Tag: #JohanAnker

Thea (D-1), Undisputed Grand Dame of the 775-Year-Old Evli 12mR World Championship Fleet

Posted on by WindlassCreative

With combined ages totaling 775 years, Thea (D-1) at 103 years-young will be the Grand Dame amid a fleet of relative “youngsters” ranging in age from just 82-88 years-old at the 2021 Evli 12mR World Championship.

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Thea (D-1) and Wings (K-15) Racing in Dyvig, Denmark. photo: Kim Weckström

Designed by prolific naval architect Johan Anker, Santa (N-4) as she was first named, was built according to a proposed S-Class formula in 1918. When the Second International Rule was adopted in 1919, her design was modified to conform. For the first half of her life, she sailed under the flag of Norway with an impressive sister-fleet of 12mRs also designed by Anker including Vema III (N-11).

For more than a century, Thea (D-1) has had the great luck to be impeccably maintained by each of only four owners—Jacob Stolt Nielsen, Leif Høegh, Ebbe Wedell-Wedellsborg and Hans Michael Jebsen. Owing to their diligence and care, Thea has never required a complete restoration, something very few other vintage yachts of any design can boast. Now owned by father, Hans Michael Jebsen and son, Immanuel Jebsen, Thea (ex-Santa and ex-Nina) has been actively racing on the classic circuit and as a part of the 12mR fleet far longer than most of her competitors.

Purchased by Hans Michael Jebsen and ITMA Vice President, Patrick Howaldt in 1998, Thea (D-1) was the centerpiece around which the now-successful Baltic 12mR fleet was built. In 2001, she was one of three Nordic twelves that sailed in the historic 36-yacht 12mR fleet at the America’s Cup Jubilee held at Cowes (UK). Thea’s crew (and others) saw the potential for a large Vintage 12mR fleet racing at spectacular events throughout Northern Europe. With this vision in mind, Howaldt went on a 12mR shopping spree, co-purchasing Vanity V (K-5), Vim (US-15) and Wings (K-15) with groups of friends thereby sparking a catalyst for the rapid expansion of the 12mR fleet in Northern waters.

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Thea (D-1), Kiwi Magic (KZ-7), Vanity (K-5), Flica II (K-14) and Vim (US-15) starting in Dyvig. photo: Kim Weckström

Hans Michael Jebsen says that he is looking forward to a great event in Helsinki. “The clubs in Helsinki have a fantastic tradition of organizing Metre regattas and we are happy that the 12mR fleet will meet at NJK. We hope that the event will further propel the development of the 12mR Class in the Baltics. For us as an early Second Rule boat, it will be challenging to keep up with the “youngsters” — but we look forward to fun and competition and will try to beat them all on the handicap!” The Jebsens and crew have good reason to be hopeful about Thea’s results, she has consistently won regattas based on the Baltic Handicap system including the Risør Træbåds Festival for three years running– 2016, 2017 and 2018. Her 12mR World Championship record includes a 13th place finish in the Classic division at Cowes (2001) and a 6th place finish in the Vintage division at Flensburg (2016).

More Info here

After 80 Years, Nini Anker is Ready to Race the Fleet She Was Designed to Meet.

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Nini Anker (N-15) in her racing debut at Flensburg, 2020. ~ photo by: -----
Nini Anker (N-15) in her racing debut at Flensburg, 2020. 

Famed Norwegian yacht designer Johan Anker may be smiling down on Helsinki this summer when three of his 12mR designs—Vema III (N-11), Thea (D-1) and Nini Anker (N-15) finally meet on the racecourse at the 2021 12mR World Championship.

“In the world of classical boat enthusiasts Johan Anker (1871 – 1940) is known as a master of elegant ship lines who achieved an outstanding reputation in his period of activity not only as designer and builder of many successful yachts but also as successful sailor”. – Robbe & Berking Classics

Anker Design #434, now named Nini Anker (N-15) was the last of 20 twelves conceived by the prolific naval architect in 1939. The onset of World War II and Anker’s subsequent passing prevented his ultimate design from being realized at that time. It was not until 2011 that Erik Tingleff Larsen commissioned Robbe & Berking Classics to build the yacht based on original plans retrieved from the Johan Anker Foundation collection at Oslo’s Norwegian Maritime Museum.

