The Arran Vikings

Jan Inglis

In the late 90’s a group of local people, knowledgeable boating enthusiasts, decided to build a replica Viking boat to celebrate Arran’s Viking past and to extend their own sailing skills. The boat is based in Corrie port. (Near-by Sannox has a Viking name.) The working group included among others, Mark Brown, Neil Bulger, Luke Furze, the late  Frank Halliwell, Peter McKinnon and Nigel Wilde. They gratefully accepted an offer of working space at Monyquil Farm. A fibre-glass hull for a 50ft. boat was made from moulds lent by a Viking group in County Antrim. After this, they constructed wooden gunwales and thwarts and a 30ft mast together with a set of 10 oars – a considerable undertaking , the finishing work done by Mark Brown and Frank Halliwell.

The boat was named “Black Eagle” by Ewen Bulger. Her Viking character  was further enhanced  by a magnificent eagle-head at the prow and a dragon-tail at the stern, carved by Marvin Elliott who also designed and printed  the sail – the Black Eagle emblem on unbleached canvas with iron-red borders. Her presence has struck both admiration and fear in shipping up and down the Firth.

A Viking Uphellya is held each year. A torch-light procession, including some Picts, walks from Corrie to Sannox keeping pace – more or less – with the “Black Eagle” at sea. After a Pictish/Viking battle onshore, the night ends with a dramatic boat-burning (though not, of course, the “Black Eagle” and fire-works.

The Arran Viking Longship Society, set up in 2002 with a good proportion of women, has sailed and maintained “Black Eagle” ever since she was built. It welcomes new members, offering some work and much pleasure. Membership £15  p/a. Contact Elsa Rodeck on  elsarodeck@gmail.com

see more at http://www.arranart.com/arranvikings/