! To try to answer your interrogation; local craftsmen started building the longship with the help of the Ardglass and Isle of Mann Vikings about six years ago and is still a work in progress. The idea came from The Isle of Mann Vikings when they visited with their longship for Corrie Capers (see archive). The Arran Viking Longship Society organise work on the ship, fundraisers by committee and we pay for it through minimal membership fees and very successful fund raisers. It works by wind pushing the sail, if there's no wind we row and if the tide is against us we hitch a tow. We go for the sailing and rowing, the night out where ever we land is a massive added bonus. So far we have managed to avoid appearing on the News or Crime Watch. I don't know which islands have longships but a lot do. Feel free to ask them and let me know so we can invite them to next years up-hellia. Put it this way, if this is a hoax then I won't be leaving drams and shortie out for Santa & Rudolf! For more info on The Arran Longship go to www.arranart.com
Sunny from Arran
Your Vikings are all in skirts. I happen to have my own personal Viking and he just wears jeans n t shirt. Do you think I should suggest a skirt to him? Not sure how he'd take it.....
Ruthodanort from Unst
Ooooh, how many vikings were there? There's something facinating about a man with a sword, not to mention a longboat! How do I find out when these events are taking place? When's the next one? Is there a viking website?
Cathy from Alderly Edge
Someone in my house sadly thinks a man in a kirtle with a spirtle is of more interest than one with a sword. It's something to do with cross-cultural fertilisation...........
Flying Cat from resignation rhumba
Hastings 2006 is on this weekend. According to Bogwolf (see my Isle of Man blog July '06) there will be over 3000 people talikg part. It's a bit far away though, see www.english-heritage.org.uk. For closer to home www.vikingsonline.org or www.arranvikings.org
Sunny from Arran
I have to admit to being partial to a man in a skirt, speaking of which Bogwolf is down in Hastings for the 2006 reinactment this weekend, he hasn't got his camera though so doubt there will be any photos. I wanted to go but no one available to mind the shop
Sunny from Arran
Sunny, Where have you gone? It's bad enough that my sister just returned from Scotland,didn't want to go, ignoring her family heritage and using my iteneray based on reading BLOGS from the islands, and spending time with our tourists, only to have you disappear. What's going on? I hope you're okay and have just gone a sabbitical. Looking forward to my own trip. Stacey Butts in FL, Usa
Stacey Butts from Dunedin, FL USA
As one of the Vikings you carried (almost) to the battle, let me say that it was a singularly wonderful experience. And for lending me the Black Eagle to look suitably Viking in for the 成人快手 to shoot a kid's programme.
Robert Low from Largs
You are welcome Robert! I'm supposed to be orginising this years trip but have had to resign from the committee as I'm having to leave the island. I hope someone takes over and The Black Eagle invades again!
Sunny from Arran
the project is to build 18 new houses in Corrie quarrie. I cant believe they are serious. dark and air less with virtually no sun. two large holes, that have been a dumping ground for every thing for years. WOULD YOU LIVE THERE.
arrananach from isle of arran
It is going to be good
Alexander from uk
Arran ExPat wandering the world, residing in Cyprus for now with the odd visit home.
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