Tore Holm 53 ft Bermudan Cutter 1937/1987

Swedish yacht design maestro Tore Holm was at peak career when he designed, and his family's boatyard built, this beautiful, striking, seaworthy and sea kindly, fast classic yacht. Holm's mind was very much on American rules at this time. The 'Bermuda' or CCA Rule was then in force for Scandinavian offshore races, and HAVSÖRNEN ('Sea Eagle') was conceived to win the first Round Gotland Race; which she did. Meanwhile, Holm was also working on the design of a future Swedish J-Class America's Cup challenger that would eventually not be built until 2017 - as SVEA. Well maintained throughout her life by all her owners, HAVSÖRNEN has been Mediterranean based for the past 30 years and excelled on the regatta circuit there as well as proving a very capable and elegant cruising yacht. Her seaworthy hull provides good headroom below, and the interior finish is a delight.

Winner in class
- Ajaccio
- Antibes x 2
- Bailli de Suffren
- Marseille x 2
- Porquerolles
- Porto Rotondo
- Saint-Tropez

2023
- Mast unstepped, wooded; re-varnished
- Complete rigging inspection and repairs as needed
2022
- New windlass motor
- Deck re-caulked
2021
- New Dolphin battery charger
2016-2017
- Major refit incl:
- deck re-caulked
- new butterfly hatches to original
- all new winches
- engine removed for rebuild
2011
- Refit
2000-2001
- Refit and all new spars
1987
- Restoration

HAVSÖRNEN’s story, it is said, begins during a 1936 afternoon sail aboard a Johan Anker-designed International Rule 10-Metre in the Swedish skærgårde, the myriad of small rocky islands among sounds that make sailing there so entrancing. There was a nice breeze and, as is such a vessel’s want, she was well heeled with the lee rail just awash. The 10-Metre’s afterguard were Swedish yachting 'royalty' and her owner, paper industrialist Holger Nilsson. They apparently began dreaming of a yacht with more stability but no less power. Handily, yacht designer and expert helmsman Tore Holm was one of that afterguard along with another fine helmsman, Sven Salén, the inventor of the Genoa foresail. Holm was tasked by Nilsson with designing and building a more comfortable yacht. The result we now know as HAVSÖRNEN was launched as CITONA and Salén raced her in the following season’s (1937) Round Gotland race, and won, of course. This was the first 'Gotland Runt'.

That's the story... The reality is surely that they knew exactly what they were doing and she was specifically conceived to win Round Gotland; after all, these were people who left little to chance.

The rating rule then increasingly being used for Baltic long distance races, and originally in 1928 for the Cruising Club of America’s Bermuda Race, the ‘Bermuda Rule’, encouraged wholesome, beamy, hard-bilged offshore racer cruisers through the 1930’s to 1960s; latterly known as the CCA Rule - and Holm worked it to the maximum. HAVSÖRNEN is such a strikingly beautiful yacht to most eyes nowadays, so it may be surprising to learn that her debut engendered much comment about her looks, so noticeably different were they to the more traditional and ubiquitous low-freeboard Skerry Cruisers and International Rule metric class boats so well known in Swedish waters.

The name HAVSÖRNEN (Sea Eagle) was originally used only when helmed by Sven Salén in the 1937 Round Gotland race, after which it reverted to CITONA. Her full ownership and naming history follows:

AS CITONA
1937-1940 - Holger A.E. Nilsson
1940-1943 - Sten E. Holgersson

As MIRA II
1943-1951 - K.E. Hedborg

As SIESTA
1951-1968 - Nils Nessim (Matt Nessim)

As PHIESTA
1970-1974 - Anders "Aje" G Philipson
1974-1982 - Lövstedt family

As HAVSÖRNEN
1982-1999 - Peter & Tony Carlén, Sweden
1999-2016 - Charles Langereis, Holland
2016 - 2021 Philippe Fabre, France
2021 - Present ownership

Any yacht over 70 years old has had its tough moments, and at times HAVSÖRNEN hasn't had to seek them, but in each case she's come back stronger: from a serious fire in Denmark during the mid 1980s, and from a dismasting after a spars collision at the 2001 America's Cup Jubilee Regatta. Her current, beautiful 2001 Pasqui mast and boom are the result.

In more recent refits, HAVSÖRNEN's recent and current owners have invested much thought and funds in her authenticity and future well being, and raced and day sailed in the Bay of Saint-Tropez. We think Messrs Nilsson, Holm and Salén would heartily approve.

©2025 Iain McAllister/ Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd

- Carvel mahogany on oak and galvanised steel frames
- Two oak timbers between each set of steel frames
- Russian pine deck 30 mm
- Mahogany superstructures

GENERAL
- Russian pine deck
- Varnished mahogany king planks, covering boards, toe & capping rail
- Mahogany superstructures
- Bronze sail handling hardware
- 12 x Harken Classic Collection winches incl. 1 x electric (2017)

FROM AFT

AFT DECK
- Mooring fairleads port and starboard at taffrail
- Pasarelle socket at taffrail
- Ensign staff socket
- Backstay chainplate
- Mahogany dorade box ventilator
- Mainsheet purchase leathered wood blocks and padeyes
- Spinnaker sheet block padeyes
- Running backstay purchases and padeyes
- Rudderhead and wood tiller
- Teak and bronze mooring fairleads port and starboard
- Scandinavian style double leaf lazarette hatch
- 220 V AC Shore power socket inside hatch

