A thousand years ago the Vikings braved uncharted waters to complete the first known crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. Sailing westward from Norway, they settled in Shetland, the Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland before finally reaching North American shores. The Viking spirit lives on in this exquisitely detailed account of a couple's six-month voyage to trace that historic route. With the Saga of Erik the Red as a guide, Trevor and Lesley Hodgons set sail alone in the 37-foot fiberglass cutter, Symphony, determined to experience the world as the Norsemen first encountered it. The book can be enjoyed as a journey from the Viking past into the present, and sailing enthusiasts will delight in Trevor Hodgson's day-by-day account of the getting there, as Symphony faces one challenge after another. Through it all, you sense the Hodgsons' love of sailing, their Viking-like resolve to press on despite numerous setbacks. And they are rewarded with great sailing to a world where remnants of the Viking presence can be found everywhere.