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THE CREW
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THE CREW THERON (Terry) L. MOORE
Captain
Captain Terry Moore, 36, is well-suited to captain the knarr during Viking Voyage 1000. A native of Virginia, Moore grew up "in, on, under or around water," sailing with his father on the Chesapeake Bay. While a student at William and Mary College, he spent a semester studying the marine environment and formed his destiny there. As an environmental education instructor for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and as a sailing instructor for Outward Bound, Moore has spent thousands of hours in all kinds of boats and all kinds of water. Among his most memorable journeys: sailing from Turkey through the Mediterranean, down the coast of Africa and across the Atlantic to the British Virgin Islands. And of course, last summer on Snorri crossing Davis Strait.
"The late start and our slow progress, courtesy of the erratic coastal weather, were frustrating. But we learned an incredible amount about the boat, and about each other. I think as a result of last summer we have much more realistic expectations, plus a season's experience to fall back on when the next unexpected thing pops up," he explains. "That's the challenge and the fun: using your skill to deal with whatever comes your way. It is going to take us two summers to do what we thought we could do in one. Perhaps that's a little karmic repayment for not allowing enough time in the first place. Rule number one with boats: things take longer than you think they will."
Moore lives in Camden, ME.
ROBERT STEVENS
Master Boat Builder
Last year, Rob Stevens, 42, was one of two people who both built the knarr and actually sailed on it. This year he'll return to the Greenland coast, wiser, better prepared and even more excited.
As a child, Stevens was captivated by the ocean, especially the beauty of the boats and the tools used to build them by maritime communities. He grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts, spending as many hours as he could in boat yards. He later moved on to boat building in the Washington D.C. area before heading to Maine. There, he studied with his mentor, Dave Foster, at the Rockport Apprentice Shop. Among Stevens' accomplishments are contributing to the rebuilding of the Bowdoin, a schooner built in 1922 which made 28 trips to the Arctic Circle, and helping to build the pinky Maine.
"I was captivated by the process of building Snorri, and now I am captivated by the process of repairing her and making her more seaworthy," says Stevens who spent much of the winter working with a naval architect and an archeologist to design a stronger rudder framing system for the knarr. "After doing even more research, I understand how to correct our problem in a 'Viking' manner. In fact, I really feel like I understand a lot more about every aspect of this voyage, from natural history and geography to the daily lives of both the Inuits and the Vikings. I am fascinated by people's ability to live in that climate."
Stevens adds that there is an upside to last year's aborted expedition: "It was great to get as far as we did last year, and it's great to get to go back and do it again. I can't wait to return to Greenland."
Stevens lives on Hermit Island, Maine, next to his workshop.
JOHN ABBOTT
John Abbott, 32, has been a connoisseur of adventure since childhood. Currently he is the Outdoor Programs Specialist at the University of Vermont in Burlington. That qualification earned him a place on the crew of Viking Voyage 1000 as the expedition's wilderness expert. He is typically circumspect about last summer's Viking Voyage 1000 experience.
"It becomes more obvious to me each time I recount last summer's adventures that in essence our voyage was the trial sail we never got to make," Abbott explains. "I'm confident that we did the best we could, and made the best decisions possible in each difficult situation. This year, I'm really looking forward to getting the job done!"
Over the winter Abbott continued to pursue adventure by scaling a 19,635 foot-tall volcano in Ecuador and skiing through back country in northern Quebec.
Abbott lives on a horse and llama farm in Hanksville, VT.
DOUG CABOT
Crew member
Doug Cabot, 31, combines many years of sailing experience with an adventurous spirit and a love of the outdoors. He is accomplished at cross-country skiing, canoeing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Cabot says he is ready to return to Greenland and Viking Voyage 1000.
