RYVINGEN

Biography

Ryvingen is a pilot boat built in 1918 for sail and engine. She was pilot boat number 4, and this is why she has the number 4 in her mainsail together with a red vertical stripe. The red stripe is the symbol for a pilot boat, so she can be easily recognized. She got her name Ryvingen when she was placed in the town of Mandal, close to the lighthouse Ryvingen. 

After retiring from the service as a pilot boat in 1965, she became a sea-scout boat for the sea scouts in Oslo. The scouts learned seamanship, boat handling and sailing. They mostly sailed in the Oslo fjord, but in 1988 they sailed to Great Britain and in 1990 they sailed with Ryvingen to the North Cape of Norway. In this period a larger renovation job was performed, and she was rigged as we have her today.

In 1996 some of the older sea scouts bought the boat and started the foundation Losskøyta Ryvingen of 1918, which is a non-profit foundation with the purpose of running and maintaining Ryvingen. They sailed to the Caribbean twice in the 1990ies.

Ryvingen has historic heritage status and has its home port together with other traditional and historical vessels at Isegran in Fredrikstad/Norway. An association of friends organizes the maintenance and use the boat for day, weekend and week trips. By participating in the activities we gain historic and traditional knowledge, sailing skills and enjoy. During a season over a hundred children, young people and adults go on trips on Ryvingen.