S/Y Refanut

2009-03-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

Jag inser att jag aldrig följde upp efter Gotland Runt. Vi fick riktigt Refanut väder med en ganska hård kryss i krabb sjö från Alma till Nynäs. Inte känns det som vi gick så fort i dom förhållandena men vi vet att andra (som 12an Clipper och Ballad) får det betydligt jobbigare. Clipper var visserligen framför oss, men de skall (som sig bör) ge oss ganska mycket tid. Ifrån Nynäs till Sandön och sedan ner till Salvo hände inte mycket. Dock lyckades vi kommar runt Salvo precis som det dojade och kunde ta en brant slör väster om sandön för att hålla fart när andra båtar som Ballad och Itaka fick en mycket lätt kryss sista biten upp till märket. Vårt val att skära innanför Sandön visade sig mycket bättre än Clippers mer direkta spår väster om ön. När vi fick kontakt med dem igen norr om Sandön hade vi tagit in mycket av deras försprång. De skar upp (för att hålla kontakt med oss antar jag) och vi låg ett par distans ifrån varandra under hela länsen upp till Alma. Med ett par timmar kvar till Alma fick de trassel med blåsan och var tvungen att segla utan spinnaker ett tag (30-60 minuter skulle jag tro) och det var tillräckligt för att vi skulle kunna gå om och hålla dom efter oss in i mål.

Som salt i såren för båtarna bakom oss så mojnade det lagom efter att vi gått i mål. Sånt är Gotland Runt... med en klass så bred som vår när skillnaden i handicap mellan snabbaste och långsammaste båt kan vara över 12 timmar så vinner inte alltid den bäst seglade båten. Man måste segla väl för att ha en chans, men i slutändan avgör vädret. Med de förhållanden vi hade under 2008 års upplaga kunde det bara stå emellan oss och eventuellt Clipper (men den första kryssen gav oss en enorm fördel). 2007 var det tvärt om och det var ingenting vi kunde göra åt de minsta båtarna då vinden fyllde i bakifrån när vi gick i mål. Vem som får spader ess nästa år får vi se... men kommer det åter på vår hand skall vi vara beredda att ta vara på det.

Nu är det dags igen...

2008-06-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Vi laddar för fullt inför 2008 års upplaga av Baltic Race Classic Yacht (eller vad det nu heter i år). Det är 10 båtar på linjen (så här långt). Som vanligt kommer vi at segla mot Ballad, Regina och Anitra. Tyvärr har Anahita beslutat att segla "riktiga" Gotland Runt, något jag mycket väl kan förstå. En mycket välkommen överraskning är att vi åter kommer att ha Vagabond på banan. Det var inte igår och jag ser mycket fram emot det. Likaså är det alltid kul att se vackra Itaka. Jag hoppas bara att det inte blir alltför blött för dem (och jag undrar vem det gjort sig ovänner med för att få sitt enormt höga mätetal).

Med hopp om vackert väder och god vind!

Gotland Runt 2007

2007-06-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

We are preparing for the third installment of the Classic Yacht version of the Round Gotland race starting on July 1. Currently there are five boats entered in our fleet:

Refanut
Ballad
Anahita
Regina
Anitra

I've heard rumors that Itaka might join us as well which would be wonderful.

Först i mål, Gotland Runt 2006

2006-08-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

Refanut gick i mål som första båt i fältet klockan 22:03 (ett par timmar före den första av de "stora"... dock seglade Classic Yachts en väsentligt kortare bana). Anahita gick i mål ungefär 10 minuter senare och vann klassen på korrigerad tid.

Visby Pokalen (the Visby Race)

2005-07-06T03:26:00.000-07:00

Refanut performed beautifully in the 105nm race from Sandhamn to Visby on July 2nd and again in the return to Sandhamn along a slightly different 145nm course.

We took the start in Sandhamn at the middle of the line and was the third boat at Almagrundet (having been passed by two faster boats, a Sk95 and a Swan 65). The race down saw good winds until 11pm and then light winds through the night. We made on erroneous course choice that cost us and also had big problems retaining speed and point when the air got really light. We will have to work on that before the next race. The high point of the race was a tacking duel against Anahita and Regina during the last three hours of the race in light air. While we got closer and close to Anahita they held us off to finish roughly 100 seconds ahead. Unfortunately (for us) Regina caught us on the last tack to the finish line and crossed 7 seconds ahead of us (once again we couldn't get the boat moving in the light air close to shore where the finish line was located). Regardless of the result those three hours are a fond and exciting memory where we tacked a total of 22 times.

