Screenwriter and book author Jan von der Bank is approaching his goal, estimating that after around 3,000 hours of work he will need another 500 before it floats: The sportily equipped retro classic made of wood with the positive yacht stern, the porthole superstructure, vertical stem and extendable bowsprit. YACHT visited the former Contender world champion and cruising sailor in his DIY garage.
And there he met a highly detailed one-off together with an all-round happy self-builder who could have built the boat in half the time, "but simply had too much fun with all the nice little things".
A taster? Clicked-on wooden covers for the shrouds, seacocks that can be controlled by Dyneema ropes, constrictor clamps that can be operated from several points in the cockpit. A feast for the eyes, too, with a sheer white coachroof, perfectly varnished mahogany surfaces and a huge cockpit. De facto sports boat on the outside, neo-classic on the inside with a cosy atmosphere that makes use of classic elements.
Workshop report and interview in the new YACHT, issue 4, which you can read Order directly or as digital magazine can be downloaded here.
