Let’s start with two simple questions: how long can you neglect a fibreglass boat? Would it ever float or even sail again? First, it can be forgotten for 30 years, if stored on the hard high and dry. Second, if is it a nice one drawn by Knud Reimers and a creation like Swede 55, the sad sight will attract visitors trying to change her faith. Aficionados from Italy, Germany, and other countries. I will spare you with obnoxious details like the substantial loss of value/money during 3 decades (just bills, no fun instead of bills plus fun), the toll of the brutal Mediterranean sun and legal matters regarding the transfer of ownership, the latter being unknown to me. Let’s focus on the Siloahs path from that long storage high and dry, back to the water and her adventurous transfer at the end of the sailing season 2019 from Italy to Gibraltar, nord- and then eastward back to Sweden.
Siloah in the eighties
This first decade of Siloah, named after a band of few musicians playing a kind of Psychedelic music, seems to have been happy. Berthed in Elba, the owners’ family explored one of the nicest waters for cruising in warm water, some sun, plenty of bays, exquisite simplicity, Italian food and the kind of freedom, only a boat can offer. Moreover, came the sensation to enjoy sailing with this agile, easy-going and elegant boat like Swede 55.
The owner had a kind of wealthy background, residing in a decent home at the shore of one of the Bavarian lakes, with an exquisite Coupé of a 12 Cylinder Jaguar XJS in British Racing Green in the Garage. A free spirit, already taking care of healthy nutrition back then, he played Bach with his Cello. One of his two sons attended a boarding school together with Thomas Pfiffner at Ammersee.
This Institute was founded in 1905 as Landerziehungsheim Schondorf, first accessible by boys only and had its private pier, making them Ammersee accessible for rowing and sailing. The idea was to combine intellectual education with craftsmanship. Later the boarding school was named Landheim Schondorf.
So the owner’s son, Pfiffner and other friends enjoyed a summer holiday aboard Siloah, exploring the tuscan archipelago consisting of seven islands of Giannutri, Giglio, Montechristo, Pianosa, Elba, Capraia and Gorgona. The father allowed his son to sail alone with is friends, being in their early Twenties then. At another occation Pfiffners sister accompanied the owner and his family aboard Siloah in the beautiful waters. So the boat provided lasting memories for some, this being the essential function of a sailboat with altogether seven bunks spread over 13 metres below deck.
Approaching the prison Island Gorgona with Siloah
To save harbour fees, they avoided expensive moorings stays in bays, where they would swim ashore with some Lira in the pocket. They cut fishing nets from Siloahs keel and occasionally made acquaintance with local teacher trainees of the other sex, which was also interesting, as Pfiffner vividly remembers in a recent phone call. Thomas Pfiffner told me they had the mad idea to approach the prison island Gorgona, which was a not so good idea. Since then, Pfiffner dreamt of classy, elegant sailboats, note the stories in the links below.
Apparently, at the end of the eighties, Siloah was stored on the land at Easom Marina, where the keel started developing roots. There time paid it toll. I was one of the fellows trying to change Siloahs depressing faith, when I noted a Swede 55 due to her fractional rigged spar behind the walls of Esaom Marina and boat storage in Portoferraio on the Italian island of Elba. In August 1993, I was sitting in a Taxi with fever due to Pneumonia to the Pronto Soccorso, the emergency entry of the Portoferraio hospital. Nevertheless, I was sure to have seen a Swede 55. It was largely the last thing I remember. When I opened the eye, I found myself in a bed with the face of a catholic pope above me. A friendly man in as black robe and same coloured hat baptized me. First I thought, that was it. At least I had seen one of the beloved Swede 55‘s. Then I learned I had collapsed during the medical examination. About ten days later, when I took a cab to the Airport, I was still to weak to look at the boat. Seven years later, I would make up for that missed opportunity.
How long can you neglect a Swede 55?
I visited Portoferraio in June 2000 to express my gratitude to the hospital, grateful for my survival from the severe illness. Then I managed to get behind the concrete walls and fences of Esaom boat storage and learned the boat was put on the hard already eleven years ago. I found a ladder and went aboard. The Gelcoat had turned from glossy white to blunt chalk. The teak was rotten, the sliding hatch was partly open and permitted to step below deck, where I emptied the bilge. I was shocked. It was sad to see this beautiful Swede 55, once the showboat of the Stockholm archipelago, in such a poor state, uncovered, dusty and dirty. A beauty neglected since 1989.
