10 CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2016SIESTA 12-M
The hull has 14 layers of 2-component Epifanes
varnish as a base layer to saturate it, which is then sealed
with three layers of Awlgrip. The inside of the hull is
clear coated with two layers of 2-component and one
topcoat of single component varnish. Besides being
extraordinarily beautiful, it also ensures that rot or any
form of degradation is immediately visible. “The steel
and wooden frames are glued to the bare wood with a
flexible epoxy,” says Stich, “so there will never be
moisture there. We measured the moisture content of the
wood before launch and after a season in the water and
it hadn’t changed. We don’t expect this hull to ever show
signs of cracking and she should really last for ever.”LAUNCHING
Launching the boat was an emotional day for all
involved. The yacht is called Siesta as the owner’s parents
once owned a 10-M with that name. He actively sails
6-Ms and cruises a Moody 64. And he is also a collector,
owning six 6-Ms! Asked for his feelings as the keel
touched the water, he gathered himself for a moment and
said: “Tears in my eyes, she is so beautiful.”
Stich reflected afterwards: “During her build, you
only manage to look at her as a job, something under
construction. The launch was the first time I took a step
backwards and realised how beautiful she is. For the first
time I became a bit emotional. I was truly amazed! Her
design is so perfect. She has that typical Anker shape;
that fast body with slightly raised bow and the way she
gets wider towards the stern with those sharp edges. Very
reminiscent of a Dragon [another Anker design].”UNDER SAIL
At the time of writing, Siesta needed a new mast before
she could compete in 12-M class events. The existingSIESTA
LOA 71ft (21.65m)
LWL 53ft 10in (16.4m)
BEAM 11ft 10in (3.6m)
DRAUGHT 8ft 8in (2.64m)
SAIL AREA 1,872sq ft (174m^2 )
DESIGNER Johan Anker 1939
BUILT Robbe & Berking Classics 2015Above: Siesta
sees the light of
day, 77 years
after her designmast is an experiment by the owner (who is also an
engineer and a pilot), who wanted to test the idea of
putting a very simple and light, scaled-up 6-M mast,
with one spreader, on a 12-M. Stich says: “It was never
really his intention to have her measured as a 12-M. He
basically wanted a 22m-long, beautiful daysailer that just
happened to have the hull of a 12-M. Unluckily it didn’t
work out, as the mast is too soft and lacks support. We
are looking at either building a wooden mast, or buying
a stronger aluminium one to the 12-M Rule.”
Launched late last year, Siesta did some short trips
and one regatta, crewed by Robbe & Berking hands,
where she paced the notably quick 12-M Evaine. Stich
said: “I had the feeling that she is fast even though we
were sailing carefully due to the mast. You can feel how
stiff the hull is, especially in the puffs. She accelerated
quite easily. There are some funny aspects to this design.
For instance the ballast keel is wide at the front. It is like
pushing a Volkswagen bus through the water at 8 knots,
but strangely this did not seem to hinder her speed!”BUILDING ANOTHER 12?
Robbe & Berking Classics was born out of a project
that started in 2005 when three friends from
Flensburg, Oliver Berking, Gorm Gondensen and
Jochen Frank, bought the wreck of the 12-M Sphinx.
They put together a team of craftsmen and had her
restored in a tent under the leadership of boatbuilder
Kai Wohlenberg. Oliver Berking also owns the Robbe
& Berking luxury silverware company in Flensburg
and has sponsored and organised classic boat events
since 1995. In recent years the yard that grew from the
Sphinx project has grown into a well-regarded business
where some exceptional projects have been completed.
There are now 12 permanent employees and Stich
is confident that the quality of the Siesta build will
lead to further projects.
Siesta took four years and 24,000 hours to build, but
she wasn’t constantly worked on. The same project
could be completed in less than two years for around
€1.8 million, including a beautiful, classic interior. The
yard is in discussion with a number of 12-M owners
about restorations and also another possible new build,
so the future of R&B Classics seems secure. Meanwhile,
the yard has realised a piece of yachting history and a
yacht of extraordinary elegance to boot.INA STEINHUSEN