The Íslendingur (meaning “Icelander” in Icelandic) stands as an impressive reminder of Iceland’s historic ties to Viking exploration. Located today in the town of Njarðvík on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the ship sits elevated inside the Viking World museum, allowing visitors to walk beneath its oak hull and study its craftsmanship up close.
An authentic build rooted in ancient traditions
The man behind Íslendingur’s creation, Gunnar Marel Eggertsson, hails from the Westman Islands and is no stranger to Viking ships. Having previously skippered another replica vessel, he began work on Íslendingur in 1996. He used more than 18 tonnes of oak sourced from Norway and Sweden and relied on age-old shipbuilding techniques. Five thousand nails hold the structure together, and the sail was produced in Denmark. Although an engine was installed for occasional use, Íslendingur remains a faithful reproduction of the original Gokstad ship unearthed in Norway.
Measuring 22.5 metres long and over five metres wide, the vessel has a draft of 1.7 metres and a displacement of 80 gross tons. While the historic Gokstad ship could carry up to seventy people, Íslendingur sails with nine. At sea, the average speed is seven knots, with the ship capable of reaching eighteen knots in favourable conditions.
Voyage in celebration of discovery
Initially, Íslendingur served as an educational project, giving Icelandic children hands-on lessons about their Viking heritage. In 1998, Gunnar Marel proposed a journey inspired by Leif Eriksson and the Viking expedition to Vinland, marking a millennium since Eriksson’s legendary trip. To support the venture, a company named Íslending hf. was established to gather funding.
On 17 June 2000, coinciding with Iceland’s National Day, the ship began its transatlantic crossing. Crew members included one woman, Ellen Ingvadottir, who kept an online diary of the journey. Following a celebratory stop at Búðardalur near the site where Erik the Red’s son Leif was born, the vessel faced fierce weather but eventually reached Greenland at Brattahlíð for commemorations attended by Danish royalty.
Next, the crew continued to L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, considered the only confirmed Norse settlement in North America. There, Íslendingur joined other replica ships to celebrate the Viking milestone. The voyage continued south to several Newfoundland ports and ultimately to New York City, arriving in October, roughly three months after leaving Reykjavík.
Although plans to feature the ship in a commercial campaign were halted after the events of 9/11, Íslendingur returned home. By 2002, she was acquired by a group led by the Southern Peninsula region and displayed outdoors in Reykjanesbær until the Viking World museum was completed in 2008.
