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Skagerrak. Hitler’s ship for the America’s Cup

Hitler’s ship for the America’s Cup at Artemare Club

In Yawl Marconi’s book of 1939, with the preface of the Aga Khan, the story and legend of a ship, Skagerrak, wanted by Hitler also to participate in the America’s Cup, is told.

Now it is exhibited at Artemare Club, kindly donated ago a few years by the owner Senator Raffaele Ranucci and that enriches the exclusive collection of books of the most beautiful old ships in the world of Commander Daniele Busetto.

The project was entrusted to Heinrich Rasmussen and construction took place on the construction site that he opened in Lemwerder in collaboration with Georg Abeking. Although she remained during World War II in the waters of Kiel, the Skagerrak miraculously escaped destruction and was confiscated as a war prize after the surrender of Germany.

Put up for sale, it was bought by a wealthy English officer, who kept it until 1958, but two years later the Chilean flag was flown as a result of the purchase by one of the owners who passed it by in quick succession, before the the last one he sold to the Ranucci family, who have owned him for 58 years.

The beautiful Skagerrak has been to Porto Santo Stefano several times, initially at the Cantieri Navali dell’Argentario for some works, it has participated in several editions of the “historical” boat rallies, in 2009 it received the Associazione Scafi d’Epoca y Clásicos award – Asdec, in 2011 it was the only vintage boat that participated in the first edition of the new Rolex Volcano Race in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

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Pandora’s Skagerrak Cruise

Pandora is a 46ft LOD gaff rigged 9-Metre R from 1907. Designed by Johan Anker, she is the only gaff-rigged 9mR still in existence and she’s been with the Syse family for seven years now. Our sailing plan this summer was to cruise down to Skagen in Denmark, hopefully reaching as far as Læsø along the Danish coastline before returning to Norway. This would be the first trip to Denmark for Pandora under our ownership. Previously we have sailed her along the Norwegian and Swedish coast, but we’ve never crossed Skagerrak: the strait that runs between the two countries.

Usually, the family spends three or four weeks sailing every summer but lately the sailing interest among the kids has dwindled. The kids aren’t actually kids anymore, but in their late teens or early adulthood, and they want to spend their time off school and university with friends; they want to visit exotic destinations; they need to earn hard cash gained through summer jobs… but they all love sailing the old girl – when they have the time.

However, as my 50 th birthday was last year, for a birthday present the three children gave me a promise that they would all come on board for two weeks’ sailing, and so the voyage to cross the Skagerrak became a possibility. But before the summer even came along, two weeks became reduced to just nine days, and my hopes were not high on actually being able to reach the journey’s goal.

On 7 July, 2012 early in the morning in heavy rain, we left the mooring at Blommenholm, just south of Oslo, heading south. Unfortunately there was not much wind, but full of expectations and with a promising weather forecast, we set sail hoping for the best. After 40 minutes the little wind that set us off came to an end and the engine was the only solution if our plan to reach Denmark was to be kept alive. And so the day went: rain, wind, no wind, more rain, and after 14 hours it felt good to let the anchor drop on 5 metres of water in Havstensund in Sweden, have some supper, and hit the sack.

Cruising Pandora is a bit like cruising a small luxury yacht, but without the luxury – though she is 46ft long, she is quite narrow. Even so, there are six good bunks, a pantry and a head. The saloon is small but beautiful, with most of the original woodwork and interior still intact, and when the family is gathered around the table, dining or playing cards, there are few places I would rather be. It is definitely not spacious, but in our family we have a saying that has been indoctrinated into the children from early childhood: “aesthetics are more important than comfort!”

Any voyage down the Swedish west coast offers several opportunities to “cruise the inner fairway” as travelling between the small islands and skerries in extremely sheltered water is known. It is a very picturesque and tranquil way of sailing. Pandora continued south passing several small places such as Gräbbestad, Fjällbacka and Hunnebostrand before hoisting all sail and heading out in the ocean south of Smøgen bound for Marstrand. Moderate waves, fair wind, blue sky and white clouds – close to perfect conditions. As the wind died after a long day at sea, and the anchorage was still a good 10 miles away, there was no other solution but to start the engine again to speed things up a bit.

