In addition to the largest-ever gathering of 12mRs in the Nordics, another historic first will be seen at the 2021 Worlds at Helsinki where three competitors will sail under the Finnish flag. And when Vanity V (K-5) skippered by HSS (Helsinki Sailing Society) Commodore Mikael Stelander joins Wings (K-15) and Blue Marlin (FIN-1) on the race course, a classic showdown between local yacht clubs HSS and NJK will be set in motion.
Racing together since 2010, Commodore Stelander’s 8mR Ilderim* team are hopeful that their mR sailing skills will translate successfully when they race Vanity V (K-5) at the 12mR Worlds.
Stelander and team are excited to race K-5 at the Worlds and to meet new friends in the 12mR community of sailors. “We had an immediate connection with Vanity V as she is of the same vintage as Ilderim,” said Stelander. “Since we are newcomers to 12mR sailing, we don’t expect to be as competitive as in our 8mR fleet— but we will enjoy every good tack, nailing the layline and any opportunity to pass a fellow 12mR competitor,” he added.
Vanity V (K-5) was one of the last designs by William Fife III, who was 79 years old when she was launched in 1936. Her first owner, J.R. “Fiddler” Pane was both an accomplished violinist and a successful helmsman who had enjoyed previous success with Vanity (K-1) (1923). A true yachtsman, Pane lived onboard, raced and cruised his boats extensively. By 1938, Vanity V was the only Fife design still active in the Class. Although struggling with poor health, Pane managed to put up a good fight in light and medium winds. Of ten starts he took 1 first, 1 second and 3 thirds, but ultimately it was Trivia (K-10) who prevailed that season.
Following a long racing career in the UK and the Med, Vanity V was completely rebuilt by Guy Ribadeau Dumas while owned by Robert Daral and Jean-Poul Guillet. She finished 6th in the Classic division of the 2001 America’s Cup Jubilee at Cowes, England; 5th in the Vintage division of the 2008 12mR Worlds at Flensburg, Germany and won the 12mR America’s Cup Regatta at Valencia, Spain in 2007.
Vanity V (K-5) Crew, 2021 12mR World Championship:
Mikael Stelander (Syndicate lead)
Jusku Mikkonen
Staffan Tallqvist
Tuomo Meretniemi
Pekka Raatikainen
John Björkbom
Juha Tolsa
Jukka Halminen
Jussi Sorsimo
Kari Loukola
Masa Anttila
Mikko Uusitalo
Panu Toppinen
Tommi Uksila
Jens Zachariassen
*Ilderim (FIN-16), is a famous Tore Holm design that debuted at the 1936 Olympic Games in Kiel. Although she was slated for a podium position, she was disqualified on controversial grounds by the German hosts. Since that time, her owners and crews have enjoyed many successful racing seasons.