More than a ship.
More than a school.

The school ship Sørlandet named Sail Training Organization of the Year - Large Vessel

We have participated in the Sail Training International conference in Bourdeaux, France. Here we received the award for the sail training organization of the year 2025 in the large ship class.

HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit has renewed her protective cabinet

HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit has renewed her protective cabinet for The Ship Sørlandet She has been a patron since 2002 and we have had the pleasure of continuing her patronage. We are proud and grateful for this.

A Christmas greeting from the director: Merry Christmas and thank you for a fantastic year!

We would like to thank you for the good support and cooperation in the past year. 2025 has been an eventful year for the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet and our subsidiary A+ World Academy.

Southern Norway's 100th anniversary 2027

First glimpse into the Southern Norway anniversary celebration. Among other things, an art project with major artists is planned.

A day filled with emotions in Las Palmas!

Sørlandet has arrived in Las Palmas where there are parent meetings and autumn holidays

From Seville to Gran Canaria – a week of sailing pleasure and learning on board Sørlandet

What a week we've had! After departing Seville early on November 18th, we began our journey down the Guadalquivir River before heading towards the Atlantic.

Southern Norway's Christmas Aquavit – a journey across three continents

What do you get when you combine southern craftsmanship, true seamanship and a good dose of adventure? The answer is Sørlandets Juleaquavit 2025 – an aquavit that has spent ten months on the blue sea aboard the training ship Sørlandet ?

Black Week event

Black Week event. We are hosting a special live broadcast on Wednesday, November 26th at 12:30 PM New York time, which corresponds to 6:30 PM Norwegian time.

Sailing, challenges and community on the way to Seville

voyage -update from Saint-Malo to Vigo

🚢 From Saint-Malo to Vigo – a voyage with wind in the sails and dignity in the heart 🌊

voyage -update from Dublin to Saint-Malo

From Dublin to Saint-Malo – A voyage characterized by calm, reflection and togetherness

The school ship Sørlandet this fall

With the sails hoisted and the course set, Sørlandet into an autumn marked by development and renewal. The 2025/26 school year is well underway with 72 students on board, and both teaching and the organization are taking important steps forward. From new ports to new approaches in pedagogy and brand building – the autumn marks a clear crossroads for A+ World Academy and the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet .

voyage -update from Lerwick to Dublin

🌊 From Lerwick to Dublin: Collaboration, resilience and learning at sea.

The school ship Sørlandet's sailing plan for the school year 2025/2026

The school ship Sørlandet is in its 10th school year with its subsidiary A+ World Academy. Here you will find the ports we visit and when it happens. In addition, you will see a link to a map showing where the ship is at any time.

From theory to practice – A+ World Academy sets sail!

After a few weeks of sailing along the Norwegian coast and across the North Sea, the students at A+ World Academy have really started to find their rhythm on board the school ship. Sørlandet .

Strengthened knowledge and pride: The school ship Sørlandet stands strong

A recent population survey conducted by Opinion on behalf of the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet shows that the school ship Sørlandet has a solid foundation in the population of Agder.

School ship students have not been told about the accident

School ship students have not been informed of the accident for practical reasons. They are at sea off the Netherlands and do not have access to their mobile phones.

Our thoughts go out to those affected by the incident when the training ship Cuauhtemoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.

🌟 Celebrating diversity and equality on Women's Day! 🌟

On the occasion of International Women's Day, I would like to share some thoughts about diversity and equality in our organization. As the only man in the "shipping office" of the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet , and with a strong female representation in our subsidiary A+ World Academy, I am proud of our work. But we still have a way to go to increase the proportion of women in the maritime crew.

Travelogue: an insight into life as a director

Knut Arne Gjertsen has traveled all the way to Puerto Rico to meet students, staff and excited parents. Get an insight into life as a director on a business trip:

Good year for the school ship Sørlandet

The Foundation The Ship Sørlandet is pleased to present the annual report for 2024, which shows a positive development despite the challenges of the past year. Now the school ship is Sørlandet on her way to Bermuda with students from A+ World Academy on board, and after several stops she will return home to Kristiansand on June 7th.

The adventure continues for the students at A+ World Academy!

After successful parent-teacher conferences in Puerto Rico, the students at A+ World Academy have enjoyed a well-deserved vacation with their families. Now they are back at The Ship Sørlandet , where they have received new supplies and prepared the ship for the exciting voyage to Bermuda, which will take approximately nine days. Today, The Ship Sørlandet out with all the students on board, while the parents waved them off from the dock. The captain reports good winds and has set almost all sails, which gives good speed towards Bermuda and makes them prepared for periods of poorer winds.

