Name Nordlys

NORDLYS was built in Great Yarmouth in 1887 by Allertons of Lowestoft as a converter smack under the name of JUBILEE LT129.  She fished as a trawler for nine months of each year and then de-masted and re-rigged as a lugger for drifting for the remaining three months fishing for herring. She is believed to be the only known example of this type of fishing smack in existence. She was originally built of Oak, and was rebuilt using Douglas Fir on her deck

NORDLYS sailed out of East Coast ports as part of the East Coast fishing fleet until late 1890s. At some point, she operated in Norwegian coastal waters delivering lumber. In 2014, she was purchased by Fair Transport of Den Helder, Netherlands, and restored as a sail-powered cargo ship carrying wine and olive oil from southern Europe to northern Europe and the UK. 

In 2020, she was laid up. As of 2024, she is under new ownership. The plan is for her to return to Lowestoft and be given a new lease of life as a sail-powered marine biology research vessel, thus maintaining her link with her original location and utilising her original function capabilities to carry out scientific experiments.

In May 2025, NORDLYS returned to Lowestoft. A three year rebuild will be carried out by the Excelsior Trust.