Entering any Scandinavian harbour in the summer after 20.00 often provides difficulty finding a good place to moor, and the same was the case in Marstrand. Luckily we found a quayside, which was not part of the guest harbour and was adorned by a big sign saying: “No Mooring.” But when you sail a classic yacht you will get away with mooring anywhere, simply because people like to have a classic yacht tied to their pier. So, as the sun set over Marstrand harbour, and with the kids ashore in the dinghy, checking out the picturesque little town, I saluted the sun with a small dram, wishing for fair weather the coming day.

The distance from Marstrand in Sweden to Skagen on the northern-most tip of Denmark is about 35 nautical miles, and the estimated time for the crossing was around 6 hours. So we are not exactly speaking about ocean crossing in this case or even long distance sailing but, nevertheless, it is a voyage that might offer bad weather, sudden changes in wind and wave conditions, and has surprised far more experienced sailors and boats than Pandora and her crew.

We hoisted the sails inside the harbour and headed out of the south strait of Marstrand. The wind was blowing a steady 20 knots from the south-southwest, producing waves of about 8ft and leaving Pandora heading directly for Skagen on a close tack. After about one hour of sailing we decided to reef the main, to make the boat heel a little less and pass more easily through the waves, and so she did. She behaved beautifully for the rest of the passage, cutting through the waves with splashes of water washing the deck and crew for most of the way. Everything went as smooth as silk, the only problem we faced being taking down the sails outside Skagen harbour in a heavy swell. We should have sailed inside the pier, where we later discovered there was plenty of space to perform the same manoeuvre in more sheltered water.

Inside the part of the harbour reserved for visiting boats we discovered we were not the only vessel with Skagen as our destination. Perhaps more than 150 boats were tied up, often as many as eight or ten, from many nations, tied alongside each other. We saw English, German, Dutch, French and Finns, not to mention Swedes, Norwegians, and obviously many Danes as we motored a few rounds to find the best boat to tie up to. We decided on coming alongside a nice Dutch boat before we headed off to explore life on shore, with great fresh seafood, excellent beer and jolly people.

Later, back on board, we were roused by someone shouting, “Is this Pandora ?” and as we stuck our heads up we spotted an older man on the quayside, eyeing her with deep interest. I confirmed that this was, indeed, she and he replied, “I used to own this boat, back in the sixties!” The man, who introduced himself as Tore, a fellow Norwegian, was immediately invited on board where he told us his story.

He and two friends had been students back in 1961 when they had bought Pandora , spending their entire student loans to acquire her. They sailed her extensively for three years before passing her on to the next owner and buying a 12-Metre instead. It is always great having old owners visiting – so far Pandora has had no more than ten, including me, and that is not many, considering her age of 105 years – as there are many stories to be told and much information can be passed on. Two of Pandora ’s owners have owned her for almost 30 years each, and that is one of the reasons that she remains very original, with about 80 percent of the original planking and most of the interior still intact.

Unfortunately the plan to cruise the Danish coastline was not to be. The weather forecast predicted strong winds in the days to come, and the possibility of being stuck in harbour due to bad weather made us leave Skagen after only two days, heading back again for Sweden. With the wind from behind producing moderate waves and with one reef in the main, Pandora held a steady 8 to 9 knots. Heading home, with the family on board, I said to myself, “Odd, you are a very lucky man.”

All in all, that summer went well. I spent 28 consecutive days aboard Pandora , cruising the Norwegian coast down to Ny-Hellesund and back to Oslo, partly alone, partly with good friends. Everything went very well; the only thing I could have wished for was a little less rain. But who cares, cruising a 105-year-old gaff Metre boat makes the rain seem like a small price to pay.

Odd Syse. Skipper – Pandora

Pandora is for sale through Sandeman Yacht Company.