Parents' meeting in the Caribbean

✨️Imagine you have to ask your boss for some time off because you have to go to a parent-teacher conference in the Caribbean 😯

Planning for the 100th anniversary has begun!

The Ship Sørlandet will be 100 years old in 2027! With us on the team we have an experienced lady with a big heart for the school ship Sørlandet She will lead the planning work.

Sailing plan school year 2024/2025

The school ship Sørlandet is sailing with our school, A+ World Academy, with 67 students from 8 different nations this school year. They will visit 18 ports on three continents and cross the North Atlantic twice.

Follow the renovation of the school ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 13

The school ship Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" (BDF) shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo hull repairs, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. These works are necessary to renew the sailing permits for five more years and be ready to be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of this page.

Follow the renovation of The Ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 12

The school ship Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" (BDF) shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo hull repairs, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. These works are necessary to renew the sailing permits for five more years and be ready to be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Follow the renovation of The Ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 11

The school ship Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" (BDF) shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo hull repairs, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. These works are necessary to renew the sailing permits for five more years and be ready to be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Gold of the forest to pride of the sea - Over one hundred year old pine gets new life at Sørlandet

When the Norwegian The Ship Sørlandet needed a new ship's deck, a very special material was found in the forests around Elverum. The centuries-old pine forest there contains trees with a core of naturally impregnated wood, perfect for withstanding the marine environment. This "gold timber", as it was called, is the result of several generations of forestry and natural growing conditions.

Follow the renovation of The Ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 10

The school ship Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" (BDF) shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo hull repairs, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. These works are necessary to renew the sailing permits for five more years and be ready to be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Follow the renovation of The Ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 9

The school ship Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" (BDF) shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo hull repairs, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. These works are necessary to renew the sailing permits for five more years and be ready to be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Follow the renovation of The Ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 8

The school ship Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" (BDF) shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo hull repairs, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. These works are necessary to renew the sailing permits for five more years and be ready to be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Skoleskipet Sørlandet's sailing plan for the school year 2024 - 2025

The school ship Sørlandet will set sail with a full ship and our school - A+ World Academy - on August 31, 2024 from Pier 6 in Kristiansand. We will have a full ship with students, teachers and crew. The first destination is Lerwick (Shetland). The illustration below shows an overview of all the ports that our students will visit during the school year.

Follow the renovation of the school ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 7

Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo repairs to the hull, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. The work is necessary to renew the sailing permits for another five years and be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Follow the renovation of the school ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 6

Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo repairs to the hull, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. The work is necessary to renew the sailing permits for another five years and be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Follow the renovation of the school ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 5

Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo repairs to the hull, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. The work is necessary to renew the sailing permits for another five years and be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025. See pictures at the bottom of the page.

Follow the renovation of the school ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 4

Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo repairs to the hull, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. The work is necessary to renew the sailing permits for five more years and be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025.

Happy birthday and thank you for now Captain Marco Post

On behalf of the entire crew and staff of the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet and A+ World Academy, we wish Captain Marco Post a happy 63rd birthday and a well-deserved retirement.

- The best year of my life

Boris Leenders is full of impressions after spending a year with the A+ World Academy at The Ship Sørlandet.

Brede Ubostad's 280 days at sea: The sickest thing he experienced on Skoleskipet Sørlandet

When you're climbing the mast 40 meters above the deck - without protection - and the storm comes out of nowhere... What happens to a 17-year-old?

Follow the renovation of the school ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 3

Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo repairs to the hull, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether any work arises that was not included in the plans. The work is necessary to renew the sailing permits for another five years and be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025.

Follow the renovation of the school ship Sørlandet summer 2024 - week 1-2

Sørlandet is at the "Bredalsholmen dokk og fartøyvernsenter" shipyard in Kristiansand and will undergo repairs to the hull, get a new main deck, overhaul the rig, and much more. The shipyard period is scheduled to last from May 20, 2024 to August 25, 2024. The new school year on board begins on August 31, 2024, by which time the ship must be ready. The project is estimated to cost between NOK 32 million and NOK 34 million, depending on whether there are any works that have not been included in the plans. The work is necessary to renew the sailing permits for five more years and be one of the main attractions during Tall Ships Races Kristiansand 2025.

