There is an ongoing controversy about what constitutes an historic replica vessel.
Basically, there are different degrees of historical accuracy in replicas and reproductions.
The most accurate are built with historically appropriate tools, methods and materials. This may imply being built with hand tools alone,
having hemp rigging and flaxen sails and, unfortunately, whole oak forests die for most of this large wooden not commercial vessels,
most built as historic replicas, but not for sailing. After long years of building, this reproductions are limited to merely being displayed
in a museum environment and it costs a lot of money to keep this ships floating. It is unfortunate that people have to travel to see these
vessels instead of the ships sail to the people and thereby can be used for travelers and trainees.
But if a vessel will be sailed, especially if it carries passengers for hire and in combination with trainees, some changes must be made for
safety purposes and to satisfy the regulatory authorities. These may include the addition of an auxiliary engine, the use of wire rigging
and the modification of the historical form to gain a sufficient range of stability.
FRIESLAND balances the modern needs of a contemporary vessel with its historical appearance.
FRIESLAND is the first of a reproduction, the FRIESLAND, builded in steel on an existing seagoing casco.
That vessel, which was first built 1663 for the admiralty of Friesland, was one of the biggest warships with 80 piece cannonry that time.
It sails for nearly 30 years and just scrapped by age in 1692 after a lot of sea battles under command of Tjerk Hiddes de Vries.
Also as part of the fleet "Verenigde Provincien van Holland" at the sea battle near Solebay against the British-French Fleet, 1672.
