With her masts, shrouds and stays, the Vasa of today is almost as handsome as when she set sail in 1628.

The process of rigging the Vasa took several years. The scientific work began in the late 1960's, when curator Eva-Marie Stolt started looking into how the very complicated system of masts and rig looked like in 1628. Using this research as a platform, the practical work could start in 1992, supervised by the Vasa Museum's rig expert Olof Pipping.

The unique rigging of a 17th century warship gave him the opportunity to share his knowledge with three apprentices.



1992. During the autumn the bowsprit was mounted. In the end of the year, the work on the rigging started. Four kilometres of rope (made of hemp) were to be used.

1993. In March, the first mast - the foremast - was mounted. In June, the mainmast was raised. At that time the ship's discoverer Anders Franzén, took the opportunity to place a coin for good luck beneath the mast (such a coin was not in the place when the Vasa made her first and last unfortunate voyage in 1628). The mizzen mast is the only non-original mast on the Vasa. A new one was manufactured and mounted. The foremast was rigged and the Mainshroud was put up. The shrouds supports the masts from the sides and backward.

1994. In the spring, the Vasa's biggest stay - mainstay - was mounted. It is 30 metres long and weighs half a ton. Before it was put up, it had been stretched for two years, in order to avoid a slack in the rig. (The stays supports the masts forward) Also mizzen mast was rigged.

1995. Maintop and mizzen top was put up. Over the tops, the caps were mounted. The caps would have held further sections of the masts, sections that wer probably removed in the 17th century. The Vasa Museum's exhibition "The Sailing Ship" was opened, showing the Vasa's extant sails - the oldest in the world!In the end of the year the spritsail top was mounted and that concluded the rigging of the Vasa. When the 17th century warships were laid up on land for the winter, the upper parts of the rig were removed. The goal of the work on the Vasa's rig and masts has been to make her look like one of these 17th century warships being in "winter hibernation". This goal has now been reached.