Life on board
Mounting the light chain.

Decorating for Christmas

almost 3 years ago
Written by Ronald Toppe
Life on board > Decorating for Christmas

Decorating for Christmas

almost 3 years agoLife on board
Written by Ronald Toppe
Mounting the light chain.

Turning the formast of Statsraad Lehmkuhl into a shining Christmas tree is an old tradition. This time it did not turn out exactly as planned.

Preparing Statsraad Lehmkuhl for Christmas requires a little more work than hanging lights in the Christmas tree at home, it is almost 50 meters up to the top of the masts.

Sailor Signi Maersk Svendsen does not have to climb around in the rig hanging Christmas balls, but a shining chain of lights is needed. Every Christmas, the formast is turned into a luminous Christmas tree.

Signi Maersk Svendsen
Signi Maersk Svendsen

The light chain needs to go all the way to the top, and out to the boom cams; the end of the booms to which the sails are attached. There are many meters of both rope and light chain to sort out out along the deck before installation can begin.

Signi is happy when everything is in place.

- Yes, it looks good, she smiles.

The top of the light chain is fastened almost 50 meters up.
The top of the light chain is fastened almost 50 meters up.

Signi waits until it gets dark for the big moment, the lighting of the tree.

The entire crew is on deck, helping her to count down. She puts the plug in the socket and the tree lights up. But - it does not look quite as planned, does it?

Join the preparations and the lighting in the video below!

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The One Ocean Expedition 2025-2026 is a 12-month voyage aboard the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, aimed at raising awareness and sharing knowledge about the crucial importance of the ocean for a sustainable future on a global scale.

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