The Metre YachtArchive

Princess Svanevit

12mR · S 2 · Sweden · 1930
ex Irene, ex Silvervingen X, ex Barranquilla
Designed by Gustaf Estlander, 1929Built by Neglingevarvet (Carl Plym), 1930Status Restored — sailing (k-märkt 2025)

About

Built 1929–1930 at Neglingevarvet for publisher Erik Åkerlund to mark the KSSS centenary, Princess Svanevit was drawn by Gustaf Estlander with Tore Holm and finished with intarsia interiors by Ewald Dahlskog. She won the 12 Metre class at the 1930 jubilee regatta, later sailed as Irene, Silvervingen X and Barranquilla, disappeared abroad for decades, and was traced to England and brought home in 2017 for an award-winning restoration in the bay where she was built. She was heritage-listed (k-märkt) in 2025.

Timeline

  1. 1929
    design
    Drawn by Gustaf Estlander with Tore Holm

    Commissioned by publisher Erik Åkerlund to showcase Swedish yacht building for the KSSS centenary.

  2. 1930
    launch
    Built and launched at Neglingevarvet

    Built 1929–1930 by Carl Plym in Saltsjöbaden; intarsia interiors by Ewald Dahlskog.

  3. c. 1930
    race
    Won the 12 Metre class at the KSSS centenary regatta

    Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Ingrid were aboard during the jubilee racing.

  4. 1934
    rename
    Renamed Irene

    Sold to Ernhold Lundström of Malmö; Tore Holm made modifications.

  5. 1954
    rename
    Renamed Silvervingen X

    Sold to Nils Gäbel, who later sailed her to Spain.

  6. 1958
    rename
    Renamed Barranquilla

    Sold to Harry Hyams; based at Hamble for six decades and eventually lost from sight.

  7. 2007
    discovery
    Traced to England

    Boatbuilder Bobby Cyrus tracked her down through an internet forum, in derelict condition.

  8. 2017
    restoration
    Returned to Sweden for restoration

    Stockholms Båtsnickeri brought her home in 2017 and began an internationally awarded restoration in the bay where she was built.

  9. 2025
    other
    Heritage-listed (k-märkt)

    Designated a heritage vessel in 2025.

Names

NameTypePeriodFlag
Princess Svanevitoriginal1930 – 1934Sweden
Ireneformer1934 – 1954Sweden
Silvervingen Xformer1954 – 1958Sweden
Barranquillaformer1958 – 2017Great Britain
Princess Svanevit ★current2017 – presentSweden

Sail numbers

NumberCountryPeriod
S 2SwedenJanuary 1930 – present

Ownership

OwnerPeriodVerification
Erik ÅkerlundJanuary 1930 – January 1934Curator verified
Ernhold LundströmJanuary 1934 – January 1954Curator verified
Nils GäbelJanuary 1954 – January 1958Curator verified
Harry HyamsJanuary 1958 – January 2017Curator verified
Stockholms Båtsnickeri ABJanuary 2017 – January 2022Curator verified
Princess Svanevit ABJanuary 2022 – presentCurator verified

Regatta record

YearRegattaSail no.SkipperResult
1930KSSS 100-årsjubileumsregattanS 2—1st
2026HSS 133 years Baltic Classic Masters Champagne RegattaS 2—1st

Photographs

Princess Svanevit under sail at Stadshusregattan, Stockholm, June 2023.
Princess Svanevit under sail at Stadshusregattan, Stockholm, June 2023.
Sinikka Halme, 2023
Under restoration at Stockholms Båtsnickeri, 2019 — back in the bay where she was built.
Under restoration at Stockholms Båtsnickeri, 2019 — back in the bay where she was built.
Sinikka Halme, 2019
Intarsia interior panel by Ewald Dahlskog.
Intarsia interior panel by Ewald Dahlskog.
Sinikka Halme
Princess Svanevit hard on the wind, her crew stacked along the weather rail.
Princess Svanevit hard on the wind, her crew stacked along the weather rail.
Per Schjelderup
Princess Svanevit ghosting in light air off Helsinki, her bowman forward on the long foredeck.
Princess Svanevit ghosting in light air off Helsinki, her bowman forward on the long foredeck.
Per Schjelderup, 2026
Princess Svanevit under the Swedish ensign, passing the yacht club pavilion in Helsinki harbour.
Princess Svanevit under the Swedish ensign, passing the yacht club pavilion in Helsinki harbour.
Per Schjelderup, 2026

How do we know this?

Sources create claims; claims may conflict. Curators mark a preferred interpretation (★) without deleting competing evidence.

★ note: Estlander with Tore Holm; built by Carl Plym at Neglingevarvet, designers: Gustaf Estlander,Tore HolmCurator verifiedconfidence 90%
Princess Svanevit — svensk Wikipedia
Princess Svanevit — official site
★ chain: Princess Svanevit,Irene,Silvervingen X,Barranquilla,Princess SvanevitCurator verifiedconfidence 90%
Princess Svanevit — svensk Wikipedia
★ year: 2025, listing: k-märkt, authority: Sjöhistoriska museetCurator verifiedconfidence 85%
Princess Svanevit — svensk Wikipedia
★ year: 1930, event: KSSS 100-årsjubileumsregattan, result: 1st in the 12 Metre classCurator verifiedconfidence 85%
Princess Svanevit — svensk Wikipedia

Sources cited

  • Princess Svanevit — svensk Wikipedia · Wikimedia Foundation
    Article text CC BY-SA. Cites Praktiskt Båtägande, Sjöhistoriska museet and the yacht's own site.
  • Princess Svanevit — official site · Princess Svanevit AB
    Official history, restoration and intarsia documentation.