The return trip saw as starting in extremely light air. We didn't manage to get up to the line in time and got off to a mediocre start with slighly disturbed air. We did however manage to roll a Sk95 to windward to get into clear air. An hour or so into the race saw the whole fleet get a drastic windshift with new wind building from the east right up against the shore. We got the boat going well in the new breeze and passed Regina to leeward (which always feels rewarding). We continued sailing well and were slowly catching the Swan 65 Travel. Once again we actually managed to sail through their dead air to leeward and found ourselves climbing up on their bow and finally racing away from them up towards Kopparstenarna. We round Kopparstenarna as the second boat in the fleet (after another Swan 65) and hoisted the spinnaker heading for Dalarö angöring. We continued sailing well on the run throughout the night and rounded in the same position having lost 4 minutes on the Swan but gaining distance on the boats behind us (Anahita being the closest some 22 minutes behind us). The next leg up to Almagrundet was essentially a tacking leg. This is usually the strength of Refanut ... as long as we have enough power. After an hour or so on this leg the air starts to thin and we see Anahita sail both higher and faster behind us. Desperation took over and we decided to trust the forecast and tack out to sea to catch the new easterly wind that was hinted at. This was a mistake. We saw Anahita, Ballad and Regina catch us and pass us closer to land. When we finally tack back we have Anahita about 1.5nm ahead and Ballad a few hundred yards ahead. During the remaining time up to Almagrundet we managed to pass Ballad but didn't really change our position vis-a-vis Anahita and Regina. The rounding at Almagrundet allowed us to hoist our assymetric spinnakers (main and mizzen) for the final reach to the finish. The preliminary results have Anahita ahead of Regina followed by us (on corrected time). In the end the race provided competition at the highest levels with all boats being extremely well sailed. That the boats are a feast for the eyes only improves the experience.

I would finally like to congratulate the race committee on an extremely enjoyable event and we look forward to the next time.

Official news from the event can be found here. Pictures from the start in Sandhamn can be found here and from the finish in Sandhamn, here.

Refanut, GR'00

2005-06-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

Refanut, GR'00
Originally uploaded by fwallenberg.

This is a low-res scan of a picture taken of Refanut during the 2000 Round Gotland Race.

Article from "Andras Båtar"

2005-04-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

Yet another very notable ocean-racer is about to be completed at Neglingevarvet. The owner is the chairman of KSSS, banker Jacob Wallenberg, and the designer is Sparkman & Stephens, New York. This new boat is the fourth Stephens-ocean-racer built at the Neglingevarvet. The predecessors are Circe, Anna Marina and Barracuda.

Data:
Length over all ..... 19.15 meter
length waterline ... 13.48 m
beam .................... 3.88 m
draft ..................... 2.72 m
displacement ..... 25,900 kg
sail area .................175 sq.m.

As a comparison the equivalent measurements for Circe, Anna Marina and Barracuda respectively are: 17.20, 11.70, 3.52, 2.40, 19, 125; 19.50, 14.50, 4.40, 2.50, 40, 178; 19.75, 13.72, 3.96, 2.58, 32 and 183 sq.m.

The new yacht is primarilly built as a fast upwind boat, something apparent from the sharp, low-drag lines, the low superstructure[överbyggnad], the high sail plane and the relatively high ballast proportion. The buyer and the yard hope to have the boat ready to participate in this summer's Round Gotland race. [This was accomplished and Refanut won the race, FW note]

Sail plan or new Refanut. As can be seen, there are many options available. Also note the "clean" deck and the low superstructure.

The planking is from Honduras mahogney that is glued and put on laminated oak ribs. The construction is the same as has been used in the yard's previous Stephens yachts: high strength, minimum hull weight. The deck is laid with teak whereas the superstructure is made from Honduras mahogney, the latter in order to reduce the weight.

The booms and poles are made out of spruce and are hollow.

The standing rig, made in the USA, is made out of stainless steel with True Locks rather than welds [splitsar]. The winches are by Merriman. The boat has a steering wheel.

The auxillary engine is a 20hp Gray with a 2:1 reduction transmission. Flailing propeller.

For speed control, particularly for trimming, two Kenyon logs are mounted in the cockpit.

