Grandmaster of Wrights
The Grandmaster of Wrights is the head of the Danhabn Shipwrights' Guild and leader of the Council of Wrights, which are the Master Wrights of each of the four major shipyards of Danhabn.
Currently, the Grandmaster of Wrights is Margrethe Thøgersen. She has been the Grandmaster Shipwright for 22 years. She was named Grandmaster Shipwright by acclamation of the Council of Wrights after her father, Torsten Thøgersen, passed away unexpectedly.
Qualifications
To be named Grandmaster of Wrights, one must first be a Master Shipwright at and owner of one of the (currently four) major shipyards of Danhabn and a member of the Council of Wrights. To become a Master Wright, one must be one of the foremost experts on shipbuilding in Danyund, able to design and construct the largest North Sea Dragon Ships, longships, and other boats and ships. Constructing these ships and boats requires expert knowledge and ability in laying out ships, shaping and joining the timbers and lumber that are used to build them, forging the iron and copper fittings, fitting and rigging sails, and so on. The Grandmaster of Wrights is first among the many shipwrights of Danhabn, not only in all of those skills, but also in administering the affairs of the Guild and promoting its interests. Even among the Master Shipwrights, only the most outstanding and dedicated will be named the Grandmaster of Wrights.
Appointment
The Grandmaster of Wrights is generally appointed by unanimous acclamation by the Danhabn Council of Wrights.
Duties
The Grandmaster of Wrights promotes the interests of the Danhabn Shipwrights' Guild, maintains seaworthiness standards for the ships built in Danhabn, and oversees the training of the journeyman and apprentice shipwrights and common laborers in the shipyards. The Grandmaster Shipwright also personally supervises the construction of (and may personally design) large Dragon Ships, as building them requires considerably more knowledge and experience than building the smaller ships and boats requires.
Benefits
The Grandmaster of Wrights is very well compensated from the guild dues collected from the journeyman and apprentice shipwrights working in the shipyards of Danyund and from the guild licensing fees collected for each ship and boat constructed in the country.
Notable Holders
The current Grandmaster of Wrights, Margrethe Thøgersen, was the youngest person ever to become a Master Shipwright. She was unanimously acclaimed a Master Shipwright when she was just seventeen years old after designing new rigging for the sails of Dragon Ships and longships that allows them to sail to windward (into the wind) much faster and more efficiently. Making her a Master Shipwright was an unusual action for the Council of Wrights. Her father, Torsten Thøgersen, was at that time the owner of Thøgersen Shipbuilding (and Grandmaster of Wrights), so Margrethe Thøgersen, according to the bylaws of the Guild, was not qualified to become a Master Shipwright. However, recognizing her skills and the significance of her contribution to shipbuilding in Danhabn (and through her father's influence), an exception was made, and Margrethe Thøgersen became a Master Shipwright.
Margrethe Thøgersen by Peter Nelson (Zero Sum Games)
Margrethe Thøgersen, Grandmaster of Wrights
Form of Address
Master
Alternative Naming
Grandmaster Shipwright, Grandmaster Wright
Source of Authority
The Danhabn Council of Wrights
Length of Term
Lifetime or until voluntarily relinquished
Current Holders
Related Locations
Related Organizations
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