Pandora history

Built to the first R rule of 1907, it’s likely that Pandora was the first R-Metre boat ever built. Johan Anker was one of the architects behind developing this rule, which was agreed upon in London late in 1906 and was in operation from 1907. During the winter 1906/07 the Anker & Jensen shipyard in Norway built 11 big boats, eight of them to the new rule. Pandora was the first of these to be completed and was launched in February 1907.

During her 100 year – nay, 105 year – history she has had just eight owners; one of which was for 30 and another for 28 years, which is probably one of the reasons why she remains so original and in such great shape.

She was originally gaff rigged, but then re-rigged as a bermudan in 1921, and stayed that way for around 80 years, winning several races meanwhile. In 2001 she was re rigged back to gaff, and awarded the special prize for Best Sailing Yacht at the Risør Wooden Boat Festival in 2007. A full dossier of historical information, including the identities of all her owners, is available as well as many historic photographs of the boat.

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Across the Skagerrak

After spending a few days in Copenhagen, I hopped a train for a four-hour ride north across Jutland, the peninsula that makes up much of Denmark and separates the North and Baltic Seas, to Holstebro. From there I took a short bus ride to the 750-year-old far northern seaport of Lemvig; the famed WWI Battle of Jutland took place not far from its shores.

When I left Copenhagen, it was a warm sun-drenched spring day. When I arrived in Lemvig, however, I was greeted by a chill wind laden with moisture. The North Sea is not far away, and its effects were noticeable. After a 30-minute walk through the village and along the shoreline, past fields planted with swaying golden canola flowers, I arrived at the marina. Within minutes I saw Nikita , the Fleming 75 aboard which I was to spend the next few weeks, during which I’d travel more than 700 nautical miles. Nikita was negotiating the narrow channel into the harbor. Her skipper deftly backed the vessel up to a bulkhead and I hurriedly tossed my bags aboard and stepped onto the swim platform, where I was met by her owner, Michael, along with Captain Magnus and mate Ida. After a short run, we arrived in the fishing port of Thyborøn, where we had dinner aboard and spent the night.

The following day, Nikita set off across the Skagerrak for a half-day’s run to the Norwegian coast. Among our first stops was the port Rekefjord. It would be a stretch to call this a village; there’s no bank, hardware or drug store. Rekefjord is simply a series of homes, docks and countless small boats surrounding a bowl-shaped depression, in the middle of which is an extremely well-protected harbor that is reached via a narrow passage. As we entered the harbor we passed, both to port and starboard, a large quarry operation, where granite hills were being systematically dismantled and turned into gravel. Two 300-foot ships were docked, along with a few barges, which were being loaded with gravel. While the picture one imagines is of dirt, dust and industrial grit, nothing could be further from the truth. It helps that it was drizzling, however, even if it wasn’t, somehow I don’t think there would be any dust. It’s the neatest, most squared-away quarry I’d ever seen; no rust streaks the equipment, no trash litters the roads, nothing appears to be out of place. The harbor’s history is rooted in mining — iron ore was first mined here around the same time the Union and Confederacy went to war.

The village guest dock was unoccupied, and it was a good thing because Nikita occupied its entire length. After making our lines fast, we plugged in our twin shore power cords using one of the many adapters Magnus had made up. We were afforded a luxurious twin 16-amp supply (8 amps isn’t unusual in this region). While this might appear inadequate for a vessel of Nikita ’s size, her electrical system is atypical in that her loads are simultaneously shared by the shore power and inverters, which in turn are carried by her 2,000 amp-hour lithium-ion battery bank. On its own, the bank can supply all of Nikita ’s electrical needs for nearly a full day, including use of the galley range. When onboard loads exceed what the shore power can supply, the inverters make up the difference, and when onboard loads diminish (at night for instance), some of the shore power is used to recharge the batteries.

Sør-Hidle: An “oasis” at sea Here lies the horticultural marvel Flor & Fjære, which translates to “high and low tide,” a jewel in the midst of a sea of stone and sand.

In 1965, Åsmund and Else Marie Bryn bought the farmstead Mangela, which was located on this island, where they built a small cottage as a retreat from the bustle of Stavanger. Åsmund owned and operated a busy commercial nursery in the city, and the island provided a welcome retreat. During the family’s summer residences on the island, Åsmund and his children planted trees (one summer they planted 2,000 of them) in order to give the cottage a refuge from the unrelenting northerly wind.