Light weight stanchions and rails run around the whole boat from a pulpit in the bow.

Navigation instruments and electrical fittings are first class. The sails are made by Ratsey & Lapthorn, Long Island, USA.

The interior layout is comprised of a fore cabin with two berths, workbench with a drawer, the crew's w.c., a fold-away wash-basin and two big closets. Thereafter comes a passage to the galley that stretches the full width of the boat just in front of the mast. The galley has a kerosene stove with two burners (the owner does not want gas), sink, running water from two faucets, a fold-away table and a big icebox. The head is located on the starboard side by the mast. Aft of the mast is the saloon. It has a big balancing table, two sofas that can be converted into berths, and two berths above the sofas. There are also closets, a chest of drawers and a sideboard.

On the starboard side, aft of the saloon, is guest cabin for one person. Midships is a passage to and from the cockpit and a navigation table is located on the port side. The owner's cabin is located further aft with two berths, two chests of drawers, closets and a head.

The engineroom is located immediately in front of the owner's cabin and below the flooring.

The cockpit has a big, compated to the lines of the boat, a sail locker running athwartships and two lengthwise benches that can also be used to store sails. Two 325 liter fresh water tanks are located below the cockpit floor.

Air circulation is ensured by Dorade vents placed forward of the hatch, right behind the main mast and at the bulkhead aft of the dog-house.

The construction is exemplary in every way: the hull looks like it was shaped out of a single block.

Profile and interior blueprints. Refanut is being built strong but light from Honduras mahogny on laminated ribs. The deck is laid with teak; superstructures are made from Honduras mahogny. Ventilation is provide by Dorade-vents; the propeller is reversible; standing rig is from stainless steel with True Locks. Sail inventory: dakron-cotton in upwind sails, nylon for spinnakers and mizzen staysail.

Translation of an article by Einar Blomqvist in Andras Båtar in early 1955. You can read the original article in Swedish below:

Racing 2005

2005-04-16T16:03:00.000-07:00

Refanut will participate in the Classic Visby Race July 2-5 and the KSSS Grand Jubilee regatta on July 8-9. For more information on these races, see this link.

Leon's Logbook from 1981

2005-04-16T15:27:00.000-07:00

Searching the web for information on Refanut I came across this gem, Leon's Logbook from 1981.

Refanut - Sparkman & Stevens Design 1104

2005-04-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

Comments taken from the book "The Best of the Best - The Yacht Designs of Sparkan & Stephens", written by Francis S. Kinney and Russell Bourne:

Designed to be the fastest yacht in Sweden, Refanut performed well enough to claim a more global title. Built at the famous Bengt Plym yard in 1955, she immediately started winning races in northern Europe (including several victories in the Round Gotland Race); then, after a major refit in 1978, she sailed south to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean where she won a worldwide reputation as a fast cruising yacht. During the 1980s, after winning her class in the 1981 Newport Classic Yacht Regatta, she sailed back to Scandinavia for another refit, then on to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean again. She remains one of the most remarkable S&S designs—and a superb example of what foreign clients believed they could get from Sparkman & Stevens.

Although very much a creation of the up-and-coming fifties, with aluminum mizzenmast and air conditioning, Refanut also recalls the previous generation of deep-keeled ocean racers. She draws a full 9 feet and has the long, lean look of Dorade (or, more accurately, Stormy Weather). During the 1978 refit, the galley was moved from forward of the mast to starboard midships (where a single cabin had been located); the space forward was then converted into a stateroom for four. As a result, she now sleeps nine in three cabins, including the saloon.

To Rod Stephens, Refanut had always been a special creation "a one-off; like a 12-meter, but with heavier scantlings." That's the tradition.

Origin of the name...

2005-04-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

From Hvenhistorier:

"Skeppet Refanut": En gång kom här ett skepp in i Öresund som var så stort att det inte kunde gå genom Drogden. Då lade det back och lossa på barlasten. Därav blev Hven på ena sidan och Saltholm på den andra. Skeppet var så stort att när gastarna gick upp i masterna för att rigga, som ungdomar, kom de ner igen som gamla gubbar...

Translated from Swedish:

"The Ship Refanut": Once upon a time a ship entered "Öresund" that was so big that it couldn't pass through "Drogden". Then they put it in reversed and dumped the ballast. From that was created Hven on one side and Saltholm on the other. The ship was so big that the crew went up in the masts to rig as youngsters and came back down again as old men...