In Forkbeard's Wake, Coasting Around Scandinavia

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Limited, 2003 £ 7.99 .

Having read English and medieval literature at Cambridge Ben Nimmo forsook academia to become a diving instructor, in exotic places, for five years.  However, he remained fascinated with the Vikings and set out, by motor yacht, to retrace the voyages of Svein Forkbeard, our shortest reigning monarch.  He sails from St. Katherine’s Dock to Gothenburg via Limfjord then on to Oslo, Stavanger, Utsira, Haugesund and Hardanger Fjord.  Returning to Gothenburg he sets out up the Göta Älv by kayak while his generator is repaired.  The Göta Canal being closed he continues to Stockholm by bicycle. Autumn then winter set in before he voyages home, single-handed and in heavy weather, to Maldon via Copenhagen, Rostock, Lübeck, Flensburg, the Kiel Canal and Cuxhaven with a diversion to Hamburg for Christmas.

 His love of people, especially Scandinavians, and his linguistic ability gain friends everywhere.  He is involved in diving, school-teaching, boatbuilding, jazz and German, New Year fireworks.  His style is pleasant and amusing.  The text is interspersed with knowledgeable snippets of blood-thirsty, Norse history that should stimulate further reading.  His is an example of how we should all behave while abroad. - JLC

"© Cruising Association [2000] All rights reserved.
Use of this site is subject to our Terms and Conditions."

Page created 14 April 2003