- Description
This song is a true story about my love of the fishing vessel Nesteby. I spent a year and a half aboard the Nesteby and it was the adventure of a lifetime. The real Nesteby is pictured in the cover. The photo was taken by authorities when it sank in Juneau’s Harris Harbor in 2004. The photo breaks my heart every time I look at it. It is the only photo I have of her. This is a very sentimental song for me.
I have contacted the USCG to see if I can learn of its true fate. I am waiting to hear from them. I will share here if I find out anything.
This song is dedicated to Henry Oksvoll, the skipper of the Nesteby. (may he rest in peace)
UPDATE:
I visited Juneau on August 16, 2025. I spoke with the harbormaster about the Nesteby. The news was not good. It breaks my heart to tell you she ended up on a trash heap. This was all because her leaky bilge was left unattended. A vessel built to last for centuries gone forever in the blink of an eye. So sad.
I will always lament the loss of my beloved “Nesteby”. She was a true gem upon the sea.
If anyone remembers the Nesteby, and has any photos of her or of Henry Oksvoll, please reach out to me. I would love to see them.
lyrics
A troller built for a crew of two,
Her foc’cle warm with stove’s soft glow,
An anchor set where night winds blow,
My home upon the waters free,
My heart belongs to Nesteby.
Crafted strong from yellow cedar,
Ironbark protects her sides,
Sleek and balanced, built to weather,
Centuries to sail with pride,
In raging seas, we danced with grace,
My steadfast Nesteby, held her place.
We braved the tides where tempests roar,
Where others faltered, we dared to go,
The waters boiled, the cliffs loomed high,
Each wave a test, each storm a try,
Yet safe she held me, time and again,
My Nesteby, my faithful friend.
Crafted strong from yellow cedar,
Ironbark protects her sides,
Sleek and balanced, built to weather,
Centuries to sail with pride,
In raging seas, we danced with grace,
My steadfast Nesteby, held her place.
Beneath the aurora’s vibrant light,
A rainbow arcs through starlit night,
Her deck alive with voices clear,
An angel’s song the ear can hear,
A symphony, a thousand strong,
On Nesteby, where I belong.
Crafted strong from yellow cedar,
Ironbark protects her sides,
Sleek and balanced, built to weather,
Centuries to sail with pride,
In raging seas, we danced with grace,
My steadfast Nesteby, held her place.
Years have passed, my heart still yearns,
I sought her fate where memory burns,
Neglect had claimed her, bilge undone,
She sank in harbor, not at sea,
Her painted name, now faded, worn,
My Nesteby, my soul forlorn.
She was a jewel upon the waves,
A simple mend her fate could save,
Her state unknown, I dream and pray,
Someone restored her strength one day,
With love and care, her future glory waits,
To sail again for old time’s sake.
Last I heard, in dry dock laid,
Her timbers wait, her story stayed,
I hope someone with wisdom sees,
Her wood, her grace, her legacy,
With vision bold, they’ll set her free,
Restoring my beloved Nesteby.
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