SPIRIT OF TRADITION OVER 40FT
SVEA
Svea’s win is as sure a sign as ever that the allure of the J-Class never dies – it’s the
stuf of dreams for so many, young and old. The story of her slow journey from Tore
Holm’s drawing board in 1937 to her build in aluminium and launch last year is
enough to send shivers up your spine. She was never built back in the day, and the
only reminder of her existence was the original plans, packed in a suitcase in the
cellar of a residential house, unearthed by John Lammerts van Bueren. Sailing her in
25 knots was, as we discovered last year, pretty electrifying. She’s part of a bigger
picture too, which is the re-emergence of the class in general, with a slow but
steady stream of new builds emerging from Dutch boatyards. With a price tag of
£10 million or more for each boat, not to mention the other costs involved, racing a
J is among the most expensive sports on earth. As a phenomenon, it’s unmatched.
Designed by Tore Holm (1937), re-designed by Hoek Design, built by Bloemsma
Aluminiumbouw and Vitters, LOD 143ft (43.6m), rig bermudan sloop
‘
Svea is neither
a restoration nor
a replica, but
a dream that
spent 80 years
mothballed and is
today sailing for
the first time’
CLASSIC BOATCARLO BORLENGHI, C/O TEAM SVEA