Ultimately, due to Åsmund’s failing health, he and Else Marie decided in 1975 to move to the island permanently. After being here for a few months, Åsmund needed something to occupy his time, and thus he planted a garden, the harvest from which was sent to the nursery back in Stavanger. Strangely enough, Åsmund’s health began to improve. By 1995, the barren, wind-swept island retreat had been transformed into a veritable Garden of Eden with its own microclimate. In this year, Åsmund’s son Olav Bryn opened the gardens to the public, hosting tours and receptions.

Much to the family’s surprise, in the first summer more than 7,000 guests ferried to the island to drink in its splendor, and the word spread. Today, visits to the island’s gardens and gourmet restaurant, which is overseen by 20-year veteran Dutch chef Andre Mulder, exceed 30,000. Visitors have included all three houses of Norway’s royal family, and the location has hosted the Norwegian Chess Tournament.

I’ll confess, when Michael inquired as to whether I’d like to visit Flor & Fjære, a garden that included an entrance fee, not wanting to be the stick in the mud I reluctantly agreed. The sojourn turned out to be an especially memorable feast for the eyes, lens and palate. While the day dawned cloudy, as we began our sojourn through the gardens the sun appeared and remained our companion for the rest of the day.

The garden has continued to grow under the watchful eyes of Olav Bryn and his wife Siri, who acted as our guide. The variety of plants and trees, not to mention koi, was nothing less than astonishing, particularly when one considers the latitude at which it resides — about the same as Northern Labrador. The plants range from roses and bonsai trees to cacti and windmill palms, and each garden contains exotic plants from the world over, punctuated by small lakes, stone bridges and waterfalls. Thanks to the shelter created by the many perimeter trees planted by Åsmund and his family decades ago, it offers a warm environment, literally and figuratively, one that supports semi-tropical fauna, while offering an inviting haven to those who visit.

Traditional villages Located on the southernmost tip of the island of Karmøy, the charming fishing and ship repair village of Skudeneshavn is home to just 3,000 people, making it one of Norway’s smallest towns. In 1990, it won second prize for Norway’s “Best Preserved Small Town,” and its 225 immaculately kept wooden houses, many of which date back to the 1840s, are regarded as some of the best preserved in Europe.

When we arrived there it was gray, chilly and drizzling; however, the following day ranks as the best weather I encountered during my time aboard Nikita . The village’s white homes gleamed in brilliant sunshine, and a steady procession of small power and sailing vessels ran out of the port all day, several of which were crewed entirely by middle-school-age children as part of the town’s sea education program. A traditional seafaring festival is held here in late June or early July. Known as Skudefestivalen, it runs for four days and is the largest gathering of coastal culture in the region, attracting both old and modern vessels of all kinds, including tall ships. Craftsmen demonstrate traditional boatbuilding skills and barrel and model making in addition to operating antique engines.

In addition to its picturesque setting, Skudeneshavn is also a center for ship repair, complete with a dry dock in which a steel fishing vessel was being repaired. I chatted with a local resident, long retired and in his 80s, who grew up here; when he was a young man, because “the town was too poor,” he spent his career working around the world in the oil industry, and then returned to enjoy his retirement. He shared a few interesting stories and facts. He noted that when he was young, fishing was the only trade open to young men, many of whom emigrated to America. “Now of course,” he said, “the village is much different because of oil.” He hesitated for a moment as he stared into the distance, conjuring up images of his youth, I imagine, and then said, “Much has changed, and Norway is now wealthy.” He also noted, with an element of pride, that one large oil support vessel, which was berthed nearby and towered over the village, was instrumental in capping the infamous Deepwater Horizon well.

