Yachts

OFF COURSE

DESCRIPTION OF THE YACHT

Off Course was built 1939-40 by Harry Becker for the X-Syndicate in Gothenburg. Becker was more known for his radical yachts in the Swedish Square Meter Class. He was the undisputed champion in designing 22 sqm yachts. Even his Six Metres were known for their slim and slender lines. Becker constructed three Sixes but all of them are acive today. Off Course is a relatively heavy yacht (4,3 tons), she has one of the largest sail areas, and a large J-measure. The difference between the girths is large and the keel is exceptionally narrow.

FIRST YEARS

Originally named Bissen, the yacht was built at a time when the standard in the Six Metre Class in Sweden was high. The first season was not exceptionally successful, so she was sold already the following year to Kjell Grauers in Stockholm. Grauers raced in several competitions during the Second World War. The following owner roofed the yacht and held her as a cruising yacht to 1960?s.

LEGENDS, MYTHS, ANECDOTES

It has been told that one of the reasons that Off Course was not successful during her first years, was that she leaked too much close to the mast and keel. This was due to a construction error and that the yacht was not built according to instructions. In 1970?s the 8th owner, Åke Burman rebuilt the mast step according to instructions from Harry Becker.

One of the legendary "mascots" of the Six Metre fleet in Helsinki was Lauri "Igge" Sederholm. He was an original member of the syndicate buying Off Course to Finland in 1989. To Sederholm the Six Metre was everything in his life and this also led to a tragic accident in 1994. The memory of Lauri Sederholm was held at the Kronbergsfjärdsregatta 1994 and honored by "The Saloon Masters Trophy" donated to Brandö Yacht Club.

REPAIR & RENOVATION HISTORY

Åke Burman gave the yacht a new plywood and cloth deck, but he kept the original roof. The roof was removed 1980 when Anders Hedman rebuilt the deck with plywood below and teak above. He also replaced mahogany planking close to keel with mahogany plywood moduling. The old wooden mast was also replaced with aluminum.

In 1989 Off Course was bought to Finland. The two original members in the syndicate are Kaj "Kaitsu" Karumaa and Pekka Barck, later joined by Erkki "Eki" Karumaa. The aim has been that the yacht should be better each year. Most of the work has been done 1996 and 1999, when the yacht was at the M-Yachts wharf in Lovisa. Mostly lead by the boatbuilders Martin Rosenstedt and Sune Carlsson, Off Course has had:
- the 10 lowest planks on each side of the yacht replaced
- the hull oiled from outside
- a new keelplank, rudderbow and half of the forebow replaced
- 30 wooden frames and 12 steelframes replaced
- a new rudder and a new steel mast step
- a new mast, boom and winch table to the mast
- a new Oregon pine / mahogany deck
- planks replaced when the deck was rebuilt
- lots of sails from Meripurje
BEST RACE RESULTS
World Cup fourth in Hanko 1999
Nordic Championship winner 1984, 1990, 1992 and 1997
Finnish Nationals winner 1994, 1995, and 1998
Swedish 6mR Ranking winner 1987 and 1988
Finnish overall Ranking winner 1992 and 1994
Helsinki Classic Regatta winner 1994 and 1999
Hanko regatta winner 1997
Kronbergsfjärdsregatta winner 1994 and 1995
Mariehamn Regatta winner 1990
Viaporin Tuoppi winner 1995 and 1998
Segelbåtens Dag Regatta (Stockholm) winner 1988

RECENT HISTORY
Since Off Course has been brought to Finland it has been one of the most successful Six Metres. It has always been a dangerous competitor, especially in high winds. In the mid 1990