"Marabu": 100-square-metre ocean cruiser returns to Germany
Text by Anette Bengelsdorf
Today is not the day that makes a "marabou" fly. The autumn sun has already chased the fog from the lush reeds, but the island of Reichenau and the forests on the shore remain shrouded in mist. The Untersee shows its flat side and there is no question of rough sailing with heeling. The large, heavy bird glides quietly through the water. A breeze ripples the surface. It is reflected in the hull and makes the flame-red mahogany glow. The yacht proudly displays its old sailing sign, the Roman ten, in the high-tech cloth. Classicism and modernity have entered into a pragmatic alliance on "Marabu", giving it a new lease of life.
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When "Marabu" was built in Lemwerder by Abeking & Rasmussen in 1935, the client had anything but cosy coffee sailing on an inland lake in mind. Both the navy and the air force were rearmed after the First World War. The commander-in-chief of the Reichsmarine considered it essential to teach the cadets the basics of seamanship. Under the motto "The nautical cruiser lasts longer than the crew", Nazi ideology appropriated the nautical cruiser class, which was launched in 1928. Built in various sizes with a measured sail area of 30 to 150 square metres, they were intended to reconcile what were then seen as contradictory characteristics such as safety, speed and seaworthiness with living comfort.
"Marabu" was intended for the Luftwaffe in the 1930s
While enthusiasm for the fast touring yachts was initially limited, large shipyards such as Abeking & Rasmussen were now increasingly commissioned to build this class. "Marabu", one of the really big birds alongside "Storch", "Reiher", "Pelikan" and "Kranich", was destined for the Luftwaffe. While the navy preferred the smaller 50-square-metre class, the air force increasingly opted for the 100-square-metre version.
According to various sources, many of these prestigious yachts were also used for the leisure activities of high-ranking officers. Even for Hermann Göring, who was anything but a sailor. It is said that "Marabu" was equipped with a particularly large forward berth. It was rumoured that the overweight Göring almost got stuck in the companionway of a 50-metre cruiser, to the secret amusement of the crew. There is, of course, no evidence for these stories.
Many of these yachts were damaged or destroyed in bombing raids during the Second World War, while others survived the blood-and-soil madness in good condition. They were confiscated in 1945 and a third of them went to Russia as reparations, some to the USA, but most, like "Marabu", to the British army. These so-called windfall yachts fell into the laps of the occupying forces like ripe fruit.
Life as a regatta yacht in the Royal Navy
Two of the 100-square-metre cruisers remained in the possession of the British Kiel Yacht Club, which emerged from the Kiel Yacht Club in 1945, for the occupying forces, while a further ten 100s made the journey to England. "Marabu" was one of the last to be sailed across the Channel in 1946 and remained in the possession of the Royal Navy. Built with mahogany planks on oak and steel frames and a pine deck, the yachts were of first-class quality and formed the basis for the sailing training of the British armed forces in the post-war period.
Sailing cruisers were strict taskmasters and "Marabu" did not feel obliged to take any rank into consideration. Lieutenant Fairbank, an experienced sailor and the Queen's Sailing Master, remembers: "The Admiral, who was not the sort to be given advice without being asked, jumped on board, snatched the tiller out of my hand and ordered me to weigh anchor. Then, realising that there was no wind but a strong current, he gave the command to start the engine. But 'Marabu', like all windfall yachts, had no engine." At least with capable helmsmen at the helm, "Marabu" was an extremely successful racing yacht and took part in eight consecutive Fastnet races from 1951 to 1965.
In the early 1950s, "Marabu's" forestay was moved three feet forwards in order to enlarge the foresail triangle and allow for larger genoas and spinnakers. Before crossing the Atlantic in 1952, a highly controversial cabin superstructure was added, which was an imposition from an aesthetic point of view, but offered the crew more space and kept the yacht drier. The Camper & Nicholsons shipyard finally turned the cruiser into a ketch with an additional mizzen mast, installed a small engine and replaced the tiller with a wheel steering system.
"Marabu" goes civilian and becomes a training yacht
By the early 1970s, the days of the once prized Windfall yachts were numbered. When a "Joint Service Sailing Centre" was set up with modern and faster 55-foot yachts from Nicholsons - one of which had won the Sydney-Hobart Race in 1970 - they were sold to the highest bidder, more or less for pocket money, to civilians. However, many a proud owner underestimated what it meant to have to maintain such a bargain. As a result, many of them disappeared into oblivion. Some are still rotting away under tarpaulins today, while only the graves of others are known and many have simply disappeared.
In 1977, the Navy also sold its two old-fashioned and uneconomical 100-metre cruisers. "Marabu" was given a berth in Brighton and continued to be sailed thousands of miles by a group of sailors as a training yacht and in tall ship races. This "Marabu Syndicate", which was later renamed "The Marabu Sailing Club", devoted many years to maintaining the brave yacht. Planks were replaced and even the keel had to be removed in 1987. The big bird ensured that its owners never got bored in winter, but also that they eventually ran out of money.
