We spent a few days sightseeing in Stockholm before our next guests arrived. The highlight was a trip to the Vasa Museum, where the warship Vasa built in 1628 has been restored.
At the time it was the largest warship in the world. And like the Titanic it sank on its maiden voyage, but even more spectacularly it sank in the harbour on its launch.
The king was not amused!
It was raised in 1961, and is now Sweden’s biggest attraction. It is a magnificent sight, and the museum of its history, life aboard, and its raising and restoration is very interesting.
Apparently, the king was delighted to have a second row of cannons above the normal gun deck. But this made the ship very top heavy. So when it was launched under full sail, and heeled over in the wind, water poured in through the gun openings and it sank.
Oops.
Wasn’t that exactly the same accident that befell the Mary Rose?
It certainly sank! But I think it had 30 years of naval warmongering logged by then. The recovery and restoration teams must surely have collaborated.