Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - II. Udsigt over skibsvæsenet i Norge fra de ældste tider indtil middelalderens slutning / Review of the condition and progress of shipping in Norway, from the earliest period, to the close of the middle ages
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21
kon i Bergen 1257 byggede drageskib var sejlet endog
udsyet (sett) med fagre billeder (skript)!), hvortil side-
stykker omtales i de tyske minnesangeres digte”), der
nævne sejl med forskjellig farvet tøj og billeder. — Som
det sees allerede af den ældre Gulathings lov, blev sejlet
syet med traad (prådr) og styrket i kanten med lig
(iksima), hvori paa siderne var fæstet løkker (116) og ringe
(hanki) for derigjennem at stikke skjødet (skautreip), naar
man skulde minke sejl. I hvert hjørne nederst var lige-
ledes en løkke for skjødet under sedvanlige omstændig-
heder. De saakaldte bonetter, som træffes paa Nordfar-
jægterne, eller et par tverstykker i sejlets nedre kant,
hvilke borttages, naar sejlet minkes, kjendte man neppe før-
end sent ned i middelalderen, da de vel første gang om-
tales i visen om Haakon Haakonsson*). Derimod var
der, som det ogsaa kan sees i Bergens ovennævnte segl,
fæstet forskjellige smaatauge eller revseisinger til sejlet
for at anvendes, naar man skulde minke sejl, hvilket skede
enten ved at reve (hefla) eller syfte (svipta), da man, som
det synes, i første tilfælde formindskede sejlet i højden,
medens den sidste maade foregik ved at drage sejlet
sammen.
Med saadant sejl kunde der gjøres god fart, naar
vindens retning var gunstig. Derimod maatte det være
til liden nytte at indlade sig paa at krydse (betta) und-
tagen i rumt farvand. Var dette knapt, vilde der i hver
vending tabes ligesaameget eller mere, end man havde
vundet i bauten, da sejlets form gjorde det vanskeligt at
gaa over stag med bakning til luvard (å vedr), og man
derfor blev nødt til at dreje om i læ (å hié) eller, som
vi nu ’sige, at kovende. Man gik derfor neppe under sejl
langs kysten eller til havs, naar det vilde være nødven-
digt at baute, men ventede, til man fik god bør (byrr).
Forresten tog man havn, hvis reisen gik langs land, naar
det blev mørkt. Ude paa havet maa man, før magnet-
naalen blev kjendt hos os — hvad der vel først skede i
det 14de hundredaar, skjønt den af minnesangerne*) næv-
nes allerede i det 13de — om dagen have sejlet efter
solen, og naar det blev mørkt, men i klart vejr, efter po-
larstjernen —(leidarstjarna). Var vejret derimod tykt,
maatte alt gaa paa en rus.
I forbindelse med udsmykningen af skibenes sejl kan
tilføjes, at der oftere?) nævnes som prydelse for alle slags
1) Flateyarb. III, 197.
PÅ, Scrvurz I da, 296.
2): As Scabbrz, L cit, I, 290;
°) Egils s. kap. 17, Heimskr. ed. Unger p. 417, 635, Grettis s. kap. 19, Flateyarb. II, 193.
built by King Haakon’s order in the town of Bergen
(1257), were embroidered (seff) with beautiful designs
(skr¢pt)’) a luxury a counter part of which is men-
tioned in the lays of German minstrels?), wherein sails
of many coloured cloths and designs are mentioned. —
As it may be seen already from the more ancient Gula-
Law, sails were sewn together with thread (praér) and
strengthened at their edges with leech (Zæsima) whereto
loops (4/6) were attached and rings (4anæi) so placed as
to receive the sheets (skautreip) used when the ves-
sel would shorten sail, together with at each angle, at
the lower points, likewise a loop to be under ordinary
circumstances used for the sheet. The so called «bon-
nets» yet to be seen in the yachts of the Nordland or
a pair of cross pieces added to the lower edge of the
sail, (when greater speed is required) and removed
when sail is slackened, were hardly known before late in
the middle ages, for the first mention of them occurs in
a lay on Haakon Haakonson?). They had however dif-
ferent small ropes or reefing points, as also may be seen
in the seal mentioned above of the town of Bergen,
fastened to the sail, when it was needed to shorten,
which was compassed in two ways, either by reefing
(Zefa) or trussing (svipta). For, as it seems, by the
former method the sail was lessened in its height, whereas
by the latter mode it was drawn together.
By aid of such sails a good speed could be attained,
when the wind was favorable. But on the other hand,
it was of small use to attempt cruising (Jei/a> unless
in large waters. In the narrows as much time was
lost in turning, as, or even more than was gained by
putting the ship about. For the form of sail used ren-
dered tacking difficult, with sail aback to weather (d vedr)
and the seaman was thus compelled to turn leeward (å
hie) or, as it is now termed, to veer leeward. He
therefore hardly chose to get under way along the shore or
out to sea, when tacking would be unavoidable, but awaited
a fair wind (6yrr). For the rest if the voyage was along
shore, when night came on, a haven was sought. Before the
magnet was known to us, — and that was not until the
14" century though it is mentioned by minstrels‘) already
in the 13" — during daytime, the seaman must have navi-
gated by the sun’s course; when night fell, but in clear
weather, the polar star (Zezdarstjarna) was his guide. Were
it cloudy weather, it was happy-go lucky for the ship.
In connexion with the ornamentation of ships’ sail,
it may be added, that it is frequently®) named and may
3) S. GRUNDTVIG, Danmarks gamle Folkeviser III, 309, 312.
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