History of Kalizma

I was doing a post of my experience on Kalizma and included a history section in it but discovered that there is quite a bit of it on the net so I separated it here and added to it, enjoy:

Kalizma, built in 1906, is considered the world's oldest yacht with a rich history. It has survived world wars, plagues, changing ownerships, and various life events, making it a symbol of resilience and endurance. The original name though, Minona, is after the African Goddess of sorcery and  fortunetelling. Still I wonder how much of the original steel remains in her keel though...

Robert Stewart

Seafaring culture

An old colleague of mine, Lauri Vuorinen, published his musings in Finnish that I have freely translated into English. On the subject, the pictures are all courtesy from another colleague Hannu Vartiainen from 70's-80's.

Sail training ship Fennia

Having visited Falklands I came over the information by accident in a pub that a Finnish sailing vessel, FENNIA, had in early 1900's limped into Port Stanley jury rigged after having been partly demasted in a severe storm. 

Poster of shipwrecks around Falklands

Seafaring life

This article was originally published by the Finnish seamen's mission in Finnish, below is a translation of it:

A Sailors life is full of surprises!

21st March 2023

Jan Rautawaara and Juha Pokka in front of "Anny"

Newbuild delivery Vietnam

After some 3 weeks of R&R following the disaster after m/y Trident I saw myself joining ship again. This time in Da Nang,  Vietnam to commission and deliver a newbuild from Damen.  I flew in via Ho Chi Minh city where I was to collect my business visa and then fly onwards to Da Nang. 

HCM, or Saigon, was packed with tourists and I queued up the best I could,  locals were not very good in it. After reporting to the booth I was told to go to "landing visa" queue for getting visa.  

Oh well,  luckily there were no people but was told by a surly clerk that I am one day early as per my letter of invitation, come back after midnight,  they said.   

I went to the airline desk to rebook my flight as I was going to miss my connection but the guy there was of the opinion I would be able to get my visa and join the flight.

Visa scrum

Boadicea

19.11.2021 - 25.01.2022
28.08.2021 - 18.10.2021
Captain
m/y Boadicea

Boadicea in Nice

Rescue of Wilhelmine - the whole story

The story of Wilhelmine was broken up into several posts due to the length of each chapter. 

In Kalmar

Rescue of Wilhelmine - epilogue

If you've read all the previous posts you know by now she was only rescued from an undignified end rusting asunder at an deserted beach despite our greater ideas that were smashed by the pandemic.

After having delivered her to Grenaa we've received news that her railings were sold off to a sailing ship project and part of her furniture has been kept. Also her main engine was recovered.  

Below are some pictures of the demolition process, all thanks to Keld Kokland from Fornaes shipbreaking company. He also informed us that the flatbottom and tanktop was found quite thin and would have required renewal as we already knew.

Bow section chomped to pieces by hydraulic scissors

Wilhelmine in media

As Wilhelmine was resuscitated and moved about she broke the news barrier and below are few articles published by Finnish papers that I've freely translated below in chronological order. 

Kimito nyheter 24.11.2020:

Main picture of article in Kimito news.

Upper box: "Wilhelmine departing for new waters 24th nov 2020"

Wilhelmine in history

Obviously as Wilhelmine was built in 1953 and sailed 30+ years under German flag in Europe before she was bought to Finland in the 80's a lot had time to happen to the people that sailed her and to Wilhelmine herself.

Waalhafen 1970's, courtesy of Shipnostalgia by "oktoon"

Rescue of Wilhelmine - the end

Team selfie

Caipirinha

05.05.2021 - 30.06.2021

Captain

m/y Caipirinha

Caipirinha alongisde in Durres

St Helena (the ship)

15.01.2021 - 25.02.2021
01.08.2020 - 23.10.2020
04.01.2020 - 24.06.2020
04.11.2019 - 27.12.2019

m/v St Helena (ex MNG Tahiti, RMS St Helena)

Captain

As I was in South Africa on vacation I got out of the blue an email from Allan Wilson asking if I would be interested in joining St Helena for major refit and then sailing her. After a bit of digging I realized it was the ex RMS that was the last one of its kind and had been servicing St Helena island with mail and supplies as well as passenger capacity. 

St Helena in Birkenhead, UK before the refit

Rescue of Wilhelmine

So on the 9th Nov we headed from Helsinki towards Kimito Island, more exactly to Pederså commune. It was a few hours drive and enroute we tried to find lodging and finally when all options on the Island were exhausted for one reason or another we settled for renting a house in Ekenäs, the drive from there was a mere 45mins.

Just arrived 

Ventum Maris

14.06.2019 - 02.09.2019

Captain
m/y Ventum Maris

Ventum Maris anchored at Maddalena archipelago

Lady S

02.11.2017 - 02.12.2017
04.11.2016 - 05.01.2017

Captain
m/y Lady S

Lady S (courtesy by Burgess)

Maryah

24.09.2015 - 21.01.2016

31.07.2015 - 04.09.2015
13.05.2015 - 13.07.2015
08.08.2014 - 16.04.2015
31.01.2013 - 04.08.2014
21.08.2012 - 30.01.2013
m/y Maryah (ex Czar, Szczecinska B970/01, Fortune, Dalmorgeologiya) IMO no 9044619

Captain

M/y Maryah (photo by Manuel Hernandez via marinetraffic)

Kalizma

28.07.2023 - 24.08.2023

06.07.2012 - 20.08.2012
15.02.2012 - 14.03.2012
03.05.2011 - 29.05.2011
17.07.2010 - 19.12.2010
19.08.2009 - 29.05.2010
30.07.2009 - 07.08.2009
01.05.2008 - 28.06.2009
Captain
m/y Kalizma (ex. Minona, Cortynia, Odysseia)

Kalizma in Kuah Royal Langkawi yacht marina in 2008

Indian Empress

16.03.2012 - 18.05.2012 Captain

20.09.2011 - 17.01.2012 Captain

29.05.2011 - 07.09.2011 Ch Mate
20.12.2010 - 16.03.2011 Ch Mate
m/y Indian Empress (ex Al Mirqab, today H3)

Indian Empress (courtesy Charterworld)

Silver

05.07.2007 - 31.04.2008

m/y Silver
Chief Officer/ Relief Captain (Running deck dept)

After having been dismissed from Titan due to the sale to new Owner's I was again on the look for new horizons and the Chief stewardess from Titan had a lead from a Swedish Captain in her network and put me in touch with him. After a bit of talking and interviewing I was accepted as Chief officer and soon enough was on my way to Australia.

Silver before launch (courtesy of Boatworld)