"We are delighted that the purchase has finally been finalised," Wilfried Beeck told YACHT online this morning. The businessman from northern Germany is already the owner of the 12 mR yacht "Trivia", with which he has been competing successfully for many years. But the purchase of the gaff-rigged first-rule twelve-man shows that this class is about more than just regatta success. "We wanted to secure the ship and bring it to Kiel," says Beeck.
Outstandingly beautiful
Lucky for local classic yacht enthusiasts. For many enthusiasts, the elegant lines of twelve-passenger yachts are the epitome of classic racing yachts. And "Cintra" is still regarded by connoisseurs as an outstandingly beautiful example of this genre. She was designed by the Grand Master William Fife III and was launched in 1909 at his shipyard on the River Clyde in Scotland. The yacht is 18.90 metres long, 3.36 metres wide and carries 221 square metres of sail.
Exciting story
It dominated the British twelve-wheeler scene before the First World War and was later thought to have disappeared until it was found in a shed in the East of England. Her restoration at the beginning of the 1990s and its media coverage triggered a wave of enthusiasm for the old twelve-wheelers. "Cintra" became a prominent representative of her class on the Mediterranean, where she was sailed under the Italian flag. Andreas Krause , Managing Director of Trivia GmbH , then discovered the ship in Holland around a year ago and looked for a buyer in the local scene. He has now found him in Wilfried Beeck.
Exciting project
The sale took place via a Dutch broker, who stated that the ship was in clear sailing condition. The new owner also realises that this does not necessarily mean much for a racing machine that is more than a hundred years old. He told YACHT online that he nevertheless intends to transfer the ship to the fjord next spring and bring her back into the water and rig her up again once the necessary repairs have been completed. "After two years on land, she will certainly have to hang in the crane for a while, but according to our assessment, everything is basically in order," said Beeck. The crew is also taken care of. "We have a crew of 25 for 'Trivia', which is just being expanded a little." Just like " Trivia " and " Evaine ", "Cintra" will be available for day charters from Kiel in future. With "Flica II" and " Heti ", there are now five twelve-piece models based here.
Beeck leaves open whether the purchase also reflects a sporting competition for the largest fleet of twelve. After all, following the restoration of the " Sphinx " (ex-"Ostwind") in Flensburg, more Twelves have settled there, such as the " Anita " from the Rheingau Sailing Club or the " Anitra " by the well-known boat builder Josef Martin. And from the shipyard founded by metre-class fan Oliver Berking " Robbe and Berking Classics "After all, there is still a lot to look forward to in terms of twelve.
Lasse Johannsen
Deputy Editor in Chief YACHT
