Captain Spotlight – Oddrun Irene Bø, The first female Captain of Norwegian tall ships

Oddrun Irene Bø – The first female captain of Norwegian tall ships

Having taken part in the very first race in 1956, Christian Radich is one of the most frequent Tall Ships Races participants. The Norwegian ship has been known not only for her speed, but also for her outstanding sail training programmes for young people. In October 2023 Oddrun Irene Bø took command of the vessel. She is Norway’s first female tall ship captain.

Although Christian Radich’s deck has been open for women since 1980, the ship; built in1937 had to wait a long time until a woman took the helm. It is by no means a coincidence that it is Oddrun Irene Bø. Her teenage dream was to sail around the world, so in 1997 when she spotted an advertisement of a year-long voyage to the Caribbean on Christian Radich, she couldn’t resist the temptation. ‘I phoned the office and asked if there was any possibility for me to join. But they said it was only for youngsters who want to start a nautical career. At that point I didn’t have such plans. I just wanted to explore the world, so they didn’t pick me’ – says Oddrun Irene Bø.

However, the call of the sea was too strong… so she found another way.

‘In 1999 I took part in The Tall Ships Races on board another Norwegian full-rigger Sorlandet. I sailed from St. Malo to Greenock. I was supposed to stay only for a week but I stayed for three months. My father couldn’t believe it when I called him from a phone booth in Scotland to tell him I wasn’t coming back home’ – laughs Oddrun Irene Bø..

In her case, The Tall Ships Races turned out to be a truly life-changing experience. She went to university and every summer she would come back onboard Sorlandet. Later, she begun sailing on the third and largest of the Norwegian tall ships – Statsraad Lehmkuhl. She climbed the ranks and meanwhile completed her maritime education. In 2011 she decided to leave the tall ship community and started a career on cargo and then rescue vessels.

‘When the opportunity to become the captain of Christian Radich came about, I felt it was the right time to come back. It was like coming home’ – says Oddrun Irene Bø, who admits that the possibility to work with young people as part of the famous Windjammer programme was something particularly appealing. The project is aimed at those who already have or are at risk of dropping out. During a month on Christian Radich the participants regain motivation and find a new life course.

‘Our goal is for the young people to feel both taken care of and challenged. Being at sea for four weeks, working together and doing tasks necessary for the ship to keep going provides experiences that help them start anew on land. It is important to feel that one is part of something bigger and can make a contribution. Perhaps that is what is missing for many young people today’ – explains Oddrun Irene Bø.

She is also delighted she can do her part in changing the image of women at sea. – ‘There are other women who are captains on other vessels, but there are still not so many of us. Therefore, it is important that the young girls and boys on board get a good impression of women in leadership positions’ – comments Oddrun Irene Bø.

She underlines that she wouldn’t have been where she is now, but for The Tall Ships Races.

‘It all started there. Seeing all the vessels, meeting people from around the world, visiting new places, it all has an enormous impact on young people. I am the best proof of this – smiles Oddrun Irene Bø.’

Written by Krzysztof Romański