"I feel unbelievably lucky to be going again. As a friend joked, it's a twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am also more nervous than the blithe adventurer I was last spring because I can better appreciate the seriousness of the work, the vulnerability of the boat, and distance to be covered," he says. "Last summer was incredible. We learned a great deal which will help assure our success this summer. And the delays and disappointments we experienced meant we got to spend over two months in and around Greenland, which is as beautiful as any place Iıve ever seen. Life surprises us with gifts, and thatıs what I make of this project. It is a chance to do something I never could have imagined without luck taking a leading part."
Cabot just purchased a home in Somerville, Massachusetts and he is busy filling it with friends.
JOHN GARDNER
John Gardner, 30, a "strong, silent type," developed his love of wooden boat building and sailing as a young boy in Michigan. After studying finance at Michigan State University and spending three years in the field, Gardner traveled to Hawaii to surf and sail while supporting himself as a bartender. But the siren song called him back: he returned to boat building as part of the team that constructed Snorri for Viking Voyage 1000. And then he became a member of the crew.
"After working on the knarr, it was a terrific opportunity to actually sail her, and I am really looking forward to going back this year," says Gardner who spent the winter months working with Rob Stevens on the Snorri's rudder framing and on a wooden boat docked at a nuclear submarine base in Georgia. "Hopefully this year we'll do better since we have more information to work with in terms of time constraints. I know one thing I'll do differently myself: take more photos and keep a journal! The trip is too amazing not to record it in detail."
Gardner currently lives in Phippsburg, Maine, near Rob Stevens' boat shop.
DEAN PLAGER
Dean Plager, 56, a man of Norwegian heritage, has always claimed to be a Viking. A native of Iowa, Plager moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1975 to learn ocean sailing. After mastering his sailing skills, he captained his own boat, The Viking Rose, along the coasts of the Northeast and Canadian Maritimes. In 1995, Plager closed his consulting office to pursue his goal of becoming a blue water sailor and since then, he has made several voyages with his crew. In 1996, he spent 90 days off shore; Plager and his crew covered about 10,000 miles sailing to places such as Madeira, Spain and the Canary Islands.
"Last summer's voyage was the trip of my dreams. Our first night out crossing the Davis Strait was one of the most incredible sailing experiences I have ever had. The wind was strong, the boat was sailing well, the moon was full, the night was clear and the sky was full with Northern lights. Two or three hours later, the rudder was broken, we were adrift, and the trip was over," Plager explains. "But it doesnıt really bother me that we didnıt make it. In fact, if I could plan everything perfectly, I would do exactly what we are doing now. Last summer was practice for this summer's adventure and I can't wait to get back to Greenland and set sail again."
Plager and his wife live in Portsmouth, NH.
HOMER WILLIAMS
Trans-Atlantic crossings are a family affair for Homer Williams, 19. The native of Boyne City, Michigan, learned to sail with his grandfather who holds the record for oldest man to complete a trans-Atlantic crossing single-handedly in a 30 foot sailboat. Williams himself owns five sailboats and spends just about every waking moment during his summers on the waters of the Great Lakes or Lake Charlevoix. When not sailing, or downhill skiing in the winter, Williams focuses his considerable energies on his handmade log furniture business.
"Last year I think we were crippled by not having enough time for sea trials, but this year we won't be in such a time crunch and I don't really see any reason why we shouldn't make it all the way across," says Williams. "We should be able to travel at a much more pleasing pace, giving us time to stop to get off and smell the roses where we like. Also we will now have a much better chance of following the intended route all the way up to Sisimiut, crossing the Arctic Circle which is very important to all of us. I expect it will be as much fun as last summer, or even better."
Williams spent the winter months working at the Big Sky Ski Resort in Montana.
Two additional members will be added to the crew; one is from Denmark.
Viking Voyage 1000 is made possible through the sponsorship of Lands' End Direct Merchants.
For more information contact: Gary Collins, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.,
212-453-2127,
collinsg@fleishman.com, or Lisa Mullen, Lands' End, Inc., 608-935-4
274, llmulle@landsend.com.