First yacht on show at “Ambiente“

This is a very special premiere: the first yacht ever to be exhibited on the “Ambiente”-Show will be the Robbe & Berking Commuter Yacht. “Ambiente” is the world’s largest fair for consumer goods (10th to 14th February, Frankfurt Fair) and the silver manufacturer Robbe & Berking is a long-standing, major exhibitor there. But the fact that now also the yacht manufacturer Robbe & Berking will present itself with a real yacht is something entirely new even for this world-class fair. “Our elegant commuter yacht, in the style of the 1930s, is a natural fit for this show”, says Oliver Berking, the proprietor of Robbe & Berking. “After all, this very special motorboat is a showpiece of classic design and can be used also, but not only for private purposes.” Other uses would be, for instance, as taxi-boat or shuttle for island based hotels, resorts or, indeed, private estates by the water. In any case, each boat is unique, as they are all hand built of only the finest wood in the yacht manufactory in Flensburg.

Find the silver manufactory in hall 4.1 stand C05
Find the yacht manufactury in hall 4.1 stand B51

Distinguished with the segeln-Award

During the boat show boot 2012 in Düsseldorf, Oliver Berking was awarded with the accolade of the “newcomer of the year” – for the Yacht Manufacture Robbe & Berking. “I am honoured to be distinguished as a newcomer”, Berking said with a smile. “But something that possibly really is new is the fact that a true wooden boat yard like ours is actively building wonderful wooden boats by hand. That is something that we have not seen for a long time!” For example the first 12-metre since more than 50 years that is built in wood >link<. This really is new! So many thanks to the editor and publisher of segeln magazine for this award.

The Yacht Manufactury Robbe & Berking will exhibit at the
„BOOT 2012“ in Düsseldorf in Hall 6, stand 6C42.

Currently building a new but classic 12mR, the visitors of the „BOOT“ can view at the same time the yard´s own built 30’ Robbe & Berking Commuter as well as the 6-Metre yacht APACHE.
Our Baum & König offerings, films and books from the great times of yachting add to the flavour of the stand, turning it into a refreshing change in the midst of the many series production yachts on show.

Appeal ! Don’t throw it away!!

GOOSE number two has arrived!

Robbe & Berking Classics on the „hanseboot“

For the first time ever we will exhibit at the forthcoming “Hanseboot” – 52nd International Boatshow Hamburg (29.10. to 6.11., open every day from 1000 to 1800 hours; Wednesday to 2000 hours), and then already two yachts: The 9-metre Commuter and the 6-metre “Apache”. Both are of course newly built from classic plans, by hand by our master boatbuilders from the finest wood only. More information on both yachts can be found here on this website. Why don’t you visit us on Stand C450 in Hall B2 (basement) and use this chance to take a leisurely and close look at both yachts. We look forward to welcoming you!

Variations of a theme

The new Commuter Yacht by Robbe & Berking Classics, which is built in a small and highly individualised production run, has by now had many hours of test runs on the water. In the waters off Helsinki and Göteborg as well as on the Flensburg Fjord, this elegant motorboat has braved even the most extreme weather conditions. “The slim and narrow hull cuts through the waves, even short and steep seas, like butter”, said one of the guests on board. “This boat runs like a very fast train, as if on rails.” As a spectator boat at the 6-metre World Championships in Helsinki, the 9.12 metre (30 feet) boat managed 27 knots against wind and waves, even with ten passengers on board and without the slamming and bouncing that is so often characteristic of other motorboat rides.


The boat can be tailored for many different uses. This is made possible by the multitude of options available. With a non-slip teak deck, bow thruster and large luggage locker, the boat will for example be adapted for use as a taxi boat for hotels and restaurants by the water. Other clients may want to use it as a superyacht tender or simply as a fast picnic boat. All this is possible as the boat is, despite having been designed for a small production run, still being built by hand and from wood. This method of construction enables a very high degree of customisation, only limited by the hull and engines.

Construction number one can be seen and tested at the yard in Flensburg. It will also be on display at some of the autumn boat shows, for example at the forthcoming Hanseboot
(hall B2) Hamburg Boat Show.

Robbe & Berking Classics Six Metre “Siesta” takes fourth place at the World Cup 2011

Good sailing, tough weather, challenging competition – this was the Six Metre World Cup 2011 in Helsinki. Finland has a sizeable fleet of racing Sixes and so most of the competing yachts came from home waters, but many foreign teams also made their way to the eastern Baltic Sea in August. The fleet in the end came to 45 classics and 10 modern Sixes.



