‘Sif’ is the Nordic goddess and wife of Thor. Her design is believed to have been based on the lines of Herreshoff’s ‘Gloriana’ of 1891.
History
Sif was launched in the spring of 1894 and registered as a 9 ton gaff cutter in Lloyds Register of Yachts from 1895/1896 to 1910/1911, with no propulsion motor. We presume that Sif changed hands around 1911, perhaps on the demise of L. Hansen.
The next information that we have is of three Danish lads setting of in Sif (now rigged as a gaff schooner – but still with no motor!) on a round the world cruise. The two brothers H. Randrup and K. Randrup and J. Gram departed with SIF from Kobenhaven, according to their brochure, 2 September 1934.
Their voyage ended in Plymouth, England, that year and Sif was acquired by W.J.W. Modley, and ice manufacturer, in Plymouth, who was known to have, or have had other boats named variously ‘Snowflake’ or ‘Icicle’.
He carried out various modifications including the installation of a 1933 Thornycraft “Handy Billy” two cylinder hand start petrol engine. SIF was given British Registry as ‘Icicle IV’ in 1938, with a registered tonnage of 6.81 tonnes.
1985 – Bought by a new owner who extensively restored the schooner who likens her to a mini-Gloriana (Herreshoff design).
Information courtesy of www.sif1894.wordpress.com