The Ship Sørlandet getting ready for the folk festival

The Foundation was jubilant The Ship Sørlandet when we received the happy news that Sparebanken Sør is giving The Ship a gift of NOK 15 million. This means that the ship will be ready for the Tall Ships Races in 2025.

Sørlandet's original ship's wheel finally came home

The more than 100-year-old ship's steering wheel has been restored for more than NOK 100,000 and is now back where it belongs. The ship's steering wheel was in such poor condition when the school ship arrived in Bermuda a year ago, and now the treasure is "home" again.

Annual report 2023 for Stiftelsen Fullrigeren Sørlandet

The financial year 2023 was a good year for the Foundation. With a profitable subsidiary in A+World Academy, there is a basis for further development with the ability to allocate funds for the large maintenance costs that follow the world's oldest full rigger in full operation. See the attached annual report below.

Winners of Skutejakta Kristiansand 2023 - (updated)

The scary pirate Freya has lost! Captain Christian Sander has got all the ships back and is very happy and grateful. Now it's time to hand out the prizes. Here is the list of winners and prizes.

Ship O'hoi + a little more

Leif Brestrup retired as director of the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet and retired at the age of 67. His period as director was 2001 - 2010. Here you will find a document that describes a little from that period and a lot of other relevant material.

At the age of 14, in 1956, he took part in the Tall Ships Races from Torbay to Lisbon

At just 14 years old, Lars A.P. Urholt took part in the Tall Ships Races. It was another experience that has left its mark on his memory. Read what he writes about it below.

Annual report for the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet i 2022

The 2022 financial year was a good year for the Foundation. The challenges of the pandemic could be put behind the organization and with a profitable subsidiary in A+World Academy, the foundation for further development with the ability to set aside funds for the large maintenance expenses that follow the world's oldest full rigger in full operation. See the attached annual report below.

Annual report 2021/2022 A+ World Academy GmbH

A+ World Academy GmbH was established in 2014 and the Foundation invested significant resources in developing a unique and competitive school program aimed at Norwegian and international students at upper secondary school level. The 2021/2022 school year also yielded a positive result, and since losses carried forward were covered, the company was in a tax position.

The foundation will soon have new offices

In connection with the premises that the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet will be converted into a transfomator station, we will move to Pier 6. There will be a temporary office solution close to the quay that the school ship Sørlandet uses when she is at home. - We expect to move in before Christmas," says Knut Arne Gjertsen, Director of the Foundation.

The sailing plan for the school ship Sørlandet in the 2022/2023 school year

The school ship Sørlandet sails this year with 64 new students from 9 different nations who attend A+ World Academy - the Foundation's wholly-owned subsidiary.

Tough days for students on the school ship Sørlandet

The students on the school ship Sørlamndet arrived at Vikkilen in Grimstad a little earlier than planned due to bad weather. Grimstad address newspaper had an article that they did not apply for emergency shelter which NRK picked up and covered on the district news the same day.

Goodbye Sørlandet

The school ship Sørlandet , the region's pearl, set out again voyage with 84 people on board on Monday 22 August. It is the sixth time she has sailed a school year with students who will complete their second year of high school at the exchange school A+ World Academy on board « Sørlandet ». She will return home on 3 June 2023.

Thorbjørn Solberg Andersen receives the King's Medal of Merit on board the Norwegian pearl - The Ship Sørlandet

State administrator in Agder, Gina Lund, surprisingly came on board The Ship Sørlandet in Lillesand on 27 June 2022 to award the King's Medal of Merit to Thorbjørn Solberg Andersen.

"Summer on Sørlandet " will be launched on Monday 6 June at 12:00

This summer too, you can enjoy yourself aboard the country's pearl, The Ship Sørlandet , with good food and drink, and not least; a new concert menu with some of the country's leading artists.

The school ship returned home from a long voyage on 5 June 2022

The school ship Sørlandet coming home after over 9 months on a long trip with A+ World Academy. On board there are 57 students, 8 teachers and a crew of 12.

Annual Report 2021

Attached is the Annual Report for the Foundation The Ship Sørlandet and the auditor's report for 2021.

" Sørlandet " has arrived in Funchal, Madeira

" Sørlandet " arrived in Funchal on Madeira on Sunday 14 November 2021 with 78 people on board, 59 of whom are our students who attend A+ World Academy. The stay should give the students a good learning outcome before they go on to Las Palmas on 18 November.

