12-mR yacht "Princess Svanevit": Historic icon adorns the Stockholm archipelago

Text by Ron Valent and Stefan Iwanowski

After a long and chequered history, the 12-mR yacht "Princess Svanevit" has returned to Sweden, where it has been fully restored and is now once again gracing the waters of the Stockholm archipelago. The almost 100-year-old gem is proudly described by connoisseurs of classic yachts as a historical icon that epitomises the beauty and quality of Swedish design and yacht building in the pre-war era.

When the publisher Erik Åkerlund decided to build the boat to take part in the upcoming 100th anniversary celebrations of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS) in 1930, he said: "I wanted to give the Swedish designers and boatbuilders the opportunity to demonstrate their high level of craftsmanship and help the K.S.S.S. to attract foreign yachts of this type to its major event."

"Princess Svanevit" is the largest 12 mR yacht with a unique interior design

In 1930, Åkerlund turned to no less than three high-calibre names from the world of Swedish design and boatbuilding to realise his project. Firstly, there was naval architect Gustav Estlander, whose designs dominated the races in the various classes at the time. It seemed important that he already had experience in the construction of racing yachts in accordance with the International Rule, which was also used to build 12-mR yachts. The second logical choice was Tore Holm, who was just as successful as a designer as he was as a sailor and helmsman.

The third person was Carl Plym, who had been head of one of the world's most famous boatbuilding yards since 1925: Stockholms Båtbyggeri Aktiebolag, commonly known as Neglingevarvet. The shipyard was widely recognised for its high quality and reliability. The challenge of building the "Princess Svanevit" was gladly accepted. This was despite the fact that the order books for autumn 1929 and spring 1930 were overflowing with the construction of the 10 mR class "Vesta II", a 22 square metre skerry cruiser, and ten eight metre long commuter boats designed by Carl Plym for the Stockholm exhibition, which was also planned for 1930.

Also interesting:

• Resurrection of the twelve "Jenetta"

Not only did "Princess Svanevit" become the largest 12-mR yacht ever built, but she was also given a unique interior design. To show even more clearly what the country was capable of, Åkerlund commissioned Swedish artists to decorate her unusual and exquisite interior. Renowned designer Ewald Dahlskog, for example, created beautiful inlaid scenes depicting mythological figures as well as some of the owner's former boats. In addition, the sculptor Arvid Knöppel modelled the tiller, a bronze swan's head, and made the drawings for the golden swans on the bow.

In order to attract twelve-handers from other sailing nations, Åkerlund was convinced that his creation had to be something very special. So a state-of-the-art yacht was ordered, built according to the latest revised second International Rule of 1920 and with the best materials. But there was more to come after the anniversary regatta. Åkerlund wanted to send the yacht on further sailing trips abroad as an ambassador for Swedish craftsmanship. "My intention is to have the 'Princess Svanevit' appear as often as possible under the K.S.S.S. flag at events abroad. After Sandhamn, she will first go to Copenhagen, and then she will eventually come to the Riviera for the events in February. After that she would return to England in time for the season and of course sail to Cowes."

The ship was built in 1930 in just a few months

It was only the second twelve-piece ever created in Sweden. The first was "Erna Signe" based on a design by William Fife. Intended for the 1912 Olympic Games in Nynäshamn, she was later sold to Norway. In 1929, the only other twelve-metre racing yacht in Sweden was the "Beduin II", a design by Alfred Mylne from 1909.

The rig of the "Princess Svanevit" has a number of experimental features. The boom was T-shaped and thus completely different from the usual round spars. All the blocks are made of ebony and nickel was used for the winches. A newspaper article from 1930 states the following: "'Princess Svanevit' has a completely flush deck, interrupted only by a few skylights. In the usual Swedish style, the deck is varnished in Oregon Pine. Below deck there is a spacious and comfortable interior: an exquisitely furnished owner's cabin, a large dining room where ten people can sit at the table and a kitchen with a fridge and other modern conveniences. There is also good sleeping accommodation for guests and crew."

A total final price of 90,000 Swedish kronor was agreed, excluding fittings, rigging and sails, which will cost a further 20,000 kronor. Converted to today's monetary value, 90,000 corresponds to around 3,300,000 crowns, or around 283,000 euros.

Work began in early 1930 and proceeded as planned throughout the winter and early spring. But on 13 April, an accident occurred that could have ended everything and affected the shipyard's operations for a long time when the 31-year-old shipyard manager Carl Plym was killed in an accident with a seaplane. Work on "Svanevit" was halted for some time. In addition to the grief that paralysed both the relatives and the employees, the driving force behind the company had disappeared in the form of the managing director.

After some time, Bengt Plym took over from his brother and work resumed, albeit with considerable delays. Fortunately, the shipyard's designers and 70 workers, from carpenters to riggers, many of whom had more than half a century of professional experience, worked with great motivation to complete all the projects on time.

