“Johan of Rhu” GBR 65 is a 1939 McGruer design, near sister to “Caprice” GBR 48, and was built for Sir James Howden Hulme in 1939. (The Glasgow family history of the Howdens is widely documented). After having being laid up during WW II, James Howden Hulme reentered “Johan of Rhu” in 6MR racing on the Clyde, where he and Sir Frank Spriggs owner of “Caprice” dominated the scene against a number of other sixes.
In 1947 the pre trials for the 1948 Olympics took place in Torbay. Here again the two rivals from the races on the Clyde were dominant with “Johan of Rhu” gaining the upper hand over “Caprice” and was elected to represent Great Britain in the 1948 Olympics.
Later “Johan of Rhu” participated successfully in numerous races that followed in the British-American Cup Team Races. These took place at Cowes on the Solent, on the Clyde and in Oyster Bay , New York between 1948 and 1954.
Eventually the boat ended up in Canada for a large number of years, where its history became somewhat obscure until it was discovered and purchased near Vancouver in 2011 by the present owner.
The boat was shipped in a container from Canada and arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark in January 2012.
RESTORATION AND REFIT
During the later years in Canada “Johan of Rhu” had deteriorated and was in a state of badly needed refit and restoration. This work was carried out at Skovshoved Boatyard in Copenhagen under supervision of an old experienced traditional boatbuilder. The work was completed in 2018 and is widely documented in photos which are available upon request.
Briefly a large number of frames were either replaced or spliced to existing frames with at the upper part still in good shape. Lower planks were replaced to the extent necessary and a number floors were replaced and made stronger. The keel was dismounted and fitted with new keelbolts. The hull was turned up-side down while the keel was off and was sanded and faired prior to a professional West System Coat treatment comprising the entire hull. After the hull had been re erected the keel was refitted and a new deck laid. The deck consisting of 15 mm Oregon pine with mahogany trim on 9 mm marine plywood. A number of deck beams were being replaced to the extent it was found necessary.
Eventually a great number of hours were spent doing the cosmetic finishing, with the result speaking for itself. The boat has undergone a complete restoration including a new interior and is ready to sail.
EQUIPMENT
Stearn aluminium mast upgraded to latest 6M specifications. Stainless steel rod rigging. 2 main sails (one with only little use). 2 genoas (one with only little use). 1 medium genoa (with only little use). 2 spinnakers used in fair condion. 1 aluminium spinnaker pole. 2 Lewmar whinches and 2 Barient winches. + 2 original under deck winches for hoisting of halyards Steel cradle which fits into a container for shipment
“Jo Ann” will be delivered with a current valid measurement certificate.
Currently located in Sanxenxo, Galicia, Spain.
Contact Olaf Damm – phone +45 28563966 or +34 669233688, Email olafdamm@hotmail.com
Caprice was originally built at for Sir Frank Spriggs manager of Sopwith and Hawker Siddeley emblematic British aviation companies. McGruer yard in his history built about a very long list of outstanding motor and sailing yachts from 6 and 8 m to the launches of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
She was carefully restored by Tino Rawnsley in an eighteen months process to her original conditions and in 1998 Caprice return to the racing circuit.
Brian Pope was her former owner and after him Paul Smith, being bronze medal in the 2007 World Championship and winner of the 2008 European Championship.
From 2009 till 2015 Caprice sailed in Finnish waters and in 2016 she was sold to a Spanish owner, sailing in Sanxenxo, Spain where a relevant 6 m fleet, that includes the last two times World and three times European champion, was created.
Some of the latest racing results of Caprice are a 5th position in the 2021 European Cahmpionship, 2nd in the Spanish 6m Championship 2021 and 2nd in the Spanish 6 m Cup 2021.
Construction
Mahogany planking and oak structure. Burma teak deck cover. Awlgrip paint applied in 2016. Perfect conditions
Sails Inventory
Mains: 2017 North 3DL 2021 North 3Di RAW
Light Genoas: 2017 North 3Di 2019 North 3Di RAW 2021 North 3Di RAW
Light/Med Genoas: 2019 North 3Di RAW UK Sails
Medium Genoas: 2021 North 3Di 781
Med/Heavy Genoas: 2017 North 3Di RAW
Heavy Genoa: 2020 North 3DL 581
Spinnakers: S2 2017 North S1 2019 North S2 2019 North S2 2020 North S2 2021 North + Training Spi
Winches Harken Performa 2019
Mast and rigging Selden tapered mast with rod standing rigging. Spectra/Dyneema running rigging. Spare spreaders set. Rig load dynamometer. Spare battens.
Others Steel cradle for transport with dismountable wheels. Lifting points. 2.5×0.7×1.5 m soft box. Plain fenders with cover and name. Complete cover. Boom mounted cover. Raymarine electronics. Caprice is at a workshop at Vigo.
For further details please contact Inigo Echenique, Phone: +34692127332, email: iechenique@seadrone.es
The wind returned to Sanxenxo for the fourth day of the Xacobeo Six Metre European Championship 2022 and after two frustrating breezeless days the fleet was able to enjoy three fiercely fought races, races three to five in the eight-race series. Conditions were light to moderate and at times shifty, making for a complex day on the water with plenty of opportunity for both big gains and big losses. Across the two divisions there were six different race winners, a few surprise results and even a visit from the local dolphins.