" Sørlandet " is on its way from historic Cartagena in Spain to Madeira

" Sørlandet is on its way from Cartagena in Spain to Madeira outside Portugal. She arrived in historic Cartagena on October 28. The students had a useful and pleasant stay in the historic port city. On Friday 5 November, she set course for Madeira off Portugal. Read more about your stay in Cartagena below.

" Sørlandet " visiting Cartagena

The school ship Sørlandet sailed from Porto de Leicoës in Portugal and arrived in Cartagena in Spain on 28 October. On board she has the exchange school A+ World Academy. In this article you will find the weekly report from the voyage and a newspaper article in the largest newspaper for Scandinavians in Spain - Vikingposten. " Sørlandet " will remain in Cartagena until November 5.

Students finally receive the final dose of vaccine

The school ship Sørlandet is on its way to Kristiansand again and is expected to dock approx. at 17:00 on Wednesday 8 September. Then half of the students on board will receive their last dose of vaccine. In addition, the ship's washing machines and tumble dryers will be replaced with new ones.

This year's school start was a thriller

The Covid-19 pandemic almost put an end to this school year as well. The central health authorities would not allow for vaccination of 16- and 17-year-olds, but Kristiansand municipality came to the rescue. Now almost everyone on board is fully vaccinated. On Sunday 22 August, 60 excited teenagers were able to say goodbye to friends and family before embarking on a nine-month voyage.

In 1938, Karl Aksel was 16 years old and worked in the galley.

On 22 August 2021, Karl Aksel Andresen visited the school ship Sørlandet again - just a month before his 99th birthday. He is a Norwegian-American and a sailor, and now he is home visiting Søgne. Jarle Andhøy has followed him for a while and used the opportunity to record one of his projects - a documentary about war sailors.

SUMMER ON SØRLANDET - THE TICKETS TORN AWAY

Shortly after the launch of the concert series "Sommer på Sørlandet » all the tickets were torn away. With the help of a collaboration with Kilden, a bunch of extra tickets are now available for sale.

The past year

When the pandemic came was Sørlandet on a long trip with 60 students from A+ World Academy. Parents' meeting in New York was canceled and she went to Bermuda. The pandemic had not reached there, but it did not last long. The ship, the students, the teachers and the crew were "corona proof" for five weeks in Bermuda. She returned home on 17 May after sailing the longest voyage ever. The summer program was canceled and it proved necessary to cancel the school year as well. However, support from the municipality, the county and the state made it possible to use the time without assignments for useful purposes. Certificates expired in August. It was the start of an extensive workshop stay. During the same period, the staff at the school worked to develop a new and better school. Planning the summer program for 2021 - “Summer on Sørlandet ” - started and the year ended with a great Christmas gift of 10 million from the AKO Foundation. Read more below and in the attached annual report.

The school ships contribute to PM's birthday gift

Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister Erna Solberg receives a special 60th birthday present from her own party: At least 20 young people who are outside school or work will be given a place on the school ships' voyage .

Mandals AS supports " Sørlandet " with free fire hoses

Mandals AS took first mate Agata Łuczyńska at her word when she asked about good prices for fire hoses for The Ship Sørlandet . They would donate no less than 2 fire hoses to the ship. The fire hoses are of the Mertex type. Mandal's Mertex is a fire hose that is widely used in the maritime industry and carries the "Wheel-Mark" and the MED certificate.

With " Sørlandet " across the Atlantic - Lars Grønvold

Lars Grønvold is a boat builder and sailed across the Atlantic with The Ship Sørlandet in 2018-2019. He was there for 6 weeks and in this video he talks about the trip.

Plans to install an environment friendly battery solution must be postponed due to funding.

The funds that Kristiansand municipality applied for from "Klimasats", should cover the "hybrid solution" for Fullriggeren Sørlandet. The pandemic and other conditions entailed that it will not be possible to carry out the upgrade within the limits applicable to the grant. "We have the impression that the Norwegian Environment Agency has stretched as far as they have been able to, but the currents are indicative of our challenges," says Knut Arne Gjertsen, director of the Foundation.

The Ship Sørlandet struggled: Needed help

On Sunday afternoon, the rescue company had to assist The Ship Sørlandet , who had problems during the storm.

Press release: AKO Foundation gives NOK 10 million to The Sørlandet Foundation

AKO Foundation grants NOK 10 million to the The Sørlandet Foundation. When the pandemic put its clammy hand over the community, The Sørlandet Foundations subsidiary – A+ World Academy – canceled this school year. That resulted in big losses. "Now we can develop an even better school," says Knut Arne Gjertsen enthusiastically. He is director of the The Sørlandet Foundation. He is very grateful, and believes in operation again next school year - adapted to the pandemic status though .