On the day she was launched, everything went smoothly and she was soon moored at the shipyard's jetty, gleaming white, large and powerful. The next day, she was rigged, test-sailed and prepared for delivery. And now it was only ten days until the first day of the anniversary regatta. Bengt and Gustav Plym, Tore Holm and some guests from the shipyard were on board for the maiden voyage. The round trip took them to Dalarö, probably with a detour off Lyngsåsa, the large villa where Åkerlund lived.

Named after a princess from a fairy tale

As on the previous day, it was sunny, the thermometer climbed to 26 degrees and the wind was light. But the test ride was satisfactory, "well built", "fast" and "smooth" were some of the comments afterwards. And the new boom design also lived up to expectations. It was stiffer than the traditional round booms and contributed to a flatter sail.

Upon delivery, the ship was officially given its now legendary name "Princess Svanevit". She was named after a princess from a fairy tale published by Erik Åkerlund's own publishing house.

When the Royal Swedish Yacht Club celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1930, it was an event that almost matched the size and scope of the Stockholm Exhibition organised by the city and the Swedish Craftsmen's Association in the same year. The plan was to publicise Sweden as a sailing nation by inviting the world's best sailors to a regatta and anniversary celebrations, which took place over two weeks in the beautiful summer month of July. In the large class with "Princess Svanevit" there was an impressive line-up of yachts. The 26 metre long "Allona" from 1899, the 15 mR yacht "Mariska" from 1908, the 21 metre long schooner "Primrose" launched in 1918, the 21 metre long, 120 square metre skerry cruiser "Ingun" from 1920, the 10 mR yachts "Refanut", "Aaworyn", "Wendula" and "Vesta II" (built at the same time as "Princess Svanevit") and around 20 other yachts of a similar size.

Amazing regatta successes of the "Princess Svanevit"

In her first regatta, "Princess Svanevit" took second place behind the larger 15-mR yacht "Mariska". Åkerlund was overjoyed, and she continued to impress on the following days. She coped well in both heavy and light weather. She continued her success as the regatta progressed, winning several races and always finishing in the top three. The anniversary regatta was followed by the European Week, which was another amazing success for "Princess Svanevit".

203 boats from 15 nations were counted: 123 boats from Sweden, 28 from Finland, 13 from Germany, eight from Norway, six from Denmark, five from England, four each from Holland, Latvia and the USA, three from France and one each from Belgium, Chile, Cuba, Estonia and Italy. There were also around 600 spectator boats. The number of international mR yachts totalled no less than 68, including four 12s, seven 10s, 15 8s and finally 42 6s from eleven different countries. The anniversary regatta was won by the Norwegian 12mR yacht "Magda X", with an honourable second place for "Princess Svanevit".

In 1931 and 1932 she took part in numerous events around the Baltic Sea, but it was not until 1933 that Åkerlund was finally able to fulfil his promise and show the yacht abroad, when he took part in the Royal Thames Yacht Club regatta in Cowes. It was an excellent debut for his beautiful boat. The weather was bright, the wind was fresh and Tore Holm was at the helm. In addition to the well-trained competition in the 12 mR class, the challenge lay in the conditions with tides and currents, which were unfamiliar to the Swedes. Nevertheless, the yacht got off to an excellent start and sensationally won its first race. Over the rest of the week she achieved mixed results, depending mainly on the weather, but all in all she made a very positive impression on the British sailing community.

On the crossing from Kiel to Cowes, the rig came from above in the English Channel

After the Cowes experience, "Princess Svanevit" was left behind at the Nicholsons shipyard in Gosporth. The initial plan was to sail her on the Riviera the following season, but Åkerlund changed his mind and gave up sailing altogether. He kept his 27.90 metre motor yacht "Stella Marina" until his death in 1940 and continued to support Swedish sailing.

In the summer of 1934, the "Svanevit" was bought by Ernhold Lundström. Before bringing his new yacht to Sweden, Lundström decided to take part in Kiel Week and sail there from Cowes. However, the journey was not without its problems. On 12 June, "Sydsvenska Dagbladet" reported rather succinctly on the crossing: "Sweden's largest racing yacht, the 'Princess Svanevit', broke down in the English Channel." The boat was caught in a storm and the mast went overboard. All the set sails were shredded and only a few metres of the mast protruded above the deck. However, the yacht was salvaged and brought to Dover harbour.

The following year, the new owner renamed her "Irene" and seemed to have lost interest in regattas, but sailed a lot for pleasure. In 1946, he commissioned the boat builder and yacht designer Jac M. Iversen and the designer Knud H. Reimers to redesign the interior, probably to make the ship more comfortable for cruising. This work was carried out at Tore Holms Yachtvarv in Gamleby. Fortunately, the unique marquetry was preserved.

After 30 years under sail, the yacht needs a thorough overhaul

After his death in 1954, the yacht was sold to a close friend of Erik Åkerlund, Nils Gäbel, who owned it until 1959 under the name "Silvervingen X" with its home port in Saltsjöbaden. Gäbel mainly used her for trips with his family. She was moored near his large villa in Saltsjöbaden, not far from where the yacht was originally built. He often went on weekend trips with his family or just for a few hours with boys from the neighbourhood who wanted to sail this big boat.