Nini Anker (N-15) was meticulously built to her original specifications by master craftsmen at Robbe & Berking Classics. -- photo courtesy: Robbe & Berking
Nini Anker (N-15) was meticulously built by master craftsmen at Robbe & Berking Classics. ~ photo courtesy: Robbe & Berking

The beautifully-built, mahogany-hulled masterpiece, initially named Siesta (DEN-1) was launched in 2013. Unfortunately, due to her experimental spars she was not able to “measure-in” as a true 12mR under the International Class Rule. Sadly, Larsen’s poor health and death in 2016 kept #434 off of the water until her current owners purchased and refitted her to comply with 12mR measurements. Finally, after 81 years, Nini Anker (N-15) made her racing debut at Flensburg in 2020.

Nini Roll Anker at Sea. ~ photo courtesy Large Norwegian EncyclopediaWhy “Nini Anker”?
Johan Anker’s wife, Nini Roll Anker, was a famous Norwegian author in her own right. A staunch republican with socialist sympathies she was sometimes called the “communist in residence” at the court of Norway. The Ankers were close to the Royal family and served as second parents to the young Crown Prince Olav, who was a great friend to their son Erik. (Nini’s maiden name, “Roll” is not included in the yacht’s current name  due to limited space on her narrow transom.)

Nini Roll Anker at Sea. ~ courtesy: Great Norwegian Encyclopedia

Nini Anker (N-15) in her racing debut at Flensburg, 2020. ~ photo by: -----
Nini Anker (N-15) in her racing debut at Flensburg, 2020. 

We have briefly raced against some of the German and Danish boats in August last year and are excited to compete in our first full season after long winter months with enormous modifications and improvements. The boat is a beauty and would definitely win a ‘Miss’ contest.”— N-15 Syndicate member, Dirk Lohmann

Nini’ Anker’s World Championship debut at Helsinki will certainly be followed with great interest by her many admirers including 12mR enthusiasts, historians and all lovers of classic yachts. In addition to meeting her Anker sister ships– Vema III (N-11) and Thea (D-1), she will compete with 12s that she would likely have met at Cowes Week and Hankø in 1940– if only she had been built.

For more information about Nini Anker (N-15) and her team, contact Dirk Lohmann

Vema III: Sailing Under the Flag of Norway for 88 Years & Counting!

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13th July 2019. Parade of Sail, 12m World Championship, Newport, RI, USA.
Vema III (N-11) proudly shows her colors in the 2019 12mR Worlds Parade ~ Photo: Ian Roman

Designed and built by renowned Norwegian naval architect Johan Anker, Vema III (N-11) was among the last of 20 Twelves envisioned at his drafting table. During her 1933 launch season she campaigned successfully at the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club’s 50th Anniversary Jubilee as well as at Cowes Week. Impressively, N-11 has been actively sailing for 88 years and has the notable distinction of being the only 12mR to sail under the Norwegian flag throughout her entire lifetime.

Commissioned by Norwegian-American shipbuilder Georg Unger Vetlesen, Vema III was the “little boat” to his 300-ton schooner Vema II. During World War II, N-11 was Nazi war-prey in occupied Norway. After he war she raced well into the 1950’s with the lively Oslo Fjord fleet consisting primarily of Blue Marlin, Santa, Figaro VI, and Norsaga (now Trivia).

11th July 2019. Day Three of the 12m World Championship, Newport, RI, USA.
A beautiful bird’s eye view of Vema III running down to the leeward mark. ~ Photo: Ian Roman

After the decline of 12mR sailing in the late 50’s, Vema III remained in Norway as the only active boat in her Class. By 1979, new owners Tor Jøgen Dahl and Lars Christian Dahl noticed the corrosion of key structural elements in need of prompt attention and started her preservation. In 1999 TJ Dahl with new owner Einar Nagel Erichsen undertook a more extensive restoration.

Since 2006, Vema III has been owned by a group of 10 sailors who share a keen interest in 12mR sailing and her notable Norwegian designer, Johan Anker. Together, N-11’s team strive to keep their “pride & joy” in perfect condition and consider her to be one of the best-preserved 12mR yachts in the world. Syndicate lead, Johan Troye said, “We look very much forward to racing in the waters of Helsinki and being part of the most spectacular fleet of 12mRs in the world.”

2019 12 Metre World Championship
Vema III (N-11) racing in the 2019 12 Metre Worlds at Newport, RI ~ Photo: SallyAnne Santos

To this day, Vema III continues as a seasoned racer and was one of four boats shipped from Europe to the 2019 Worlds at Newport, RI (USA). In Helsinki this summer, Vema III will meet her “baby sister” Nini Anker (N-12) in their first Worlds-encounter. (Now named for Johan’s famed wife Nini, Anker’s last design #434 was built and launched in 2013 at the Robbe Berking boatyard, and originally named Siesta (DEN-14).)