Robbe & Berking Classics made a strong appearance at the World Cup. One of the most noted boats was our newly built, classic Six “Siesta” DEN 66. She not only proved to be remarkably fast but, as all observers noted, also extremely pretty. The Olin Stephens Design of 1939, then named “Nirvana” was originally built at Abeking & Rasmussen and lost in a fire in 1959. “Siesta” by Robbe & Berking Classics was sailed extremely well by her Danish owner and crew, lying in second place overall until the last beat of the last race when, due to bad luck in the very changeable winds, she fell back to fourth overall. Despite this, her obviously pleased owner was heard to comment: “This boat is a rocket!”

But it was not only “Siesta”: With the 1939 Bjarne Aas design “Apache” a second newly built classic Six by Robbe & Berking was at the start, sailing here under the name “Nirvana” and finishing 14th out of 45.

So with two interesting boats built by his yard at the start, Oliver Berking followed the racing in style, from the Robbe & Berking fast commuter yacht that also attracted her share of attention and admiration.



The World Cup started furiously, in strong winds, which towards the end of the first race unfortunately exceeded the 25-knot limit. The race had to be abandoned at the last rounding but the conditions had by then already taken their toll, with some serious breakages including a dismasting, broken boom, damaged rig and a punctured hull. The latter led to some confusion when a crew reported ”a hole in the body”. This luckily turned out to be a hole in the boat’s body instead of a human one.

Two races were sailed on the second day in good weather conditions in fresh winds but with a strong current. The then reigning World Champion, Hugo Stenbeck from Sweden with “Sophie II”, won the first race for the modern class but only finished third overall at the end of the series which was won by Yann Marilley from France in “Junior”. In the classics, the Finnish boats were quite strong and it was one local, “Toy”, which led the first race even before the title defenders, “Gallant” from Canada. The Finnish Champions on “Sara af Hangö” started the series with a fifth place but steadily improved their results to take the overall win in the end.

After a breezy start into the World Cup, the next three races were sailed in light winds on the third day, when “Sara af Hangö” and “Siesta” fought it out for first and second places. After a long day on the water, the fourth day again saw light wind that only filled in and built up after lunch time when two good races could again be sailed.

SEB SIX METRE WORLD CUP final results

Moderns:
1. Junior FRA 177 Yann Marilley
2. May Be SWE 115 Patric Fredell
3. Sophie II SWE132 Hugo Stenbeck

Classics:
1. Sara af Hangö FIN 49 Henrik Tenström
2. Gallant KC 10 Eric Jespersen
3. Llanoria US 83 Erik Bentzen
4. Siesta DEN 66 Erik Tinglef Larsen
5. Fridolin FIN 12 Henrik Lundberg

This was the Rolex Baltic Week 2011 with the Robbe & Berking World Championships of the 8-m-R and 12-m-R yachts and the Robbe & Berking Sterling Cup of the 6-m-R yachts

The new World Champions of the metre classes are „Hollandia“ (8mR) and „Vanity V“ (12mR). The dutchman Ruud van Hilst celebrated the win of the Rolex Baltic Week in Glücksburg at the Flensburger Segel-Club. Owner Patrick Howaldt from Kopenhagen steered his 12-metre to victory already in the race before last, beating Wilfried Beek from Hamburg and his 12-metre „Trivia“ who came second. Finally, last year’s winner Andreas Krause from Kiel defended the Robbe & Berking 6mR Sterling Cup with his „Sleipnir II“. The coveted Sira-Cup fort he 8-metres designed before 1960 was won by „Raven“ with Richard Self and Mark Decelles from Canada, clearly before His Majesty King Harald V. of Norway with his „Sira“, whose father Olav V. donated the prize in 1983.



There was cheering and celebrating on board: Already with the finish of the race before last did „Vanity V“ win the series. A second place behind „Sphinx“ of Gorm Gondesen and Jochen Frank from Flensburg was enough to beat „Trivia“, who came fourth in this race, to the Championship.

Very tight racing in sunshine and rain with severe squalls and royalty from Norway – these were the hallmarks of a truly extraordinary Rolex Baltic Week 2011, in which more than 40 metre yachts took part. And the last day of sailing was a racing finale that could not have been better staged. In steady northwesterly winds of 4 to 5 Beaufort the leading teams in all three classes showed a perfect performance.

