Queen of the Baltic re-launched

The extraordinary 12-M yacht Svanevit (S2) is undergoing a total rebuild in Sweden. She was built in 1930 at August Plym’s famous yard, Neglingevarvet in Saltsjobaden outside the Swedish capital, Stockholm, to a design by Gustaf Estlander. She was commissioned by the Swedish publicist Erik Akerlund for the Royal Swedish YC’s centennial celebrations, which UŽa Fox, among others, sailed over to attend. Her famous interior “a decidedly odd one for a racing yacht” according to the foundation that owns the boat today, was commissioned to showcase the high standards of Swedish crafts to the world. She moved to England in the 1930s where she was owned by a Swedish sailor for 20 years. After another Swedish owner – her third – she ended up in the Mediterranean in 1958, where she was bought by the English property developer Harry Hyams, the man behind Centre Point and Space House in London. He owned her from 1958 until his death in 2015. He has stated that when he saw her in Palma, Mallorca, not only did she have the tallest mast, but she was the most beautiful yacht he had ever seen. She was moored in the Hamble back then, registered as Barranquilla (K22). She broke her mast in 2003 and spent the last 12 years of Harry’s ownership on the hard. In 2017 she was bought from Mr Hyams’s estate, returned to Sweden and has been in restoration ever since. She was launched this June, to be rigged afloat. Her interior, which was exhibited in one of Sweden’s leading art museums, will be reinstalled this coming winter, and the aim is for a 2023 spring/summer re-launch. Princess Svanevit (‘swan white’) is said to be the longest 12-M ever built, at 72ft (22m). She is owned by the Princess Svanevit Foundation. See more at svanevit.se.