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Greenland Tourism's Project Leif 2000
Norse god Frey provides following wind
Log Date: September 14, 1998
Author: Hodding Carter
Lat/Lon: 52.51 N, 55.52 W
Location: Cape Bluff Harbor
Course: Anchored
Weather: Fog
Sightings: Deciduous trees!
 |
Deciduous trees! I forgot to take pictures all day and only remembered after the fog was settling in. |
From Hodding:
I did not sleep last night. I simply could not sleep during the last time we would
be sailing Snorri through the night. She sped along at 7 knots and more, hour after
hour. Silver and black clouds streaked across the sky, vainly trying to keep pace
with her - at least in my mind. My toes ached from the cold, but it didn't seem to
matter. This was one of those "last times" that later you wish you had
made the effort to relish. I have an endless list of missed "last times,"
but not this time.
Doug stayed up through the night, too. He also did not want to miss a thing. I did
the tasks we all take turns completing: pumped the bilge, stood bow watch, drove
the boat, stared at the sparkling luminescence that spun in our pounding wake. I
felt such joy. I also felt proud, not just of Snorri's speed and beauty, but more
so of my sailing companions. They have accomplished an amazing feat - sailing this
boat in trying conditions, living together, and exploring these northern lands with
good humor, zeal and dignity.
They are people to be reckoned with.
I also talked to Frey. I even thanked him aloud for giving us this great surge southward.
Over a week ago, as we sat outside of Nain, I read a little more about Frey in one
of my Viking books. I had always known that he was the Norse fertility god, whose
well-endowed statues have been found in numerous archeological sites. But what I
didn't know was that Frey owned Skiidbladnir - the fastest square-rigged ship in
the world. She was always followed by the wind.
I was lying in my sleeping bag, quite warm and cozy, when I found this out. Even
my toes were no longer numb. This could not last, however. I knew then what I had
to do. I jumped out of my bag and ran from beneath our tarp. I was quite naked. I
lifted up my arms and called out, "Hey, Frey! Listen! We need some help...please
give us some following winds!" Luckily, all the guys except Terry and Doug were
in Nain, and Terry was on shore, I think. I was still a little hesitant, though,
and ended it there. I felt he knew I meant it, although it was quite a lousy calling-out-to-a-god
thing. It's just not something one gets much practice at.
As I squirmed back into my sleeping bag, vigorously rattling my cold toes together,
I thanked him for listening. Doug gave me a nice smile, the kind you give a raving
lunatic who says he's just flown back from Pluto. We did, however, get a good wind
the next day. So ever since, I have been having a running dialog with Frey - not
all the time, but whenever it seems appropriate.
Last night, I didn't ask him for anything. I just told him he was doing a great job.
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