PROJECTS

Rexona

2024 is the 125th anniversary of the launch of the Danish seine cutter Rexona in Frederikshavn, Denmark. Rexona is one of the few remaining Danish fishing cutters from the days of sail, a relic from the heyday of the Danish and indeed European fishing industry in North-West Europe between 1850 and 1920. Vereniging Rexona, the current owners, endeavour to give broad attention to the importance of sea fishing, the ships and relations between the countries in this region. Rexona belongs to the last generation of sailing cutters from before the mechanization of the industry around 1920. Centuries of knowledge, experience and tradition are expressed in her excellent performance under sail. She symbolizes a long tradition in shipbuilding, fishing technique and seamanship. The turn of the nineteenth century was marked by industrialization, urbanization and rapid population growth and it boosted demand for cheap food. Fish provided for this need. Improved lines of transport and distribution brought remote markets within reach across national boundaries. From 1850 onwards, Denmark would be at the forefront of the development of new effective fishing methods and the design and construction of modern sailing cutters. Other countries in the region, like Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Irish Republic and the Netherlands followed the Danish example. Rexona represents the sailing heritage from the period. Vereniging Rexona aims to restore Rexona to her original glory; to navigate the seaways again; to return Rexona to a home port in Denmark and to bring the important role of sea fisheries, particularly the renewable ‘Danish seine’ fishing technique to the attention of a broader public. The project “Rexona 1899-2024 – Sea Fisheries in North-West Europe 1850 – 1920” has been initiated for this purpose. Read more…