In the Open Division Dieter Schoen’s Momo from the Segelclub St Moritz did an impressive job of consolidating her lead, adding two second places and a sixth to her scorecard. Twelve points behind and jumping up the leader board from fourth to second is defending champion Philippe Durr and Rainer Müller’s Junior of the Club Nautique de Versoix, who got the wrong side of a big first beat shift to finish tenth in race three, but then followed up with a fourth and third. Rounding out the Open Division top three currently is Sanxenxo based Stella, being skippered this week by Juan Deben Tiscar. Stella also got the wrong side of the shift in race three and finished eleventh, but then won race four in style and was sixth in race five, giving her 29 points overall, four points behind Junior.
Ossi Paija’s Astree III of the Nyländska Jakt Clubben had a fantastic day in the Classic Division with two podium finishes – a third in race three and a confident win in race four, followed by a sixth in race five. As a result, this team move up from third to first overall. Just one point behind them lies Louis Heckly’s Dix Août of the Yacht Club de France, while three points adrift in third place is Francisco Botas Ratera sailing Aida for the Real Club Nautico Coruña.
Overnight Classics leader Pedro Campos Calvo-Sotelo aboard Bribon 500 started the day in fine form with a fourth and finished with a win, but he was disqualified from race four for being over the line early under the U Flag penalty system. Despite this Bribon 500 lies fifth overall, ten points adrift of the leader, and will no doubt be looking forward to the completion of race six tomorrow when the single discard will be introduced.
Back ashore a happy Classics Fleet leader Ossi Paija summed up his day saying, “Today it was fantastic to go back sailing and it was pretty stable wind so we had three good races, two good results and one not so good, but we are quite happy.”
Other race winners today were Andy Postle’s Nirvana from the Royal Western Yacht Club which won Classic Division race three, Staffan Lindberg’s Jane Anne of the New York Yacht club which won Open Division race three and Jeremy Thorpe’s Battlecry from the Royal Yacht Squadron which won Open Division race five. Also exciting to see today was a fifth place in Classic race three from the Sanxenxo based, Cesar Elizaga Viana owned Ian, the oldest boat in the regatta which was built in 1929.
With the pressure on to catch up the schedule to secure the championship, which requires a minimum of five races, the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo race committee’s decision to bring the start of racing forward paid off and by 11:30 racing was underway in a building south westerly. Skies were initially overcast with misty low cloud and the wind built to around 12-15 knots, but then the sun began trying to burn off the cloud and when it did the wind started to shift left and drop, but then the cloud would roll back in again and the wind would go right and increased. Figuring out whether the sun was in the ascendance so left would pay or the clouds were winning so right was right was the key to success.
As the final race of the day got underway the sun broke through in earnest and slowly the wind began to decrease again. Fortunately, the race committee was on the case and although the Open Division successfully completed the full two lap windward leeward course, the wise decision was made to finish the Classic Division at the end of the second beat before the wind dropped off any further.
Back ashore the sailors were relieved to have a valid championship and to have enjoyed some of the intense racing for which the Six Metre class is famous. Momo’s owner Dieter Schoen was very happy with his day and spoke about what brought him to the class and his brand-new boat. “I had a 5.5 Metre and before I had a Maxi 72 and for me it was clear I would stay with smaller boats. The 5.5 was a little bit too small for me and so we said we’d go for a Six Metre. So we talked to Vrolijk and Tobias Kohl, who also designed the other race boats we had, and we talked with [Christof] Wilke who built us the 5.5, an excellent boat yard in Switzerland and Tobias is a good boat designer, and Momo came out. We also got support and help from Philippe Durr of Junior about how the boat should look. I’m sailing with Markus [Wieser], Cheese [Dirk De Ridder], Ross [Halcrow] and Victor [Manuel Marino Prieto] now for I would say five or six years and we know each other quite well. The whole team I think is quite a good team and I’m sailing with excellent sailors, they are sailing on a lot of boats and we have a good relationship to each other and that’s the reason why we are sailing together again. It’s a competitive class with a lot of development that you can do on the Six Metre and this I like too.”
At the Race Village the Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo’s legendary hospitality was once again in evidence as the crews kicked back after a great day on the water and enjoyed free live music by Chroma, ‘Lacón con grelos’ (pork shoulder with turnip tops) & drinks.
Up to three races remain to be sailed and the Race Committee has announced that the start time for the final day will be brought forward to 12:00. The forecast looks promising and with a final cut off start time of 16:00 there should certainly be time to run two and possibly all three races if wind conditions permit.
The team at the Real Club Nautico Sanxenxo is forging ahead with their preparations for the postponed 2020 International 6 Metre European Championship which will take place from 10 to 18 September off Sanxenxo, Spain.
A special event website has now been launched which carries all the information you will need to participate. The Notice of Race and sailing programme have been published and entry is now open. The site also carries information for assistance with accommodation, travel, boat logistics, etc, etc. To find out more please visit https://6mreuropeans2021.com/en/home
International 6 Metre Association 