When a young, century-old group supports intrepid Toulouse Vikings

When the Group met the Batàrs team in 2025, their values ​​aligned and a connection was immediate. One celebrates wood and ensures the longevity of structures, while the other transmits ancestral Viking shipbuilding know-how, all while challenging modern sailors!

From Garonne sailor to Viking navigator

It all began in 2011 when five intrepid Vikings from the Toulouse countryside, passionate about history and DIY projects, joined forces on the somewhat crazy project of building a replica of a wooden Viking ship. These modern-day Viking apprentices chose the name "Bàtar" for their association, derived from an Icelandic word meaning boat. The ship would be made of solid oak and capable of carrying at least five warriors.

For the construction of their first ship, they drew inspiration from the work of the naval architects at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark, who were reconstructing full-size vessels using historical techniques. Five years later, the Bátar was ready: it measured over five meters in length and was propelled by four oars and a square sail.

The launch was celebrated on August 12, 2016 on Lake Saint-Ferréol on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the inscription of this place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In 2017, the crew decided to take the longship to Scandinavia and sail through the fjords. They embarked on a 7.500 km journey from Toulouse to Copenhagen, Roskilde, Trelleborg, Stockholm, and finally Oslo. And they didn't stop there... In 2018, energized by the Scandinavian atmosphere, they decided to go further and build a second, even more powerful Viking ship! Based on the plans of an authentic longship, they built a new 12-meter vessel, capable of accommodating 20 people, including 14 rowers. The FYR was born, and its launch also took place on Lake Saint-Féréol. In 2020, once again drawn by the call of the open sea, they set off on their second expedition through Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In 2021, they went even further and set sail again, crossing 6 countries in two weeks and breaking distance and speed records.

Intrigued by sailing and challenges, and eager to push the Viking experience even further, the Batàrs decided in 2023 to build the fastest longship in the world: Orkan

For these enthusiasts, this project—a 28-meter-long vessel with a 180 m² sail, weighing less than 20 tons, capable of carrying 30 crew members and 50 passengers—is much more than a challenge reflecting their fascination with Vikings. It is, above all, 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 where appropriate.

In short, the Bàtars aim to promote, pass on, and showcase ancient shipbuilding techniques to the world, particularly those of the Vikings. Crossing the Atlantic in 2026 will be the culmination of their adventure.

PASSION DRAKKAR... Did you know? The word ''DRAKKAR'' comes from the Viking word ''DREKI'' which means ''DRAGON'' because of the dragons that often adorned their figureheads.

Drakkar, user manual

DRAKKAR FOR EVER, the construction technique is on the list of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO.

Wooden boatbuilding is an art that blends craftsmanship and tradition with a deep understanding of wood and water resistance. For centuries, wooden ships have been the lifeblood of warfare for cultures across the globe, and nowhere is this heritage more evident than in Viking shipbuilding.

These iconic vessels, renowned for their elegant design, strength, and agility, represent not only engineering at its finest but also a profound understanding of materials and techniques passed down through generations. Viking ships, in particular, were built using a technique called clinker-built, where horizontal planks overlap and are nailed together with iron or bronze nails.

Boats with ancestral know-how still relevant today

Building a wooden boat is a meticulous process that requires skill, patience, and knowledge of materials.

From selecting the right wood, through cutting, to heating the planks to shape them precisely according to the hull design, each step pays homage to tradition.

Once the ship is formed, the crucial step of protecting the wood must be taken.

During the Viking Age, boat builders used traditional methods of oiling wood with linseed oil and tar to ensure it remained strong and resistant to water and decay.

This traditional method is still widely used throughout the world.

The expertise of DURIEU & OWATROL®

Alongside these time-honored methods, the modern world also benefits from the expertise of Owatrol®, a brand of the century-old Durieu Group and a specialist in material protection. With Owatrol®, the group offers a complete marine-grade range, including the legendary D.1/D.2 combination.

DEKS OLJE®D.1 is a saturator specifically designed for exotic hardwoods. Its exceptional penetrating properties allow it to deeply protect these woods, providing truly long-lasting protection against premature aging. It is specially formulated to withstand the harsh conditions of marine environments: sun, wind, humidity, and salt air. This renowned saturator was originally developed for the decks of Scandinavian ships subjected to extreme conditions.

And to provide a varnished finish to certain decorative or non-decorative parts, pulleys, mast, boom, roof,... DEKS OLJE®D.2 provides a rich and filling finish that further enhances the wood.

The legendary RUSTOL-OWATROL® rust inhibitor also finds its place in the world of navigation by providing its exceptional rust-preventative qualities, which allow for long-lasting protection against any rust attack on screws, bolts and other metal parts.

It was therefore quite natural that the Durieu Group decided to become a patron and sponsor of this incredible project.

On the technical side, Owatrol® supports the Orkan teams in the construction of the ship with the protection of the deck planks, with the DEKS OLJE®D.1 saturator and the D.2 varnish in addition for the boom and the mast.

Viking shipyard on the Canal du Midi: some figures

• + 8.000 bolts
• 2 years of work averaging 12 hours per day.
• 3 days/week with 10 people
• from 18 to 72 years old!
• 500 kg of glue

The Bastards or nothing!

No one can resist the Bàtars, even making pure Bretons relocate! Thus, 3 Bretons settled in Toulouse and found a job there so they could come and work on the construction site on weekends.

Beyond the borders

One of the volunteers who is actively involved in the project discovered the Orkan project through Norwegian longship builders who have been promoting it from Norway!

Good luck

This extraordinary vessel will therefore cross the Atlantic in the spring of 2026 with its 28 meters in length, its 180 m2 sail, its 30 crew members and its passengers can embark up to 50.

This boat is much more than just a Viking longship; it is a life-size school that transmits technical, human and environmental skills, and the Durieu Group is proud to be associated with it.