Nikita cast off her lines and left Skudeneshavn in her wake. She cruised over a cobalt sea and under a virtually cloudless azure sky. Visibility was unlimited; snow-capped mountain ranges 30 miles away were clearly visible. It was warm enough to eat lunch on the flybridge. We steamed for two hours to the island of Bjergøy, which is across a narrow strait from Ramsvig Handelsstad. A local guide we met at a previous port call insisted we must stop here for a meal — he guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

When we first contacted the Ramsvig Handelsstad Inn to make dinner reservations, they nearly hung up on us, thinking (as they later told us) we were telemarketers. When we arrived at their dock earlier in the day, they veritably kicked us off, claiming a function would take place shortly. We were simply not welcome.

An auspicious start it was not; however, the staff more than made up for this early rocky footing as they later welcomed us for a specially prepared dinner at which we were the only guests. The Icelandic chef presented and described each course as it was served, and proprietors Mette and Jostein Soland shared with us tales of the inn and island’s past (the room in which we ate included a vintage shop counter, complete with goods from the ’30s and ’40s, including cigarettes rolled with Norwegian tobacco made during the war).

The former trading post, which was first constructed in the 16th century, has been transformed, renovated and rebuilt by the current owners over the past 17 years into a luxury conference center, which, being not far from Stavanger, caters primarily to the world’s oil industry and ensures absolute privacy by hosting only one group at a time. Buildings are made using slate roofs and heavy vintage timbers and planks, which house conference rooms, a dining room and 15 double suites along with a newly built art gallery. The former bakery has been transformed into a modern kitchen that is overseen by master chef Árnie Ívar Theodorsson.

After dinner, which included local crab and halibut, we were escorted to the subterranean bar where Jostein served aquavit and regaled us with tales of his worldwide wanderings and literary exploits (he is a former professor of Scandinavian literature and taught for a time at the University of Washington, living in Seattle’s famed Ballard neighborhood where, surrounded by Scandinavian heritage, he says he felt very much at home). At one point he told me, pointing to the sink, “A former CIA chief peeled potatoes right here with me,” and then, seeming to not be able to hold it in, confided, “…it was Stansfield Turner.” The guide could not have been more right: It was a memorable and enjoyable evening.

With a population of about 800, the tiny village of Rosendal, located on the southern shore of the Hardangerfjorden, is about six miles west of the sprawling Folgefonna glacier, which we visited and where we spent the morning skiing. One of the village’s highlights revolves around the 17th century Barony Rosendal — a historic estate and gardens located within the village, classified as Scandinavia’s smallest castle. Built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 1820s, Kvinnherad Church is also located here. Rosendal is also known for its shipbuilders (in 1900 there were more than 300 registered shipbuilders within the municipality), including the famed Skaalurens Skibsbyggeri yard, which first began building wooden vessels here in 1855 and built Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s Gjoa, for his Northwest Passage expedition.

Before Nikita departed this port, I made the 25-minute trek from the waterfront to the Rosendal Barony, the “castle.” The grounds and gardens are among the most enchanting and well kept of any I’ve seen. Given the time, I could blissfully walk the paths that crisscross the estate all day long.

While there, I asked a woman working in one of the expansive vegetable gardens where I could find an example of the Norwegian Fjord Horse, the country’s own stout breed. She gave me directions to a riding club where two mares and a foal were corralled. I’m no equestrian, but in my high-latitude travels I’ve encountered and taken an interest in a number of unique breeds, including Newfoundland, Faroese and Icelandic ponies. I made my way there and was not disappointed: They were handsome examples, buff-colored with a distinctive clipped two-tone mane and a sturdy body. In the town square, a bronze statue honors one of Rosendal’s own Fjord horses, the award-winning stallion Rosendalborken, which belonged to the owner of the Castle Rosendal in the mid-19th century.

Originally from the mountainous regions of western Norway, the Fjord horse is said to be agile and of good temperament, and these were no exception. They quickly came to the fence as I walked up and nibbled on my hand, camera and coat. One of the world’s oldest breeds, believed to have first migrated to Norway more than 4,000 years ago, they were selectively bred by Vikings at least 2,000 years ago and because of their isolation in Western Norway, they remained a pure breed. The Fjord horse has been used for centuries as a working farm horse in Norway.

