Meadows, forests, scattered farmsteads in Falunrot - just under an hour's drive north of Stockholm, the narrow road winds its way through a landscape straight out of Astrid Lindgren's children's books. It must be located somewhere here, the oldest yacht yard still in operation in Sweden. Indeed, large halls suddenly appear between the trees, and shortly afterwards the dark blue waters of Vätösund shimmer through the green woodland. The Rosättra Båtvarv lies on its banks. Boats have been built here for almost 130 years, initially dinghies and steam sloops, later motor yachts, countless skerry cruisers and wooden laurin boilers.
The shipyard's boats have been called Linjett since the 1970s, and the majority of the 80 berths are occupied by more or less current models. Including the test boat. The Linjett 34 is the smallest type in the programme and replaces both the 33, which has been built since 1994, and the 35, which was manufactured until 2006. A keen eye is needed to find it among all the other Linjetts: Mats Gustafsson, designer and father of the shipyard boss, has given the new boat the typical family look.
The traditional look is not an end in itself. "We want our yachts to sail well even with 700 kilograms of holiday luggage and full tanks and not drift. This simply works better with a little more draught," says Gustafsson.
The ingenious design is also demonstrated by the angled stem, which makes it easier to moor to the rocks. The Linjett has been fitted with a narrow, barely visible stainless steel profile that runs from the bow fitting to below the waterline so that the bow is not so easily bruised when mooring to the rock. You can read about how many clever details are hidden under the conservative outfit and why the Linjett is so much fun, especially with a small crew, in the current issue of YACHT. Issue 11/2015 is available from newsagents from 13 May.
Hauke Schmidt
Test & Technology editor
