The story of The Ship is also part of the history of an institution, associations and individuals. In the early days - and right up until the ship was replaced by the M/S SJøkurs in 1973 - the Sørlandet more or less identical to the Southern Sailing School Ship Institution. The institution has changed its name. It was first called the School Ship. Sørlandet and the students were first-time sailors. Later, when girls came into the picture, they became naval cadets, and today the school is called Sørlandets Sjøaspirantskole.

The school ship institution was created thanks to the socially committed shipowner Oluf Andreas T. Skjelbred, who with his large financial gift established an endowment with the purpose of giving young boys the best possible education in seamanship. Christianssands Sjømandsforening, - which turns 125 years old at the same time as Sørlandet is 60 years old, - where Skjelbred had a very central position, came to have a close connection to the operation of Sørlandet . The association became the godfather of the sailing ship and for many years stood closer to the ship than any other association. The Seamen's Association in Kristiansand had a majority on the board of the ship, and one of the two representatives from the association has always been chairman of the board. As I said, a number of names come into focus in relation to the ship. Here we can only make a judicious selection. Harbourmaster Joh. C. Tønnessen was the enthusiastic chairman of the board for 10 years from 1925 to 1935. Thanks to his zeal and commitment, among other things, Sørlandet out on the great American expedition in 1933. After harbormaster Tønnessen, sea captain Herlof Andersen followed, who was chairman of the board until 1960, a long and active period of service.

Captain G. Selmer Lindeberg, who lived and breathed for the ship for so many years as a ship's captain, became chairman after Herlofsen, from 1961 until he was succeeded in 1964 by Captain Charles Rasmussen, a central figure in the seamen's association. Rasmussen retained the chairmanship until 1976.

A name that shines particularly brightly in connection with the operation of the sailing ship is Antony Gabrielsen, who was the business manager of the training ship institution and general manager of operations from 1955. No one knows better than Gabrielsen the operating conditions for the sailing ship, which could be difficult for several years. Much thanks to Gabrielsen's insight and diligence, things went well.

But most central to the activities on board were naturally the skilled captains, each in their own way an "institution", people who not only mastered the special challenges a training ship offered, but who also had a beating heart for the training ship cause.

G. Selmer Lindeberg was the one who took the ship out in 1927 and sailed until 1932 when Helge Brunsvik took over the command. Brunsvik retained this position until the war came. Both of these personalities left their mark on board and were of great importance for the fine reputation the ship managed to earn. G. Selmer Lindeberg returned after the war and took the ship out on its second "maiden voyage" in 1948. Lindeberg enjoyed great popularity all the way and became the captain with a capital letter. He was replaced in 1955 by Paul Hægstrøm - also a well-known name in the ship's history. Hægstrøm remained captain on board until 1964 and was the representative front figure at many events.

Nils Arntsen, first came aboard Sørlandet as a student in 1932. A skilled and experienced sailing shipman and the Norwegian who eventually gained the longest experience with top responsibility on board such a large sailing ship. Nils Arntsen became captain in 1965 after having been chief mate since 1954. He was the last captain of the ship as long as it was in the training ship institution. He re-enlisted as captain of the MIS Sjøkurs together with the entire remaining crew. Arntsen was the self-described sailing ship skipper who took over command again when Sørlandet returned after the restoration in 1980.

He retired the following year, and in recent years there has been no permanent skipper on board. This is due to the ship's special operating pattern, which involves shorter trips and missions. Among those who have stepped in and made an effort as skippers in various contexts in the 80s are Per Tønnesen, Kjell Thorsen, Stein Weire, Jan Fjeld Hansen and not least Ants Lepson, the latter being the one who has returned most frequently during this time.

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Other articles in this series:

• The gift letter that became a national cultural treasure
• A school of a lifetime
• Discipline - order - seamanship
• They came down from the rig and manned our fleet
• School under sail
• "We became men"
• Our youngest Vikings
• "Continuation School" for future sailors
• War, occupation, reconstruction
• Inspiration in art
• Over and out as a training ship
• In 1956, at the age of 14, he took part in the Tall Ships Races
• In triumph - and hurricane
• Famous names behind the ship

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