Adjacent to the stable was a working, vintage water-powered sawmill. The shop was open and I walked through. For those who love things mechanical, it was a veritable nirvana. In addition to the traditional large circular rotating blade, a second machine was also present; it uses a series of reciprocating blades and powered feed rollers that are capable of simultaneously cutting a large log into several planks. It’s an ingenious piece of machinery that, given the time, I’d pore over for hours while investigating its inner workings.

The final port call At 11 p.m., the sun was seemingly fixed in setting mode, and the sky was a mixture of yellow, blue and orange hues. A couple was silhouetted on a distant jetty as they, too, took in the ever-so-slowly unfolding spectacle. What’s fleeting in the middle latitudes can last for hours when one ventures to the far northern or southern regions. As a photographer, high-latitude lighting has an ethereal quality all its own, and the extended sunrises and sunsets are especially gratifying.

In addition to being the home of Rollo, the 10th-century founder of the dynasty of the dukes of Normandy, Ålesund was also known as “Little London” during WWII, both because of resistance activity that took place in and around it, as well as the frequent small boat crossings known as the “Shetland Bus” made between it and Scotland’s Shetland Islands. The exploits of those who ran the Shetland Bus are the stuff of legend. Early in the war, all of the crossings — carrying resistance fighters, saboteurs and agents, as well as supplies in and refugees out — were made using local fishing boats known as Møre Cutters that were unique to the Ålesund area. The boats were timber and between 50 and 70 feet with twin masts and a single-cylinder semi-diesel engine. Most crossings were made during the winter, which afforded the Shetland Bus the camouflage of long dark nights while also subjecting it to notorious North Sea gales. A number of these vessels and their crews were lost through enemy action or in bad weather. A respite arrived, thanks to the U.S Navy, which in 1943 provided the Shetland Bus with four steel, 110-foot former submarine chasers, which were faster and safer than the fishing vessels — all of which survived the war.

With a heavy heart, I bade farewell to Nikita and my shipmates, Michael, Ida and Magnus. When I arrived aboard two and a half weeks prior, I was a complete stranger. I was, however, immediately adopted and made to feel welcomed and a part of the family and crew by all from the very first day.

Steve D’Antonio is a marine systems expert, writer and photographer ( stevedmarineconsulting.com ).

By Ocean Navigator

Skagerrak : Sailors spot orca in the North Sea - "a magical spectacle"

 ·  21.08.2023

Terrifying images are currently doing the rounds: After Spanish media had reported for the first time last week, yesterday also published the " Picture " an article about sailors who allegedly shoot at orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar . You can see fireworks being fired into the water several times from a catamaran. It is not known whether the animals were injured or killed in the process.

Although this case has not been confirmed, critical interactions with the Iberian subpopulation have been occurring for several years. For reasons that remain unclear, the orcas have repeatedly damaged the rudder blades of sailing yachts under 20 metres in length in particular since 2020. Three ships have sunk as a result of such interactions.

• In distress at sea: total loss after orca attack
• Sailing yacht sinks after orca attack off Portugal
• Rudder off - another orca interaction with regatta participant

After the summer of 2022 a video of five orcas on the Danish coast was circulating on the internet, there has now been another sighting in an atypical area. German sailors encountered a single orca in the Skagerrak. However, anyone who is now worried about sailing the North Sea can calm down again.

Orca attacks: only one subpopulation poses a threat to sailors

The killer whales, which are considered very intelligent, are able to communicate and learn from each other. So far, however, only this one Iberian subpopulation has been found to be dangerous, and researchers do not expect this behaviour to spread to the dozens of populations worldwide. "It is very unlikely that this behaviour of 'rough play' with boats can be transferred over long distances," says Mark Simmonds, scientific director of the Marine conservation organisation "OceanCare" . He can therefore give the all-clear: "Outside the area where the known Iberian subpopulation lives, there is no general danger from orcas for shipping."

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After a brief moment of shock, the couple Daniel and Eva Lütkenhaus also experienced this on their three-week Scandinavian cruise. On their way back, they encountered a killer whale on their Bavaria 35 Exclusive "Paikja" between Lysekil (Sweden) and Skagen (Denmark) in the afternoon. Daniel remembers the first time he saw the dorsal fin by which he recognised the marine mammal: "It appeared on the starboard side, then on the port side, I would estimate about ten metres away."

