Inspired by Rolly Taskers offshore racing experience with the modified 40 Square Metre Boat Siska in Australia, followed by Fidelis’ success at the Sydney-Hobart race and the popular cruising SkärgÃ¥rdskryssare S30, the Swede 55 project was started in 1974.
According to Reimers’ drawings dated March 1974, the first step towards Swede 55 was an International One Design 40 m2 Class with nominal 40 square meters. Reimers had planned a long keeled underwater body. The rudder being attached to the keel was still common on traditional yachts at the time, and it was prescribed by the Swedish square meter boat rule. On the other hand, eagerly sailed boats forerunners Siska, Fidelis or Bacchant already had the keel and rudder separated.
The next drawing reveals the calculation of the nominal sail area, consisting of the mainsail triangle (4 × 13 m/2 being 26 m2) and the headsail triangle (3 × 11/2 x factor 0,85 being 14 sqm). It also documents the resemblance to the classic skerry cruiser.
As the initial design shows, a tiller, or alternatively a wheel, was planned for the boat. During 1974, the project evolved into a slightly longer, 55 m² one-type touring archipelago cruiser.
The straight, rising deckhouse of the previous design has been replaced by the stepped cabin superstructure typical of Reimers. The changes sketched in red in the next drawing show the transition to the split keel and rudder shape. Professor Sven-Olof Ridder contributed this to the Swede 55, along with special NACA foils, in the spring or summer of 1975. Consulting the development of SAAB aircraft, Ridder was an expert in low-speed aerodynamics, and had invented the Windex wind indicator.
According to Reimers’ drawings dated January 1975 and remarks on it, the general design was modified then in 75 and more or less completed in summer that year. The centre cockpit with steering position and later the engine compartment were altered. The headstay was moved forward. The boat was now 52,49 ft (16 meters) long instead of 51,57 ft (15.72 m).
The separation of keel and rudder provides good directional stability. The distance between the fins helps to control of the boat in a turbulent sea state and safe steering at high speed under spinnaker. Sailing upwind, it offers sensitive steering. The freestanding, pre-balanced rudder helps to turn the 52-foot boat easily in tight harbour basins thanks to its tight turning circle. However, the freestanding rudder was considered to be risky at the time.
15 ft (4 1/2 m) distance between keel and rudder at Swede 55 – Photo Swedesail
By the summer of 1975, the design was largely complete. The plans for the revised keel and rudder configuration date from September 1976. The sail plan followed in March 1977. The 55 m2 skerry cruiser, built according to Swedish regulations, evolved into the Swede 55, a modern one-design with a nominal sail area of ​​55 square meters. The project was first presented in 1974 with a leaflet, and the multipage brochure followed shortly thereafter.
The single-masted rig with a partial rig with 30 to 48 m² headsails secured by runners was common on racing boats, but considered risky in production boats. Features today being common, such as headsail furling or self-tailing winches, were not yet standard. As an alternative Reimers designed a two-masted ketch rig, which was never built. It was likely inspired by the 40 m2 skerry cruiser Siska, modified into an offshore yawl by the Australian Olympic sailor and sailmaker Rolly Tasker.
The first boats were completed at the end of 1976. They were ready for delivery in the spring of 1977 by Fisksätra yard in Västervik, eastern Sweden.
One of the first Swede 55 built Fisksätra Varv, probably 1977 – Photo Swedesail Archiv
An initial six-page folder introduced the project, followed by a nicely made up brochure by Gylling/Fisksätra.
Boat # 2 being covered in Swedish magazine PÃ¥ Kryss & Till Rors in 1976, a series of 15 boats were quickly sold. Here you find details regarding the construction of Swede 55 and more about the fleet.
