Durieu & Bātar: The challenge of the Toulouse Vikings

A clever mix of audacity and performance for an extraordinary "enterprise".

It was only natural that the Durieu Group became a patron of these modern-day Vikings from Toulouse.

Backtracking... The Bātar and ORKAN

After building 2 longships (Bātar in 2016 and Fyr in 2019), and sailing to Norway during 3 expeditions, the valiant Vikings from Toulouse decided not to stop there! Bitten by sailing and challenges, eager to push the Viking experience even further, the Bātar decided, in 2023, to build the fastest longship in the world: ORKAN.

For these enthusiasts, this 28m long ship, equipped with a 180m2 sail, weighing less than 20 tonnes, capable of carrying 30 crew members and up to 50 passengers, is much more than a challenge echoing their fascination with the Vikings...

It is first and foremost a human adventure that begins with the construction of the longship, organized as a participatory project. It brings together volunteers and curious individuals around a common goal: to explore the future and push boundaries by drawing on the knowledge of the past, while adding a touch of modern technology when relevant.

The Bātar family aims to promote, pass on, and showcase ancient shipbuilding techniques to the world, particularly those of the Vikings. Crossing the Atlantic in 2027 will be the culmination of their adventure.

Spring-summer 2026, from the Canal du Midi to Sète, before heading to Brittany...

From 2023 to November 2025, the Bātar team and all the volunteers who accompany them work tirelessly on the construction of ORKAN.

In February 2026, the vessel is ready to leave the Canal du Midi. The longship then sets sail for the port of Sète and proudly parades during the Escale à Sète event.

There are still some finishing touches to be implemented, which will continue between the Toulouse construction site and ORKAN's new base in Sète.

In Sète, from February to summer, the final details are being finalized...

• Protecting the pulleys with saturator; these pulleys, which play an essential role, must be protected to withstand sun, salt and inclement weather...
• the pre-setting of the gigantic sail with the installation and adjustment of the 4 reefing lines.
• the protection of the wooden planks of the upper deck — 100 m2 of chestnut planks — with saturator.
• the start of navigation training: at the time of the transatlantic crossing, 27 sailors will be needed alongside the captain, the doctor and the cook.

The organization on the boat

The crew has 12 berths and two toilets. To ensure greater safety and facilitate maneuvers entering and leaving ports — the Vikings, almost gentlemen, no longer approach the coasts wildly but wisely in port — ORKAN has two engines.

In August, ORKAN will be ready to set sail for Brittany, where the Bātar team will finalize the recruitment of the crew and set up training during the autumn and winter.

Did you know?

The Vikings, those pioneering sailors of the great expeditions, bequeathed to us, in addition to a unique naval technique, many words still used in maritime vocabulary.

Starboard comes from the Old Norse ''STJÓRNBORÐI''

It is formed from ''stjórn'', which means to govern or direct, and ''borði'', the edge of the boat.

Starboard therefore literally designated the side where the rudder used to steer the ship was located. The word remained almost identical in English, "starboard," and it evolved in French from "estribord" to tribord.

Port comes from "BÂBORD" and is explained by opposition

With the rudder positioned to the right, the helmsman, facing the bow of the ship, had the port side behind him. In Old Norse, "bak" means back or rear. Combined with "borði," it gave "bakborði," which can be translated as "the edge of the back." The origin of the word thus simply describes the helmsman's position on board: to the right, the side of the rudder; to the left, the side behind him. This expression gradually evolved to become "bâport" in French.