Sailors observe the killer whale from a distance

"Of course we were a bit scared," he continues. Meanwhile, the orca rolled and turned "as if it was wallowing. And it seemed to me that it was eyeing the ship from both sides. But it was never at the back of the rudder." Once the killer whale had submerged again, the pair switched off the autopilot to minimise noise. With a wind of just under 10 knots and a flat sea, they then tried to get at least a little further away and let themselves drift at some distance. After the brief scan, the animal no longer seemed interested at all, says the 60-year-old architect and passionate cruising sailor.

His wife hadn't even really seen the orca until then, when they already thought it was over again. But then she spotted him again because of his water fountain, which is why the couple stopped their 35-foot yacht completely. "Once we had put some distance between him and us, it was just a magical spectacle," recalls Daniel, still mesmerised. The whale jumped twice, which they were able to capture on video with their mobile phones. The encounter lasted just under ten minutes in total before the killer whale disappeared again. "We didn't want to turn round and risk drawing attention to ourselves. So we held our course and took out the genoa again to sail back to Skagen."

Moment for life - Origin of the orca unclear

In reference to the 1993 film "Free Willy - Call of Freedom", which Daniel still watches once a year, they subsequently named the orca "Willy". However, it is not quite so easy to work out where the name comes from. "Killer whales are known from the Scottish and Swedish coasts as well as from further north," explains Mark Simmonds. It is therefore likely that it belongs to one of these populations. What is also surprising, however, is that it appears to have been alone, which is a rare occurrence. "Normally they move around in groups and can be quite widely dispersed. They tend to stay in the areas that their family groups know well, but they can also move further away, perhaps to prey." Even the marine mammal expert cannot tell from the video whether it is a female or a non-adult male.

However, the experts at OceanCare do not expect any attacks or dangerous interactions in the North Sea. Nevertheless, the two German sailors did exactly the right thing. In general, the organisation advises people who encounter orcas or other dolphin species at sea to observe and enjoy them from a distance and try not to disturb them.

For Mr and Mrs Lütkenhaus, the crossing to Skagen was a unique experience. "We saw beautiful sounds, fjords and skerries with fantastic light on this trip, but this experience remains unforgettable, and it still feels good to look at it. It's something you take with you for life."

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• 360° Photos

headingdetails Skagerrak 900 S AK

€ 59,750

• Sleeping places 2 + 4
• year built 1992
• Berth Kropswolde
• Category Motor yacht

Bow thruster, holding tank, shore power, shower, heating, etc. Rare Skagerrak 900 with closed wheelhouse and outside steering position. Is in a very nice state of maintenance.

• Dimensions 9,10 x 3,25 x 0,95 m.
• Engine Yanmar 140 HP (103 kW) Diesel
• Construction material GRP
• Reference number 242028

Accommodation

Navigation and electronics, deck equipment.

The Skagerrak 900 S AK is the version with a closed wheelhouse and aft cabin with an outside steering position. The Skagerrak 900 S AK is an optimally laid out motor yacht with a very spacious interior. Furthermore, the Skagerrak 900 S AK has very good sailing characteristics on both inland and coastal waters. The deck is easily accessible due to the wide gangways and high stainless steel railing.

This Skagerrak 900 S AK is in very good condition and is stored in a hall every winter.

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Review of Skagerrak 780

Basic specs., sailing characteristics.

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Sorry, we have no sailing characteristics available for this boat.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Sorry, we do not have sufficient statistical information available for this boat to provide a significant reliable analysis.

Maintenance

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Skagerrak 780 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

Yacht Charter Skagerrak - Yacht Rentals Skagerrak

Top-rated yacht charters in skagerrak - preselected yacht rentals:.

Motorboat Greenline 39 Hybrid for charter in Posgrunn

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SKAGERRAK Interior & Exterior Photos

27.4m  /  89'11 | abeking & rasmussen | 1939 / 1975.

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