From historic documents we know that Vega af Bergkvara was delivered in 1909 by shipbuilder Alfred Olsson. The ship was commissioned by Johan Karlsson, on behalf of Degerhamn's Lime Quarry. Measuring 28 brt and 19 nrt, the Vega carried limestone across the Baltic until 1927 when she was sold to Öland's Cement. An 16 HP engine was installed and the ship continued working until 1948 when Karl Hagman bought her.From 1947 onwards Vega was used as a pleasure cruiser, changing owner every now and then, until Dennis Ören found her in 1982, in deplorable condition, at one of Stockholm's quays.
Dennis rebuild Vega's hull entirely in solid oak - cut from old stock with special permission of the Swedish Forestry Department. That work took many years. Vega was laying at a wharf in Norrtälje when Dennis Ören and Globetree started their cooperation in 1993.
It took only two years, and a lot of skilled inputs, not to speak of finances and sponsoring, to convert the hull into a sailing vessel. Today, September 1995, Vega af Bergkvara is in all respects a new and modern ship, though build and rigged in traditional style. For her long voyage, she is equipped with satellite communication, a computer and a digital camera, automatically establishing contact with the home base in Sweden to transmit and receive latest information.
Irrespective all modern additions, the actual sailing will proceed in a classical way, with Dennis Ören handling everything by himself. Vega appears to be the biggest wooden sailing ship that ever was prepared for a solo circumnavigation. Dennis is the first Scandinavian to embark on such endeavor.
E-mail: globetree@globetree.se Last Update: Oct.13 1996
