There is a new project for young sailors on Lake Constance. The 75 square metre national cruiser "Skagerrak" is designed to inspire young sailors for historic regatta yachts.
The 75sqm National Cruiser Class Lake Constance e.V. is launching a new youth project aimed at combining sailing training, regatta sport and maritime tradition. The "Skagerrak", sailing number O-46, an important and well-known regatta ship on Lake Constance, will be made available to the class association for this purpose. The aim of the project is to give young people and young adults the opportunity to sail on a historic 75 square metre national cruiser, learn seamanship and actively participate in regattas.
Regattas and cruises
The youth teams should not only take part in class regattas with the "Skagerrak", but also have the opportunity to go on evening trips and weekend cruises. In this way, the class association would like to give young sailors the most versatile access possible to sailing on these large, classic keel yachts - from sporty regatta sailing through to companionable cruising.
Legendary regatta ship
According to the class association, the "Skagerrak" is one of the fastest and best-known ships in the 75-class on Lake Constance. Her successes in the long-distance regatta "Rund um den Bodensee", which she won four times as the fastest ship - in 1955, 1956, 1959 and 1961, are particularly prominent.
According to the class association, the ship is in excellent condition. Following the death of the previous owner in August 2024, the "Skagerrak" is up for sale. By using the ship as a youth ship by the class association, it will be brought back out of the barn where it was last housed and sailed regularly. This will make the yacht visible again and present it to potential buyers. Interested parties will also have the opportunity to experience the ship under sail. The class association also wants to organise test trips for potential buyers.
Moorings in Constance and Hagnau
At the beginning of the season, the "Skagerrak" will be moored in the harbour of the Constance Yacht Club. From Whitsun until the end of the summer holidays, the ship will be stationed in the new harbour of the municipality of Hagnau on Lake Constance. The "Skagerrak" will then return to Constance at the end of the season.
The class association is very grateful for the support of the municipality of Hagnau and the Constance Yacht Club, which provide secure berths for the boat.
Attracting young talent and maintaining the ship
The class association wants to combine two goals with this project: On the one hand, to find a suitable buyer for the "Skagerrak", and on the other, to introduce young people and young adults to the class association and get them interested in the large classic cruiser yachts.
Many of today's 75er owners report that they were allowed to sail on a 75er as children or teenagers - and that this gave rise to the dream of one day owning or sailing such a boat themselves.
Lively traditional class
The 75sqm National Cruiser Class has existed on Lake Constance since 1913, making it the oldest regatta class there. There are currently around 20 boats based on the lake. The class association is an active, harmonious and sociable community. Four class regattas take place every year, and the class association also organises a rally and a four-day "Dolce Far Niente", in which 10 to 13 of the large cruiser yachts regularly take part.
In recent years, the class association has saved several ships from being scrapped. Particularly noteworthy is the 75 square metre national cruiser "Vinga" (O-12), which was brought to Lake Constance from Berlin, completely rebuilt there and put back into service in 2012.
"Skagerrak" model for new construction
The "Skagerrak" is considered to be one of the fastest ships in its class and even served as a model for the only newbuilding of recent decades, the "Artis" (O-96) from 1996. The history of the "Skagerrak" is fully known and documented and makes the ship an important part of the sailing tradition on Lake Constance.
With the new youth project, the 75 Class Association wants to carry this tradition into the next generation - so that young sailors can continue to experience the fascination of these large classic regatta yachts in the future.
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Lasse Johannsen
Deputy Editor in Chief YACHT
