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After periodically searching online over the years for my grandfather's favorite old sailboat, the Oslo, last Christmas I received a brief but moving e-mail from a stranger in Port Huron, MI: "Merry Christmas, Oslo is safe". I've much enjoyed sailing and campaigning IOR and modern boats over the last few years, but romantic notions and sense of family prevailed over good reason and fiscal responsibility, and I purchased a very old, tired and incomplete wooden boat.
She is since under restoration with the bright young boatwright J. W. Swan in Ashland, WI, and to commemorate a full year of impaired reason and fiscal irresponsibility we have created a website to chronicle the return of the Oslo. Built in 1925, it turns out she was the first 6-Metre owned by Norway's then Crown Prince Olav, won races first in Norway and then in the US in one of the first international team sailing events, and somehow came into my Grandfather's hands in 1935 in the Upper Penninsula's sailing capital, Escanaba. She was fast and exotic, and champion of Little Bay du Noc until he parted with her for a better family boat in 1948.
Yes, she'll go back to Escanaba for 2011. We are considering bringing her over here for the European 6mR championships and 6mR Worlds in 2012 and 2013 respectively, but I have enough trouble thinking about what shirt to wear tomorrow :laugher
Yes, she'll go back to Escanaba for 2011. We are considering bringing her over here for the European 6mR championships and 6mR Worlds in 2012 and 2013 respectively, but I have enough trouble thinking about what shirt to wear tomorrow :laugher
Back in the mid-1970's I came close to buying a 6 meter that was for sale in Venice, Florida.
The owners had a similar story to yours which was that she had been built for Norwegian Royalty and brought to the States for some major ragatta.
Almost every frame was snapped at the turn of the bilge and rotten at the keel pockets, so, having just sistered the frames on my folkboat, the idea of getting involved in another sistering was more than I was willing to deal with at the time.
My only regret was that I never did a sail trial on the boat. I would have loved to see how she sailed.
Jeff
The one in Puget sound is Oslo II, the sister ship built by Anker in 1926, also for Prince Olav. It went on to win Cowes, later came over to America, and amazingly has remained in the same family since 1937. The owner has been very helpful with photos and information, and there is also a brief note about her on our website.
Many years ago (the early 60's) a family friend owned a beautiful Herreshoff 6 meter named the Hornet. He sailed out of Everet on Puget Sound. Some time in the lates sixties he sold her and bought a boat to compete in the Swiftsure Race.
I've often wondered what happened to that boat. She was beautiful and extemely fast.
A quick search of the registries identifies Hornet as a 1928 Herreshoff 6-Metre, Sail US 39, whereabouts unknown. I could find no listed existing Herreshoff 6-metres in America, hence she would be a fine boat to preserve if you ever managed to track her down. Happy New Year, Chris
Thanks, I have looked for her (not real hard though) I suspect someone who is not interested in racing owns her. She's probably sitting in marina somewhere here. It's big area.
A friend of ours grew up with Jill (a 1931 S&S design) that we saw, fully restored, at Olin Stephen's 100th Birthday Party in Newport, RI. Hope Oslo is fast, if you want to beat Jill. Just Launched - Jill | Maine Boats Homes & Harbors
Another update on the rapidly progressing restoration of the 1925 Johan Anker 6-Metre Oslo, with photos (separate Gallery). Still on track for an early Summer re-launch. News - OSLO 6-Metre N17
Further update on the restoration of our 1925 Johan Anker 6-Metre, the Oslo, with photos (separate April Gallery). Up in Ashland this week to pitch in, still on track for an early Summer re-launch but the devil is in the details.... News - OSLO 6-Metre N17
Some delays in the re-launch, perhaps not unexpected in the restoration of my grandfather's 1925 Johan Anker 6-Metre, the Oslo. Up in Ashland last week to help work through deck layout, now hoping for late summer launch. More details at News - OSLO 6-Metre N17
A guy at my marina has an aluminum 32' sloop from the late 60's claims it was owned originally by Norwegian Royalty. I think there must be a broker somewhere named 'Norwegian Royalty'
At long last the 'Oslo' has been relaunched, and we are preparing her for the European 6-Metre Championships next week in Nynashamn, Sweden. It was a largely wonderful 2-year process, and we are pleased to again have my grandfather's boat back in the family. Many thanks to Josh Swan and JWSwan Boatworks for the hull restoration, Vinette Boatyard and members of Escanaba Yacht Club for help with additional finishing work in May (see http://www.oslo6mr.com/news.htm), Stockholms Batsnickeri for rudder, rigging, and finishing work over the last week, and suppliers Masttech, North Sails, Mauri Pro Sailing, Vrolijk Watersport Scheveningen, and Classic Marine UK.
That is wonderful! A classic boat is living history.
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