There is a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of ship restorer and first mate Vibeke Bischoff. Hers is the responsibility of loading nearly 10 tons of food and equipment, most of which is stowed below the decking. The total displacement – the combined weight of ship, crew and provisions – is about 25 tons.
Every time the ship heads out to sea on a long voyage, it must carry water and provisions sufficient for 5–6 days for a crew of 65. The provisions and various items of equipment weigh 5.4 tons. The combined weight of the crew is about five tons. Innumerable items are to be stowed below the decking and it is crucial for the ship’s balance and maneuverability that Vibeke Bischoff has carefully thought out the placement of each item.
“It hasn’t happened yet, but if I ever have nightmares about stowage and wake up at night in a sweat, it will be because I have dreamt that I have put too much weight forward and aft in the ship. That could result in the ship being incorrectly loaded at sea,” explains Vibeke Bischoff.
“Many years of sailing have gone into the development of a very precise manual for ship stowage based upon experience and experiment in finding the optimal centre of rotation for the ship. The main weight should lie a bit aft of amidships to lift the bow slightly when we make speed. This gives the hull the flexibility and dynamics that allow the ship to be steered without much pressure upon the rudder.
“There are probably a lot of people who do not know that when the Sea Stallion is loaded perfectly and the rigging and sail are perfectly trimmed, the helmsman’s use of the rudder to steer his course is minimal.
To achieve this result, the ballast and as much of the cargo as possible must be placed centrally in the ship. As I mentioned earlier, as little cargo as possible towards the stern and as little as possible towards the bow is a fundamental principle. If we have too much weight towards the bow, the ship will tend into the wind and if we have too much weight towards the stern, the ship will tend away from the wind.
“We have so much routine now that with ten people I can load the Sea Stallion in just one day,” says Vibeke Bischoff.