The original capital was a legacy of 25,000 Pounds Sterling established by shipowner O.A.T.Skjelbred. The Ship Sorlandet was launched in 1927, measured 210 feet and 577 gross tons. She had no engines. Through "Sørlandets Seilende Skoleskibs Institution"( a school/institution for seafarers to be), she became a vital part in the education of young seamen from the southern region of Norway called Sørlandet. 

 

On her maiden voyage to Oslo in 1927, Sørlandet was inspected by HM King Haakon and HRH Crown Prince Olav. Later in the same year she sailed for London with 90 young boys on board. 

 

One of her highlights was the cruise to the World Fair in Chicago in 1933. Being the first Norwegian training ship to cross the Atlantic, she actually served as the Norwegian pavilion during the exhibition "A Century in Progress".

Besetningen på Chicago-toktet 1933

The Ship Sorlandet became damaged during World War II, where she, among other happenings, served as an accommodation vessel for German submariners. She was restored and ready to sail in 1948. Not before 1958 she was equipped with engine. In 1974 she was no longer used as a public training vessel, and sold to shipowner Staubo. She became registered in Arendal and laid up at Kilsund at anchor for three years. She decayed considerably during these years. In1977 she was bought back to Kristiansand by shipowner Skjelbred who gave her to the city of Kristiansand. In 1981 a foundation was established "Stiftelsen Fullriggeren Sørlandet" which is now the owner and operator.

 

From 1980 to 1983, The Ship Sorlandet was the only operative Norwegian sail training ship, and at that time open cruises for both sexes, of all ages and nationalities were offered to the general public. The Ship Sorlandet crossed the Atlantic four times in 1981. In addition she was engaged in a film shoot in New York and performed several cruises between Bermuda and Boston. 

 

The most common way of utilising the vessel in the following years became two-week North Sea cruises. However, in 1982 The Ship Sorlandet hosted the exhibition "Women of the Coast" whilst visiting some 60 seaside places along the Norwegian coast all the way up north to Kirkenes. A total of 83.000 people visited Sørlandet during this tour. 

 

In 1986 she once again crossed the Atlantic to take part in the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York. From 1986-88 about 500 cadets from the Royal Norwegian Navy got their first life-at-sea experience, through six-week courses of sailing and training on board the Sørlandet. In the latter halfpart of the ninetees she worked closely in co-operation with the Royal Norwegian Navy, Norwegian Shipowners Association and the local public Employment Office, offering six-week courses in sailing and general seamanship in order to strengthen the recruitment of young seafarers. 

 

The winter of 1995/96 she performed a series of cruises in the tropical waters of Caribbean but this was not found with a satisfactory economical result to contine you.