SJÖLUND ALVAR

 

Sjölund, Alvar,Torsten, Fredrik, Mollyhawk was born in Degerby, Åland, on 18.9.1910.

He made his first voyage in 1927 in the full-rigged ship GRACE HARWAR.

He obtained his Master Mariner's certificate in Mariehamn in 1938.

Alvar Sjölund served as 3 rd Mate of the 3-masted barque PENANG, and the s s RIGEL, as 2nd Mate of the schooner LIDEBORG, and as Chief Mate of the m v VALBORG, 4-masted barque VIKING, s s FIDRA and s s YRSA.

He served as pilot from 1942 to 1948 and as senior pilot from 1948 to 1967 at the Degerby pilot station.

For service during the war 1941-45 he was decorated with the kongelige belonnings- medaille af I klasse krone.

Alvar Sjölund rounded Cape Horn five times, eastwards :

- in the GRACE HARWAR in 1929,

- in the PENANG in 1932 and 1933,

- and in the VIKING in 1937 and 1939..

He was awarded the Cape Horners' medal in 1985.