An American woman has died after the replica of the boat she was on capsized in rough seas during an expedition from the Faroe Islands to Norway.
Six people were on board the Naddoddur when the ship ran into difficulties on Tuesday evening, the fourth day of the voyage, and a distress signal was sent.
Only five people managed to board a rubber dinghy and were then safely evacuated by helicopter.
The body of a woman was finally found Wednesday morning not far from where the boat sank.
The Norwegian Sea Rescue Society (NSSR) described the conditions west of the town of Stad at the time as very demanding, Video of strong winds and high seas posted.
He said waves were reaching up to 5 metres (16 feet) and winds could reach 40 knots.
Bergur Jacobsen, chairman of the Naddoddur Yacht Club in the Faroe Islands, told the BBC that everyone was very sad about what had happened.
He explained that the 10-metre-long boat had already taken part in Viking voyages to Iceland, Shetland and Norway.
“It’s not a Viking ship, it’s a Faroese fishing boat without an engine but with sails.”
He said he could not speak about the accident because a Norwegian investigation team was due to speak to him.
Locals were shocked by what happened. One sailor told the BBC that visitors were eager to take part in expeditions with the boat, although he would not have done so himself.
The expedition had been postponed for several days until Saturday due to bad weather.
Andy Fitze, one of four Swiss nationals on the trip, posted a map on social media two days into the journey showing the boat northeast of Shetland.
Before the voyage, Faroese crew member Livar Nysted said that when you find yourself in the middle of a storm, “you just try to do your best.”
“It’s an open boat. We sleep under the stars and when it rains or there’s wind, we feel the elements.”
