What gorgeous craftsmanship went into building that ship! Exquisite.
One of my ancesters came here twice in the mid 1600s to found and settle New Sweden. (Philadelphia and Delaware area before the Dutch took it away from them.) He came, first, as a hired sea hand and stayed to become the skipper of the governor’s yacht. The Governor lived on an island and needed a yacht to get around.
My ancestor had to travel back — first to Amsterdam — and then to Sweden to collect his wages and a wife before he returned to stay forever. I cannot imagine what it took to cross the Atlantic TWICE to find and establish a home on a new continent under those primitive conditions.
The other side of my family came earlier (1608 Jamestowne) but they stayed once they got here. However, the Swedes were traveling men and saw no obstacle to going back and forth.
The Kalmar Nykel -- 1638. Obviously Scandnavian shipbuilding had progressed between 900 and 1638. Actually, I think the KN was Dutch built, but owned by Sweden in 1638. This replica is berthed in Delaware and sails periodically in the summer time.
I hope my 11xgggg grandfather traced his foot on the deck during the voyage. He was just a teen on his first crossing.