When the owner does want to part from his boat
I found out the owner’s name somewhere in Bavaria and called him, introduced myself as Swede 55 aficionado, explaining that I entered his boat, pumped the water out and opened the floorboards to ventilate the bilge. He didn’t care. I offered him to find a buyer for the boat. He wanted to keep the boat instead. Later a chap from Bavaria, apparently his son, inquired for sailing with me in the Baltic aboard Gamle Swede, boat # 27, then for a Swede 55 half model. In 2015, I again suggested selling the boat, explaining that storage fees and other running costs eventually eat up the entire value of the boat, or accumulate beyond the selling price. At that phone call the owner blamed the yard for not taking care of his boat and for vandalism aboard his yacht. That was the moment I gave up.
During the years, other sailors inquired in vain to buy and salvage the deteriorated boat. Apparently in 2018 a German, familiar with classy wooden skerry cruisers took over Siloah. In early 2019 he contacted me regarding a technical question.
One remarkable detail, the first owner changed aboard Siloah was the installation of the fresh water tanks between the backrests of the main cabin and the hull in the manner of modern water ballasted boats.
Fast transfer of this Swede 55 northbound
The new owner replaced the engine and through hull fittings, installed a new autopilot and left Italy September 9, 2019 with a borrowed mainsail. Siloah went westbound via Formentera to Gibraltar, then northbound to the English Channel. The largely unknown boat was sailed by a crew of three experienced 30 sqm boat sailors via Cascais, then further to La Coruña, Douarnenez and Guernsey, where they arrived just one month after departure. Strong southwesterly winds had favoured the voyage, in particular along the coast of Portugal, where usually a strong northerly breeze is encountered. Siloah reached speeds up to 13 and even 16 knots once, filling the anchor locker completely due to a blocked drainage once and the cockpit twice during bold and speedy rides in high seas in the Bay of Biscay. The three fellows then concluded the journey via Eastbourne, Ijmuiden, Amsterdam, Markermeer, the IJsselmeer, Stavoren to Emden. There Siloah was stored for the winter. A remarkable nautical achievement, fast, due to the smart use of the winds, with some common mishaps, that were mastered as straightforward as the preparation of the voyage.
From Siloah to Jay Gee
The return to the waters where Swede 55 was created was finished in 2020. Since then, the long neglected, quickly reactivated and seriously tested boat is quietly enjoyed in the Stockholm archipelago. As the photo below reveals, Siloah obtained a new name and is run with removed lifelines and stanchions in a fairly uncluttered manner. A sailing friend of my brother spotted her June 26 in one of the nicest waters you can race and cruise, the Stockholm archipelago. His sent me the photo below.
Swede 55 as kind of dangerous boat
So after 47 years it looks like a happy end for Siloah, the Swede 55 launched by Fisksätra Varv in Västervik at the east coast of Sweden in 1979. It reminds on the salvage of Valhöll, a Swede 55 forgotten by her London owner in Itchen River instead on Elba for about two decades and relaunched with some elbow grease in 2021.
Sentimental Swede 55 owners seem to keep these boats longer they should for very human reasons, apparently waiting a bit long for the next generation to hoist sails again. If you see it this way, Swede 55 seems being an addicting boat. You know more about Siloah’s history and would like to contribute? Kindly send your remarks via E-Mail.
Jay Gee ex. Siloah berthed in Stockholm archipelago late June 26 — Photo Axel Merlewede
Photo on top: Siloah as found at Esaom Marina in Portoferraio/Elba with typical Mediterranean style wiring in the foreground. Thanks to Ulf Torberger, Lars Nordlund and Axel Merlewede. Axels photo prompted me to finally tell the story of Siloah. Respecting the privacy of the first owner and his family their names are not disclosed in this article. Published July 4, 2026, updated July 7, 26. → Subscribe free Newsletter and you won’t miss future articles.
Source
Lars Nordlund: 30:a seglares äventyrssegling. (An adventure of 30 sqm boat sailors). Report on the preparation and transfer of the German Swede 55 # 22 from Portoferraio/Elba to Emden/Germany in September/October 2019, in the quarterly published Bulletin Skärgårdskryssaren, issue 3/19 of Svenska Skärgårdskryssareförbundet, SSKF.