What does it really mean?

Where do familiar expressions actually come from? In this article we mention different Norwegian words and phrases with maritime origin.

SØRLANDET is back on Sørlandet

Wednesday 16 December was SØRLANDET towed from Storesuns Marine Services in Skudeneshan to GOT in Mandal for repairs. After 4 months in Storesund Marine Services' dry dock in Skudeneshavn, SØRLANDET towed to GOT in Mandal. After extensive restoration of the hull and preparations for restoration of the engine room, the next works will be carried out by GOT in Mandal.

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit is The Royal Protector of "Sørlandet"."

H.K.H. Crown Princess Mette-Marit extends the patronage period for "Sørlandet"

" Sørlandet " offers trips to and from Aalborg Regatta 2021

" Sørlandet " offers tours to Aalborg Regatta 2021 next summer

Report from antiquarian steel work on The Ship Sørlandet

The Ship Sørlandet is classified in the highest protection class, therefore strict rules apply to the execution of all work, so-called antiquarian principles. This essentially means that skin plates and other things that are renewed must be exchanged like for like. Both in relation to appearance, use of material (steel) and the work itself: dismantling, production, assembly, riveting and caulking.

Creative use of quarantine time

While the Covid-19 pandemic holds a clammy hand over how we carry out the maintenance of "Sørlandet", care and willingness is emerging among crew and onshore staff to impress.

Great visit to Haugalandet

The school ship Sørlandet is in maintenance and the next step is the repair of the hull. The Foundation has made an agreement with Storesund Marine Service AS for extensive works on the ship.

The full-rigger Sørlandet to the sail-ship port Kleven in Mandal

Good media coverage when the school ship Sørlandet arrived in Kleven on the last and perhaps warmest day in July.

Sørlandet returns home on 17 May

Sørlandet is likely to make it home to Kristiansand on 17 May. After 5 weeks in Bermuda and almost a month at sea, she arrives in Kristiansand on the constitutional day. On board there are 53 students, 5 teachers and a crew of 12. We hope many small boats and the rest of the city welcome her home.

SØRLANDET has casted off from Bermuda

Sørlandet has been corona-stuck in Bermuda since March 13. After just over a month, the course home is now set.

Over and out as a training ship

Sørlandet was until the replacement of the ship in 1973 identical to Sørlandets Seilende Skoleskips Institution, which gave about 6400 boys a basic education at sea. In 1974 the teaching was transferred to "Sjøkurs". "Sørlandet" thus became "retired" against his wishes.

Sørlandet corona-stuck in Bermuda

78 students and crew, who have been training on board The Ship Sørlandet, are corona-stuck in Bermuda. The students and crew have been placed in 14 days quarantine. The ship is scheduled to travel to Kristiansand when the quarantine is over.

SØRLANDET is approaching Jamaica

A + World Academy is sailing with Sørlandet for fifth school year. They will cross the Atlantic and Equator several times before returning to Kristiansand - her home port - in May 2020.

SØRLANDET has arrived at St. Martin

Sørlandet has arrived at Marigot on St. Martin after a short voyage from Bridgetown, Barbados. On average, the ship had a speed of 6 knots and some periods of 10 knots.

Terms and conditions for participation in Skutejakta 2023

Ship charts

Here you can download the ship map

Inspiration in art

Edvard Vigebo as a journalist and newspaper cartoonist? It was in this role that the famous artist first appeared in 1950. The young Vigebo was fascinated by the ship and life on board, he sailed with it and got to know the environment from the inside. In Fædrelandsvennen he wrote short epistles about his experience of the sailing community, illustrated with quick lines. We present here one of Vigebo's travel letters:

Discipline - order - seamanship

It began with the Kristiansands shipowner O.A.T. Skjelbred establishing a endowment in 1918 of £25,000 to be used for the establishment of Sørlandets Seilende Skoleskibs Institution and the acquisition of a new fully rigged steel ship of approximately 6-700 br. reg. tons of space for approx. 80 boys as well as officers. In the statutes for the endowment, it was stated, among other things: "The purpose is to give boys who want the sea the best possible education in navalship as well as practically as theoretically under strict discipline and good order and seamanship on board." The capital should remain untouched until it had reached a million kroner. At the request of the shipowner Skjelbred, Christianssands Sjømandsforening took over the endowment's funds for management in the first place. In 1925, the million was reached, the seamen's association was relieved of its obligations, and the first board of the institution was appointed with then-port secretary Joh C. Tønnesen as chairman.