Tim van Rootselaar steered „Hollandia“ and controlled his formidable opponent, „Lafayette“ of the British owner Murdoch McKillop right from the start and so dominated the finale in a convincing manner. America’s Cup professional John Cutler called the tactics on „Hollandia“. Free to choose all their options, the team dictated the race and rounded the first mark in the lead. Again, at the leeward gate, Cutler was able to choose his side for the second beat. Then „Lafayette“ ruined a spinnaker set as the genoa sheet got hooked on the spinnaker-boom and so, instead of fighting for the lead, had to sail against the classic eights.

The Neptune Trophy was also hard fought for right to the end, and here it was the president of the International Eight Metre Association IEMA, Fred Meyer from Geneva, who triumphed with his „Catina VI“ only just before „Anne Sophie“, the 1938 boat of Hanns-Georg Klein from Munich.

And even though he could not win his “own” Sira-Cup, King Harald V. was quite satisfied in the end. “This was a fantastic series. Our performance was right. Raven was not to be beaten this time. That boat is fast and her crew sailed her extremely well.”

With the Six-metres, defending champion „Sleipnir II“ was the dominant boat from the beginning. The crew with owner Andreas Krause and helmsman Christoph Nielsen (Berlin) secured the Robbe & Berking 6mR Sterling Cup already after three wins and a second place and could afford to skip the last race. “Everything was perfect”, Krause already said even as the others were still fighting for the remaining places.

Another huge success was the land program. The party highlight of the event was the Robbe & Berking Classics Night in the boatyard. Hundreds of happy guests partied in the big boatshed and outside, where many had a good look at “Gretel”. This legendary 12-metre had been transported here from Italy in order to receive a complete restoration. So apart from the action on the race course, the new projects of Robbe & Berking Classics and above all “Gretel” herself was topic enough for many discussions.

Pictures of the land program

The results (PDF-Files)

12mR - Overall - Race 1-8 - Final Results - World Championship

12mR - Classes - Race 1-8 - Final Results - World Championship

8mR - Overall - Races 1-9 - Final Results - World Championship

8mR - Classes - Races 1-9 - Final Results - World Championship

8mR - Sira Class - Races 1-9 - Final Results - World Championship

6mR - Overall - Races 1-5 - Final Results - Sterling Cup

6mR - Classes - Races 1-5 - Final Results - Sterling Cup

First Orders for the Robbe & Berking Commuter Yacht

The first Robbe & Berking Commmuter was launched smartly in time for the 12 and 8-metre World Championships in Flensburg. This is the first production boat of the yard
Robbe & Berking Classics, which specialises in restorations and the building of replica racing yachts. The new Commuter Yacht is 9.12 metres long, has a beam of 2 metres and can touch 30 knots at full speed. This boat is truly versatile and can be used as a stylish tender for superyachts or cruise liners, as a taxiboat or shuttle or simply but maybe best enjoyed as the ultimate daycruiser for the family. Please call us to arrange your personal sea trial on

+49 (0) 461 31 80 30 60

or contact us at

classics@robbeberking.de

Robbe & Berking Classics
is the new owner of the classic yacht broker Baum & König/Hamburg

We are happy to welcome our new sister Baum & König, the broker no.1 for classic yachts only. Since 27 years Baum & König is specialized in classic motor and sailing yachts. After having changed his professional focus, the founder, long-term shareholder and director Peter König was searching for an acquirer of his company. “Since 1874, Robbe & Berking silver products have been recognised amongst experts throughout the world as unsurpassed works of silversmithing art. This reputation is equivalent for the yachts of the same named shipyard - only three years after the shipyards foundation. “ knows Peter König. “I am very satisfied of having found a successor with the same passion and heart for timeless elegant lines and unsurpassed manufactured finish in the yachting business.”

The focus of Robbe & Berking Classics is the maintenance and restoration of classic yachts as well as the construction of new yachts – solely build out of wood and with classic elegant lines. Oliver Berking: “Our clients are not mainly oriented to seemingly important outfittings inside the yacht, but paying attention to the yacht´s beauty and it´s sailing performance. We cannot stop the trend towards voluminous GRP ships, but every classic yacht compensates the viewer for a lot that has to be seen nowadays in the harbor. Baum & König will continue its tradition of being a guarantor therefore while offering only the finest classic yachts to its clients.”

Offered yachts can be seen under www.classic-yachts.de. The refit of the homepage will be finished in may. From today on you can reach Baum & König under the following address:

Am Industriehafen 5
24937 Flensburg
Germany

Phone:+49 (0) 40 36 67 02
baum+koenig@classic-yachts.de

105 YEARS INTERNATIONAL RULE

Metre class yachts being built according to the “International Rule” affected sailing in the past 100 years like no other boat class. On the initiative of Robbe & Berking the film-maker Tom Nitsch dedicated a film to the class’ 100th birthday, portraying it like no other. Not only the 12mR yachts, being sailed for the America’s Cup for 30 years, but all representatives of the class – from the small 4mR yacht to the 40m long 25mR yachts. A real eye candy for all friends of classical yachts.