When the fact that its rusty steel frames needed replacing could no longer be denied, the insolvent club was dissolved and "Marabu" was sold to Ipswich in 2004. Attempts by the new owner to fundamentally reorganise it came to nothing, and so the wingless bird vegetated uncovered for five years. A cry for help drew the attention of Radolfzell boat builder Josef Martin to the windfall in 2009. When he saw the photo in the Freundeskreis Klassische Yachten magazine under the headline "Save the classics!", he immediately realised: "You can't let something like this break down." Without having seen her, he bought the yacht in her wretched condition that same year. A low-loader delivered her to the yard of his shipyard, where she waited in vain for a buyer for years.
Restoration to ensure peace and quiet for the next 50 years
Martin started the restoration on his own account in 2017. And as always, he was consistent. "I'm going to restore it so that it will be quiet for the next 50 years," he said. In December 2018, it was already clear to see what he meant by that. The high superstructure and deck had been torn off and, without its ballast, the bird, at more than 17 metres, occupied almost the entire length of the shipyard hall in Radolfzell.
Even in this state, "Marabu" still had a powerful presence. Anyone looking up at him could not help but marvel at his dimensions. And despite its desolate and plucked condition, it looked important and commanded respect. The keel could not be saved and had already been replaced, the rusted steel frames had been removed and replaced with glued Robinia frames. According to Martin, they were stronger than their predecessors, cheaper to manufacture and would save the future owner from rust and crevice corrosion.
The boat builders stabilised the hull in all directions with struts, reinforcements and straps. It had to provide the shape for the reconstruction. The new frames were attached with screw clamps through rectangular holes simply sawn into the red planks, the slats were glued together in the hull and provisionally screwed back onto the planks after plastering. Once all the frames had been completely or partially replaced, the planks were added. The master had them removed from the bottom upwards and replaced with the new ones straight away. In this way, the provisionally bolted frames never lost their hold. Then construction came to a halt.
Josef Martin promised that "Marabu" would of course be dismantled according to its original plans. After all, the retrofitted deckhouse was a disaster, and the mizzen must also disappear. "Marabu" would be rigged as a slip again. That much was certain.
However, he wanted to wait with the interior work - the old one was only rudimentary. He was convinced that an enthusiast would be found for the beautiful, fast yacht with the tragic past. With his very own ideas about living space for extended trips on the Baltic Sea or in the Mediterranean.
New owner spontaneously comes to "Marabu"
Günter Eigeldinger, who was moored in Martin's harbour with a small yacht, had already crept around "Marabu" in 2009. He was fascinated by the awe-inspiring presence that the yacht still exuded, even as a pile of planks. When he saw her again in 2021, he dared to ask about the price. "You have to offer yourself to Fortuna for her to kiss you," he says. After two days, his decision was made. It was a spontaneous decision, he admits. Eigeldinger is 80 years old and while others sell their yacht at this age, he needed a new plan. "Giving up sailing is the beginning of the end," he says.
In August 2022, Martin continued planing at full throttle. Dark, hard sipo replaced the original Swietenia mahogany. The cabin superstructure now corresponded to Rasmussen's plan again and was built just two centimetres higher.
29 April 2024, when "Marabu" touched the water again for the first time in 20 years, was also a special day for Josef Martin and his crew. Without the 640-kilogram mast and the 500 kilos for the diesel, water and holding tank, it floated with the lower edge of the water pass six centimetres above the water's surface. "The waterline is just right," says the master dryly.
Two weeks later, the time had come. "Marabu" was presented to guests at its christening in glorious weather and polished to a high gloss. The wooden mast, at 20 metres slightly shorter than the original, is designed to lower the centre of gravity The top-rigged rig without backstays simplifies handling for a smaller crew At the same time, the extended luff of the genoa provides a larger headsail and thus compensates for the smaller mainsail A reefable headsail and a recovery system with lazy-jack lines make the yacht suitable for touring without taking away its dignity.
Marabou" moves back to the Baltic Sea
For the planned trips on the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the owner had extensive navigation electronics installed that the members of the "Marabu Sailing Club" could not even dream of A forward-looking echo sounder can locate obstacles in ten metres of water at a distance of 100 metres A thermal imaging camera is mounted at the height of the first spreader A 400-amp lithium battery supplies the technology with the necessary energy When the 80-hp diesel engine is running, it charges the alternator in four hours.
Originally designed as a youth hostel with up to twelve berths and no galley, the cabin now offers maximum living comfort with a shower, toilet, oven and two-burner hob. The foredeck, formerly used as a sailing load, has become a spacious berth If you want to take a look at the starry sky, two gas pressure springs help to open the heavy hatch cover.
This spring, the resurrected "Marabou" will start its journey back to the Baltic Sea and spread its wings there.
Technical data of the "Marabu"
- Type: 100sqm sea cruiser
- Shipyard/year of construction: Abeking & Rasmussen/1935
- Restoration: Martin shipyard/2024
- Torso length: 17,40 m
- Waterline length: 11,60 m
- Width: 3,46 m
- Depth: 2,20 m
- Weight: approx. 16 tonnes
