About
The cruising square metres of the seventies are interesting boats. They are fun to sail, easy to maintain and robust. So in the nineties it was time to relaunch them in advanced lightweight construction.
Focused on cruising square metre boats
So, tempted by the advantages of composite boatbuildung materials by SP-Systems (today named Gurit), I founded Swedesail in 1991. A swedish boatbuilder then relaunched the cruising squaremetre boats S30 as Swede 41 and Swede 55 as Swede 75 in advanced lightweight construction. Test sailing with clients in May 1992 off Kiel-Schilksee, the prototype impressed with performance equal to empty top notch racers preparing for the MAIOR Admiral’s Cup selections.
Swede 55 in advanced composites
Sailing since childhood I became familiar with offshore sailing in the seventies aboard a 30 sqm boat type Lotus: 39 x 7 x 5 ft draft, 5.700 lbs (12 x 2.15 x 1.50 m draft, 2.6 t). Crossing the Skagerrak, navigating around the exposed southwestern coast of Norway to Stavanger and a three day sprint from the German seaboard to Åaland isles impressed me. Then it was time for a boat with full headroom, a restroom instead of a bucket and a reliable inboard engine, Swede 55. In the nineties I published about square metre boats and the international rule/metre boats. My articles on boat restoration, naval architects, sailors and boatbuilders contributed to the renaissance of classic yachting in Germany and Switzerland.
I sold the Swede 75 prototype, some Swede 41 newbuilds to Germany and the mediterranean, secondhand Swede 55s from Scandinavia, a Super Swede 53 to Germany and boldly opened a branch in 405 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, named Swedesail North America. The 71st floor of the Chrysler building uptown New York was a good adress, where a real estate man conducted a more profitable business.
Hands on advice for buyers and owners
Disappointed with delayed communication and adherence to delivery dates of my colleagues in Sweden and the craftsmanship, I stopped selling new boats in 1997. Giving up the attempt was not easy. I focussed on my work as journalist and own Swede 55. Today, I am advising sailors considering a new or secondhand yacht, or boat owners regarding repair, maintenance or alterations. I am helping as well with preparing the sale of yachts. This consultancy is based on decades of experience with 30 and 55 sqm cruising skerrycruisers, on hands operation of my boat and knowledge of the industry. I am working straightforward – focused on what the client wants to achieve.
