Clips
Thanks to the calm camera with relaxed cuts, the piano accompaniment and the wonderful object, these 2:16 minutes would work well without subtitles and Prosecco. If you look closely, you will discover an elderly gentleman in the straw hat at the tiller. The Stockholm sailor Olof Hildebrand developed Swede 55, her successors named Swede75/52 and finally Swede 41 as a daysailer and S30 successor. So far three Swede 41 have been built in this manner. Sleipnir was commissioned by an Austrian sailing family and is now berthed in Lemkenhafen/Fehmarn.
Swede 41 Sleipnir
Sleipnir was built in 2016-18 with this small cabin similar to the racing 30 sqm boat by the well reputed Rosättra yard northeast of Stockholm. This beauty is so seldom built that it comes as a costly custom manufacture. But occasionally there are aesthetes and sailors where it must be a Swede 41. You are welcome to find out more about Sleipnir here.
Swede 52 Cheyenne
The next clip shows the most recent Swede 52, constructed in Sweden 2002. She is supposed to displace just 7,4 tons, 500 kgs less then the Swede 55 as planned by Knud Reimers. Her counter prooves the impressive lightweight construction and underlines how easy Cheyenne is floating. Further note the tiller steering instead of the wheel – a sensitive and simple mechanism. Besides, it is lightweight and practically maintenance free. Details in page Swede 55 successors.
Swede 55 Gamle Swede
Upwind sailing in light air with Genoa II in a little swell in Southern baltic sea. Approaching the bay of Luebeck, heading to Travemuende. The high-rise and striking building of the Maritim Hotel is going to be visible ahead soon.
Upwind in a breeze with the previous 16 sqm stormjib and reefed main a couple of years ago. Sailing southbound from the northwestern tip of Fehmarn island towards the german mainland.
Racing debut of the new jib
First impression of the dreaded 12 mR-yacht Anita during the warm up race on Friday. We are more than delighted to learn that we are about as fast, while pointing a little higher upwind. Exciting moments in spring 2019.
Sheets slightly eased with the new jib underway from Fehmarn to Kuehlungsborn at the shore of Mecklenburg, formerly east Germany. Baltic sea sailing in September 2018. As the foot rail at sealevel indicates, it is time to reef.
Looking backwards from the safely embedded well by main and aft cabin plus the high coamings of Swede 55. This arrangement is as comfy as aboard a motorsailor.
The long and narrow hull moves easily. Having passed Storstømsbroen linking Falster and Seeland, it just needs the storm jib and a reefed main for the day in gusty conditions. We are sailing to Smålandsfarvandet, hoping to reach Vejrø island, while expecting more wind with some swell coming from the direction we are heading to.
Testsailing the new main in a steady breeze on Fehmarnsund. On starboard you see the well known bridge (with approx. 22 m clearance), due to its shape nicknamed Coat hanger. This Swede 55 mainsail was made by Luebeck sailmaker Arnd Deutsch. As the reefing ropes of the former main are not jet fitting to the new leech I am checking the length for new ones. Water temperature and the wind blowing from the east make this day a chilly experience. However this does not dim the joy about the new 674 sq. ft. (44 sqm) main. Video from June 2020.
Moored at Ærø/Denmark
Peaceful mooring at Ommel in the shelter of Ærø island. We feel free to tie the bow to one of the unused guest buoys available by the danish crusing association. The tranquillity outside the crowded harbour of Marstal tells why the region is named Dansk Sydsøen, Danish South Sea.