2010galley

The choice of the name Skiðblaðnir for the 2010 galley was partly due to the innovative design technology utilised in her construction. Additionally, when David’s father Billy, was building one of the Sandwick maids in the 1980s he sought a name beginning with ‘S’ and found the name to be appealing enough to make it onto the shortlist for his maid. Billy, as a lifelong Up Helly Aa enthusiast, would have loved to have been around to spend time helping the galley-builders.

The original Skidbladnir was built by dwarves using the advanced technology of the time. The mythical ship could be folded up and carried around in a pouch and whenever the sail was raised she would be followed by a favourable wind to travel over both land and sea.

Finally, the Jarl simply found the name to be an appealing one. Her colours were chosen to look attractive when aflame at night and reflect the Jarl’s long-standing allegiance to Heart of Midlothian Football Club.