In the 1930s, a fleet of Baltic square metre racing yachts was built in Germany to be used for sail training, mainly by members of the German armed forces. Sea Scamp, originally named Zeisig (which means Siskin), was one of the five 50 square metres built for the Luftwaffe in 1936 by the premier boatyard – Abeking and Rasmussen in Lemwerder near Bremen. So she celebrated her 75th anniversary in 2011.
In 1945, the British forces found some 200 yachts in German harbours, and took them as prizes of war. Called the “windfall” yachts, they were sailed to England and distributed to service units all over the world. Thousands of British servicemen were trained to sail in them.
Among the yachts ‘liberated’ by the British forces were Sea Scamp.
Sea Scamp was used by the Royal Marines, Royal Navy, and Sea Cadets, until her purchase by the Club in 1984.
A Short History of Zeisig / Sea Scamp
Courtesy of Tony Venables, “The Windfall Yachts” by the late Michael Cudmore, & others.
1936 – Designed by H Rasmussen & built by Abeking & Rasmussen at Lemwerder, Bremerhaven. Build No. 3012. Sail No V 43. 50 Sq metre Class. Mahogany planks, oak frames & pine deck
1937 – Lloyds Register of Yachts – Tonnage (TM) 7, Sail Area 537 sq ft. Length 41 ft, Breadth 8.6 ft, Draft 5.5 ft. No engine. Owners: Luftkreiskommando VI. Kiel
1941 – 44 Based at West Dievenow on Wollin, used by the Luftwaffe Air Reconnaisance Sea School for sea training and recreation – Lt Wilhelm Meyer
1945 Seized by the Royal Navy as war reparations – part of the Windfall Fleet.
1946 – July – shake down cruise, a 60 mile race from Kiel to Rody Havn, a fishing port on the island of Laaland, the race back was won by Zeisig – with no charts & faulty compass. – Lt Morin Scott RNR and a lively crew. Followed by Operation Homeward, Zeisig sailed to Plymouth via the Dutch canals, Rotterdam, Amsterdam & Ijmuden. On arrival at Plymouth Zeisig renamed Sea Scamp and allocated to the Royal Marines at their Plymouth barracks. Sail No. 425
1948 – Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, College Yacht Rally 50 sq m Class – Sea Scamp second to Sea Breeze (in 20 yard visibility fog)
1949 – RNC Dartmouth Rally – 50 sq m Class – Sea Scamp first in fresh winds.
1954 Survey of Admiralty Yachts : Sea Scamp, RNB Plymouth : Hull – good; Spars & Sails – fair. Category A – remaining life of 5 years or more.
1956 Reallocated to HMS FISGARD, an apprentice training establishment across the Tamar in Cornwall. 1966 1st engine installed – a Volvo Penta MD2 with 3 blade 16″ propellor
1966 ;Reallocated to HMS RALEIGH, a new recruit training establishment in Plymouth. inherit; Owner; Ministry of Defence (Navy) HMS Fisgard / HMS Raleigh. Plymouth Reallocated to the SEA SCOUTS in 1976 & dismasted when moored to the quay at Jubilee Point, blown over onto hard sand.
1984 Disposed of by the Admiralty & after a short refit she was sailed to Shamrock Quay, Southampton by a delivery;crew of at least 18 people. The delivery voyage was in fact in 3 stages.
1984 to present – Owned and sailed by the Sea Scamp Syndicate ; Shamrock Quay.
Information courtesy of the Sea Scamp Syndicate (contact: [email protected])