A school of a lifetime

"The sea and the white sails have given their bodies speed and their soul escape, and these schoolshipboys will probably find their way whether they stay on land or sea. Our sailing ships are a school of life ... »

Famous names behind the ship

In triumph - and hurricane

Sørlandet has participated in a number of Tall Ship Races, "the tall masters' races", which are run by the Sail Training Association. The training ship has won many great trophies and has been in the spotlight on several occasions. There is hardly any other ship that can show such a consistent effort in the many races.

War, occupation, reconstruction

In 1939, when dark war clouds loomed over Europe, the summer cruise ended earlier than usual. The ship was leased to the Navy, which used it as an accommodation ship in Horten. The Germans took over the ship on 9 April 1940, and a period of degradation began for the magnificent school ship. Unrigged and rigged, it was towed to Kirkenes where it was anchored at Jakobsnes harbour. What exactly happened to Sørlandet during the war years it has been difficult to get verified. It is said that the ship was used as a coal warehouse and prisoner ship, i.a. for German deserters. Conditions on board were difficult. The prisoners were divided into pools and alternated being outside and inside due to lack of space. Furthermore, it is rumored that the prisoners sabotaged the conditions on board. It has been claimed by the authorities that the prisoners themselves opened the bottom valves and lowered the ship. Another version, which has been given more credence, is that the ship sank after it was hit in the waterline during a Soviet Russian bombing raid. The barge was raised and towed to Kristiansand.

"Continuation School" for future sailors

The school ship Sørlandet achieved the status of "continuation school for future seafarers", approved by the Ministry of the Church. In practice, this became a sailing seamen's school for boys who often came directly from the primary school with no other ballast than what this school stood for. On board the "continuation school", the students were offered practical instruction in seamanship, i.e. learning to sail and master the conditions on board The Ship with the strict demands for discipline and duties that were imposed. In addition, the students received instruction in theoretical subjects such as Norwegian, social and health studies, easier arithmetic tasks etc. by teachers who had to be approved by the school director. the teaching turned out to be to a great extent required, especially for those pupils who had not taken school teaching on land very seriously.

Our youngest Vikings

Here, Southern Norway's presence would become the precursor to many targeted and export-oriented Norwegian PR advances towards America. Our country had little opportunity to make its mark at this world exhibition, the largest of all such exhibitions, but it was said afterwards that the schoolship outweighed the Norway did not be able to do any other way.

Meet The Schoolship Boy Ansgar Thorkildsen (1923-1998)

Glenn and Bonnie Thorkildsen contacted us a few weeks ago via Facebook. They wanted to share pictures and tell of their father and father-in-law who they thought sailed as a schoolship boy on Sørlandet in 1937. We got a series of pictures and learned a little about what he had done until he was called to military service when World War II broke out. Here's the story.

"We became men"

Sørlandet got a "flying start" with successful voyage to Denmark and London in 1927. It was also memorable that King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were welcomed on board the ship's first Oslo voyage . It happened on 23 July 1927 while the schooner was at anchor outside Kontraskjæret. The King and Crown Prince showed great interest in the school ship boys' display in rigging and yards with setting and salvaging sails. The king and entourage were on board for a couple of hours and inspected the entire ship under the leadership of captain Selmer Lindeberg. It was the first time that the Royal House was a guest on board the ship, and there were to be more such events in due course, most recently during King Olav's 25th anniversary as monarch in 1982.

School under sail

When the late shipowner OAT Skjelbred set aside £25,000 as a gift with the aim of building a school ship for the region, he also expressed a specific purpose with his gift. Kjell Rosenberg, who for so long was a teacher on board Sørlandet , has given some thought to this.

They came down from the rig and manned our fleet

"The first school ship cohorts came down from the rigging and sailed out as deck boys, young men and cooks on steamboats and tankers and were happy for the hire. Some went to the top of the bridge and became captains and higher ship officers in the merchant fleet and in our Royal Navy ... »This is what it says in some reflections from one of the boys who was on board in his early 30s, one of the many with a thirst for adventure in the blood and a desire for the challenges of sea life. We allow ourselves here to browse a little in the oldest annual reports to give some glimpses of what was recorded of impressions and thoughts after the end of the season, otherwise in the language that was used. In these years visited Sørlandet a number of ports in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and Skagerak.