Schiff Classic article

Schiff Classic edition Nov/Dec 2024 came out with an article about Anny von Hamburg, I have below translated the article for those whose German might be a bit rusty. 

Front page

ULTIM trimarans

3rd October the Ultim trimarans were arriving Antibes having finished the 5 day race from Finisterre. We followed onboard their track on the AIS and saw them going along with 40kts+, the first ones were arriving already on the 2nd Oct evening when others came in 3rd Oct assisted by their teams respective "tug" boats. One of them had allegedly ripped their mainsail as they had encountered 70kts winds off the Spanish coast.

Banque Populaire trimaran

Daycruising Anny von Hamburg

"Anny von Hamburg" alongside GH Fyren

Having visited Anny von Hamburg in Ekenäs (Tammisaari) I was invited by Captain Juha Pokka to join (and assist) her for a daycruise in a couple of days time. It is always pleasant to go out to sea, especially in the Finnish archipelago so I was keen as mustard. *)

Archipelago boating

My longtime friend Heidi called on 6th September and asked if I was interested to join her on the 7th for a day of boating going to the old naval fortress of Katanpää from Uusikaupunki where her boat was moored. I agreed and we set out from our house in Kustavi early in the morning by car. Arrived about an hour later and set to prepare Heidi's boat for the trip, it was already fueled so it wasn't much more than a bit of snacks and drinks.

Getting local pilot knowledge whilst Cheche is photobombing us

Refitting Anny von Hamburg

In 2023 my friends and colleagues, Captains Jan Rautawaara & Juha Pokka managed to procure another old lady as a project for the future. It was s/y "Anny von Hamburg", a 29m historic three-masted schooner built in Germany. 

Anny von Hamburg postcard (1980's)

History of Anny von Hamburg

Anny von Hamburg is a historic three-masted schooner, originally built in 1914 by Conrad Lühring at Hammelwarden yard in Germany. Initially named "Anny," the vessel was designed as a cargo ship. Throughout her extensive history, she has undergone several name changes and transformations, reflecting her diverse roles from cargo schooner to cadet training ship to passenger sailing vessel.

Anny von Hamburg complimentary postcard (1980's)

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

Delivery Djibouti to Cyprus

Having been awhile at home I was contacted by my ex Ch Mate to do a short delivery of m/y Kalizma from Djibouti to Turkey and as I thought I have time I agreed on it readily and as I had been on her several years ago, last time back in 2012, I knew the yacht and her flaws. She had since 2012 been refitted and undergone survey to become a commercial yacht under Cook Island and successfully chartered in Indian Ocean the past years.

Planned voyage Djibouti to Turkey, possibly Bodrum

Trident

21.07.2022 - 31.10.2022
Captain
m/y Trident

Trident (courtesy of Boat international magazine)

Singapore pilot exemption

As I joined my most recent command it was also requested that I do the pilot exemption for Singapore in order to save on pilotage fees going in and out of the marina as we are 499GT, in Singapore pilotage is compulsory for any vessel over 300GT. 

At the centre with the course done and dusted

Project s/y Fanny Rhodes to Kalamata and La Seyne-sur-Mer

The Turkish coast again

Project s/y Fanny Port Said to Kastelorizo and Rhodos

 Before arriving Med I had been watching the weather and it looked like we had a small chance of getting weather with us. As we exited the Canal it was obvious it wasn't going to happen, sods law I guess. The wind was blowing between W and NW and if we tried to getting a WSW course it was SW and going the other tack we went NNE. As Egypt was in the way and the weather blowing from NW I thought better take the better way and escape N wards, the wind might change (fat chance!). So we tacked and were effectively heading for Cyprus. The only comfort was that we were heading for EU at least. As we progressed further N we were able to come to a heading of NNW and avoided hitting Cyprus but then we had the mainland of Turkey ahead of us. 

Sunset

Project s/y Fanny Sawakin to Suez and Port Said

As we got going from Sawakin on the 5th of June we had pretty good weather but the wind was increasing again from NW and that's where we were heading. Come evening the wind was already up, we could not sail against it so we motored. Next day we had massive rollers coming at us and winds up to 20-25kts, we were making hardly 2kts headway on engines. There was nowhere to hide and no shelter to sail in so we were totally exposed. We tried the motoring way for a day and saw it is not getting us nowhere so only one option remained, to sail.

Sudanese lighthouse

Project s/y Fanny Djibouti to Sawakin

N Djibouti, dunes in the sea, some of them Islands

As we were setting off I outlined the passage to hug the Djiboutian and Eritrean coast as the lesser evil having not heard of any incidents on the W coast of the Red Sea. I also wanted the protection of the archipelago off the Eritrean coast as the relentless NW that had been badgering us for most part of the Indian Ocean crossing I was sure would be ever present in the Red Sea too. We sailed in good weather and when we passed Bab-el-Mandeb we only met a few Djiboutian fishermen who paid us no attention, I assume they had enough sense to bring water with them before they set out. Even the wind was with us for awhile and we were surfing along a good 5-6kts. Towards the sunset the wind died and we motored once again. During the afternoon I had been in touch with the Agent in Suez who informed that there is no diesel available for small craft and he recommended to to up fuel in Sawakina, Sudan (sometimes written Sawakin or Suakin). As we had intended to go to Suez directly this put us on further delay but hey-ho, we would need the fuel so we decided to pitstop in Sudan. After all it was along the way. I got a contact for a local chap in Sawakina and I sent my documents in advance and told him my ETA and on we went. 

Project s/y Fanny Maldives to Djibouti

As we left Maldives we soon got some wind we could finally use. Although direction was wrong we just had to in order to save fuel, so we headed on a SW'ly course and during following days sometimes with engines on, or engines off, depending how hard it blew. At best we did 8kts on average on a stretch of 6hrs. 

Sunrise

Project s/y Fanny Malaysia to Maldives

Having arrived Lumut safely Owner and us had some errands to tend to in Kuala Lumpur so we got a car loaned and drove up there. Turned out my errand was not needed so I got a few days off and a visit to KL. Impressive city but impossible to find a taxi unless you were booking via a dedicated app, so we rather ate from eateries close by the airbnb than taking tax to some other venue. We actually found a very nice Mexican restaurant. After 3 nights we headed back to Lumut and left Owner to tend to his own business. 

KL skyline

Project s/y Fanny - Thailand to Malaysia

 After having done the rounds in Phuket I one evening met a Malaysian chap that had been refurbishing a 10yr old second hand 45' Lagoon catamaran for the purpose of world wide traveling. 

P fwd guest cabin

Project s/y Fanny in Thailand

​In January​​ having arrived with Boadicea to Thailand I was ashore one evening having a few refreshments and was standing on the street near the marina at a local watering hole. 

It literally was a hole in the wall,  a small bar where the waitress handed out drinks and customers stood on the street. 

The extended stern

Boadicea

19.11.2021 - 25.01.2022
28.08.2021 - 18.10.2021
Captain
m/y Boadicea

Boadicea in Nice

Happy New year 2022

On 25th Dec we received onboard a couple new crew members we made haste and departed Maldives as instructed late in the evening. The wind and seas was against us all the way and it all seemed to be monsoon wind. At least the Malay peninsula gave us a bit of lee from the bad weather that was raging in Gulf of Thailand and South China sea. As per my charts the seasonal current was also against us so we barely made 9 kts at times. Anyway, our ETA held for the 1st of January albeit several hours later than estimated.

Indian ocean