Unlike its previous owners, it sailed without a paid crew, and in 1957 he installed an inboard engine. In August 1958, Gäbel and his family left Sweden for the Mediterranean. They stopped in Estoril, Torremolinos and the Balearic Islands, among other places. Due to engine damage, their stay on Mallorca turned out to be longer than expected, and the family returned to Sweden in October. Gäbel contacted a broker to sell "Silvervingen X".

Shortly afterwards, in 1960, the English property millionaire Harry J. Hyams saw the ship and fell in love with what he called "the most beautiful yacht I had ever seen". He managed to buy her and she underwent her third name change and was named "Barranquilla" after a company Hyams had just sold. He took her to British regattas. But after 30 years under sail, she needed a thorough refit, so Hyams took her to the Fairley restoration yard in Port Hamble. The work was never completed, however, and she spent many years ashore.

In the meantime, Gäbel had immediately bought another 12-metre yacht, the "Figaro V" designed by Anker, which was subsequently named "Silvervingen XI". When he sold the shares in his factory and retired, the Gäbel family continued their journey to France in the new twelve-metre yacht. However, they never arrived there. Another stop in a small fishing village, Torrevieja, made them forget France and stay in Spain. Nils Gäbel bought a large piece of land there and built villas over the following years, which he sold to Swedish buyers. The small village is now one of the most popular holiday resorts in the region.

Search for the lost "Princess Svanevit"

In Sweden, Bobby Cyrus worked with Andreas Millde at his renovation shipyard Stockholms Båtsnickeri AB. Both were archipelago cruiser fans, but one day they took a liking to metre yachts. In particular, the long "lost" 12-mR yacht "Princess Svanevit", which had caught their eye in a short article in a magazine. Cyrus had heard stories from his father and friends about this "most beautiful yacht of all time". As he had practically grown up with classic boats and had sailed for several years on the 10 mR yacht "Moana" designed by Anker, he was particularly familiar with metre yachts.

Now Cyrus and Millde began to investigate what might have happened to the missing yacht. After a tip on the internet, they thought they had found it with the help of Google Earth, at a quay in Port Hamble in Southampton. Cyrus rang the boatyard and their suspicions were confirmed.

As Hyams was considered to be secretive, the two enthusiasts were very cautious in their attempts to approach him. Cyrus, who was fluent in English, took great pains to formulate the letters. There followed years of polite and diplomatic correspondence and phone calls with Harry Hyams and his associates. Hyams was not at all interested in selling his yacht, and he did not want it to end up in the hands of a soldier of fortune or someone who would not take good care of his yacht. But he was very interested in all the new information that the Swedish contact gave him.

When Harry Hyams passed away in December 2015, Bobby Cyrus and Andreas MiIlde sent their condolences. After a while, they received the news that the family was ready to sell the boat. At this point, they managed to convince the Swedish Hellman Foundation to finance the project at Stockholms Båtsnickeri AB in Saltsjöbaden.

Old plans prove valuable

The shipyard responsible for restoring the ship is located close to where the ship was built in 1930. When she arrived at the shipyard in 2017, she was a sorry sight: Varnish and paint were peeling all over and the plank walkways were leaking. In the end, however, the hull was in surprisingly good condition and the shipyard was able to preserve around 70 per cent of the original mahogany outer skin.

Andreas Millde, owner of Stockholms Båtsnickeri: "The plan was to restore the ship to its original configuration. Black and white photos from the 1930s and 1940s were collected and drawings were scrutinised. All this to get as accurate a picture as possible of what the ship looked like when it was launched." Naval architect Joakim Rodebäck calculated and drew new stainless steel reinforcements underneath the mast. Not an easy task. The ship is 22 metres long and the pressure in the mast area is around 50 to 60 tonnes. Originally, the ship only had two ring frames in this area, but during the restoration, the hull was reinforced with two more, which were bolted to the new stainless steel frames.

In the summer of 2022, "Princess Svanevit" was launched in all her new splendour. She is once again in perfect sailing condition and has taken part in several events in the Stockholm region.

The restoration

The restorers from Stockholms Båtsnickeri were able to preserve 70 per cent of the original planking. First and foremost, the outer skin in the keel area was replaced. Each individual frame made of wood or steel has a different radius and shape, which makes restoration on this scale complicated and time-consuming. All the cross beams had to be replaced. The deck, including the deck beams, was also completely renewed, as was the entire rigging. On top of this, the twelve-man was fitted with an electric motor. Incredibly, the ship was built in 1930 in just a few months, while the restoration took a whole five years! And this despite the fact that the interior has not yet been restored.

• Website of the yacht: www.svanevit.se

Technical data of the "Princess Svanevit"

• Length: 21,96 m
• Width: 3,57 m
• Depth: 2,70 m
• sail area: 182,0 m²
• Weight: 27,0 t
• Designer: Gustaf Estlander
• Built: 1930 at Stockholms
• Båtbyggeri: AB
• Client: Erik Åkerlund