Designed in 1916 by the legendary Norwegian designer Johan Anker (1871-1940), this classic yacht was laid down only one year later in his Anker & Jensen shipyard in Vollen in the Oslo Fjord under the name “BABA”. The aesthetically pleasing long overhangs in the bow and tail area are typical of the award-winning designs of the widely heralded “master of the lines”.
“BABA”, construction number 182, is listed in Anker archives as a 9.5-metre, which never established as a metre class. But her dimensions were not optimized to match the International Rule (for metre classes). So, it appeared as a fast cruiser carrying a Bermuda rig with large sail area in the beginning with two foresails (cutter).
Built for the local businessman D. Steen from Kristiania (from 1924 known as Oslo) the more than one hundred years lasting history saw quite some changes in the ownership. Jeweller Artur David Andersen took over in 1920 and re-named the yacht “Erna Helena”. The baker-family Rolfsen christened it “Gavotte” then, like it was called lately again in Norway, where Peter Ennals acquired the “Samoa” 1989 in very bad condition.
After a doctor from the formerly Finnish Viborg in Karelia (1930) the German air force sailed the boat during the Second World war for leisure. Depending on the usage the interior changed from warm comfort to pure racing mode like today. In 1998 a general refit went on at Walsteds Baadeværft on the Danish island of Thurø near Svendborg. Since then, the yacht continued in really good shape.
The traditional “MeerBlick …classic!” (SeaView classic) takes part in international classic regattas throughout the Mediterranean. In its new home port at the Real Club Náutico de Palma in Mallorca, the mahogany yacht is breathing new life into the classic scene and is often used for leisure sailing with a small crew.