ROLEX BALTIC WEEK 2011

The Flensburg fjord will again be the mecca for all friends of Metre yachts worldwide in 2011.It will then be 105 years ago that the International Rule and therewith the Metre yachts were born.The sailing world will celebrate this jubilee with the “ Robbe & Berking 12 Metre World Championship”,the “ Robbe & Berking 8 Metre World Championship” and the races for the “ Robbe & Berking 6 Metre Sterling Cup”.The hosting patners Flensburger Segel Club, Kieler Yacht Club, Rolex and Robbe & Berking expect the biggest fleet of these beautiful yachts that ever sailed against each other on the Baltic.

The last ever built 12 m2 skerry cruiser:Ramona

Slim, elegant and fast are the yachts built under the skerry cruiser rules, whose extreme design fascinates sailors allover the world since 1908. Nine different sizes exist , from the 15m2 up to the 150m2 skerry cruiser. The last ever built 15m2 skerry cruiser was designed by the Swedish skerry cruiser expert E.Nilsson and was launched in 1947. She is 10,48m long and 1,80m wide. Robbe & Berking saved the yacht from final break up and is now able to let her arise again in her pristine beauty.

Gala on Sphinx

For the staging of the most beautiful outfits of the coming autumn fashion the magazine Gala has chosen a very special place: the 12mR yacht “Sphinx” restored by Robbe & Berking

434 can start

This sipo mahogany trunk will become Johan Anker's last 12mR yacht.

Audi presents its new A8
in the yacht yard of Robbe & Berking


The Audi Zentrum Flensburg will be unveiling its new flagship, the Audi A8, before invited guests in the halls of the yacht yard of Robbe & Berking Classics on 26th March 2010. The necessary special permission was granted already several months ago by the shipyard’s staff, considering that, so far, only those objects which were made of wood were allowed to enter the halls. Wood can be found at most in the interior of the car where finest materials contribute to its manufacture character. The body, however, is created in the Audi Space Frame building technique. The sportiest limousine in the luxury segment will again set standards with progressive technology. What is also fascinating about the powerful package is its consumption of only 7.6 – 9.5 l/100 km combined.

To whom even this is too much can buy one of the elegant classic sailing yachts by Robbe & Berking. Consumption and emission = 0.

Rolex invites to Robbe & Berking Sterling Cup


The seventh annual Rolex Baltic Week will be sailed on the Inner and Outer Fjord of Kiel from 30 June to 4 July 2010. The event invites traditional Metre class yachts to compete for the Robbe & Berking mR Sterling Cup. The Kieler Yacht-Club will host the regatta, featuring races in the 6mR, 8mR and 12mR classes. The year after, the event will be held by the Flensburger Segel-Club close to the Danish border. Peter Streit, CEO of Rolex Germany and Oliver Berking, owner of the Silver and Yachts Manufacturer Robbe & Berking agreed upon the new event schedule. Together with the Flensburger Segel-Club Oliver Berking had organized the Robbe & Berking mR Sterling Cup since 1995 and made the German Baltic coast a Mecca for Metre class yachts. And Peter Streit notes: “The Metre classes are an extraordinary beautiful segment of yachting and will form another new and top highlight in the Rolex Baltic Week”.

Robbe & Berking successfully salvages one of the last classic 12 Metre Class yachts


"JENETTA" is one of the latest 12 Metre class yachts built before WWII. Scotsman Alfred Mylne the First designed “JENETTA” under the design number 395 in 1939. At that time Mylne already established a reputation as a designer of winning yachts, and was one of the people behind the most successful yacht handicap rules of all time, namely the International Rule. “JENETTA” was built on behalf of Sir William Burton, President of the Yacht Racing Association, in 1939. The Mylne design was the latest 12 Metre class yacht of Sir William Burton, he owned three other 12 Metre designs before. From the 1950’s “JENETTA” sailed in the waters of Vancouver Island before she was laid-up at Pitt Lake, North of Vancouver. As time passed by the 12 Metre class yacht degenerated and finally sank on Christmas Day 2008. Robbe & Berking Classics salvaged “JENETTA” in November 2009 and is proud to offer this special yacht for sale now. The thorough restoration of "JENETTA" will start off in 2010.