CLASSIC BOAT AUGUST 2016 107CRAFTSMANSHIP
FLENSBURG: The shipyard Robbe & Berking Classics was founded by silversmith Oliver
Berking in the summer of 2008, following a restoration and complete rebuild of the 12-M
yacht Sphinx. Located in the harbour of Flensburg, northern Germany, Robbe & Berking
specialises in the restoration of classic motor and sailing yachts, as well as building replicas of
historic yachts that have been lost. The yard has already saved several famous racing yachts of
the meter classes, which have been completely restored or newly built.
Kaya mahogany, bought as a whole log from Kenya, left over from
Siesta’s hull. The yard tries to use a single log to plank a boat and these
planks are saved for future repairs. The boat in the background is the
2011-built 30ft (9.1m) long Commuter.Apprentice Björn works on the bottom paint of Thea, a Danish-flagged
12-M drawn by Johan Anker and dating from 1918. She returns to the
yard every winter to receive the TLC such a boat needs. He is grinding
off old antifoul, hence the respirator.Anitra, the 1928 12-M yacht built by Abeking & Rasmussen, and
restored by Josef Martin about seven years ago, spent her last
winter at Robbe & Berking.The hydraulic gear is used to transport boats and to lift all heavy items, a
very handy tool for a boatyard of this size. The picture shows how well they
have been used over the years.