COCKPIT
- Scandinavian style deep cockpit
- Coaming with moulded capping
- Pine laid sole
- Raised helm section aft
- Athwartships main sheet winch platform; custom Harken 60 ST winch
- Forward section with slatted curved benches port & starboard
- Sheet/ runner winches port & starboard outboard
- B&G repeaters
- Double door to companionway
Custom Harken ST Winches Paired Port & Starboard
- Genoa/ Spinnaker sheet 2 x #70, 3-speed
- Backup 2 x #60
- Runners 2 x #50

COMPANIONWAY HOUSE
- Sliding hatch
- Genoa sheeting tracks and cars outboard

MID DECK
- Saloon butterfly skylight hatch
- Mahogany dorade box ventilator forward
- Lean-to deck lockers port and starboard
- 2 x Deck winches

MAST POSITION

FOREDECK
- Horse for self-tacking staysail sheet
- 2 x Small butterfly skylights; mahogany dorade box ventilator forward:
- to starboard over forward starboard cabin
- to port over galley/ passage forward
- Raised forehatch with 2 x ports
- Muir vertical low-profile electric windlass 1200 W, 24 V
- Bronze and teak mooring cleats port & starboard
- Associated anti chafe strips on capping rail
- Inner forestay chainplate
- Outer forestay chainplate

GROUND TACKLE
- Stainless steel anchor (2023)
- Removable stainless steel launcher/ roller (2023)
- 60 m Galvanised anchor chain

- Mahogany and white painted finish
- All interior revarnished 2017
- Slatted hull ceilings
- Accommodation for 7 in 3 cabins
- Deckhead lights
- Reading lights
- Down 6 x steps from companionway over engine box

AFT
- Quarter berths port and starboard
- Both with navigator's type tables and slatted benches
- Drawers and lockers port & starboard
- Chart reading light to port
- Electrical and electronics displays/ equipment port & starboard

SALOON
- Settee berths port & starboard
- Stowage under
- Shelves/ lockers/ bookshelves outboard
- Sideboards forward port & starboard

SINGLE CABIN FORWARD TO STARBOARD OF MAST
- Sea berth
- Drawers stowage under
- Lockers
- Hanging locker
- Butterfly skylight in deckhead

PASSAGE FORWARD TO PORT OF MAST
- Galley
- Techimpex gimballed hob and oven
- Double stainless steel sink
- Mixer tap
- Lockers under/ outboard/ forward
- Fridge
- Butterfly skylight in deckhead

WC/ SHOWER COMPARTMENT TO STARBOARD
- Jabsco Twist 'n' Lock manual toilet
- Basin with mahogany trim
- Pull out shower head mixer as basin tap
- Raw teak grating sole
- Lockers
- Bulkhead light

FOREPEAK
- Sea berths port & starboard (currently only for stowage)
- Stowage under
- Folding steps to forehatch in deckhead
- Chain locker forward

RIG
- Spruce mast 70 ft 2 in / 21.40 m to original drawings Pasqui (2001)
Custom Harken Self-Tailing Winches on Mast:
- #46 to port: topping lift
- #46 to starboard: genoa halyard
- #40 to starboard: staysail halyard
Custom Harken Self-Tailing Winches at deck:
- Unipower 900 (electric) to starboard: main halyard
- #50 to port: spinnaker halyard
- Spruce boom and spinnaker pole Pasqui (2000/ 2001)
- Stainless steel standing rigging (2017)
- Running rigging all new in 2017
- All blocks new and leather covered in 2017

SAILS
By Quantum (2017)
- Main
- Light genoa
- Medium genoa
- Yankee
- Staysail
- Spinnaker

CANVASWORK
- Mainsail boom cover

MECHANICAL
- Yanmar 4JH3 75 hp diesel (off boat overhaul 2017)
- Hours since 2017: circa 35
- Serviced annually
- Max Prop 3-blades in aperture
- All bronze through-hulls replaced 2017

ELECTRICAL
- All electric system renewed 2017
- Primarily a 24 V DC vessel with a 220 V AC Ring
- 220 V AC Control/ breaker panel above chart table to starboard
- Dolphin Pro 24.60 battery charger, in forepeak, port. Protection for:
- surge, short circuit, excess output, battery polarity reversal,
- excess temp, AC over/ under Voltage
- Dolphin Pro batteries 12 V 105 Ah, in forepeak: 2 x port; 2 x starboard
- 2 x 24 V DC Control/ breaker panels above chart table to port

TANKAGE
Fuel
- 140 litres / 37 US gallons fuel
Water
- 150 litres / 40 US gallons fresh water
- Pressure water system
- Hot water system

- 2 x B&G Hydra 5000 repeaters in the cockpit (2017)
- B&G Autopilot with discretely below deck push strut (2017)
- Auto pilot screen next to the helm (2017)
- Simrad chart plotter inside (2017)
- Ship's clock

- 6 x Lifejackets
- 2 x Liferings
- 3 x Fire extinguishers
- 3 x Emergency flares
- 2 x Automatic bilge pumps

- Main boom crutch
- Fenders
- Mooring warps
- Wheel steering system
- (Boat was returned to the original tiller configuration in 2017)
- (But capable of being reconfigured again)
- Saloon table (in store)