Translated Document

Doc # 1

During the war, those that had most reason for being tired of the war were the cruisers. They had to live with the fact a trip around the island of Fyn wasn’t going to happen and that a longer voyage was impossible. In 1910, Gerhard Roenne sailed a notable passage to England with his 7m Runa II (the is no boat of this name, it was either Runa I or Ran II). Accompanied by two friends, he managed to get to Yarmouth and back during his 3 week summer holiday, despite adverse weather conditions. The trip was made possible by the opening of the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal in 1895 between Kiel and Elbe (Kieler Kanalen). Sailing vessels were pulled through the canal by a steam tug, which opened significant new possibilities for Danish cruisers. Normal cruisers would not venture anywhere near as far afield, but Gerhard Roenne’s advances were not to be ignored. Particularly that such a small sailboat could enable its owner with such possibilities. As he himself wrote, “cruising has therefore only enforced our opinion that one can safely bring oneself out upon the open seas in a small vessel, when it is built and trimmed for that purpose”.

Gerhard Roenne and engineer Knud Degn drew the boats themselves, and during the winter of 1909-10 they had one built each by N.H. Nielsen in Skovshoved. That they were two 7 meter boats – Knud Degn’s became called Ran II – should not be understood to mean that they intended to race. The R rule was simply so new that it was still believed to contribute to a seaworthy, healthy boat. Again in 1912, Gehard Roenne built a boat, this time alongside Henry P. Lading. Just before the war broke out, they were on a passage to Stockholm. As Maisie was equipped with a  little motor (mukkebik), she was able to return via the Gothenburg canal; Roenne (I assume this) sailed Runa III/Runi the long way around the south of Sweden (there doesn’t seem to be much difference in distance). Gerhard Roenne’s wanderlust was cut short and he was obliged to plan his holiday outings in home waters. The danger of mines grew during the war and sailors frequented the coasts with the intention of avoiding drifting explosives in open water.

Mines were also the reason KYD (the royal Danish yacht club) could not celebrate Fyn Week 50 years celebration in 1916. The idea was to sail the old lane by Nyborg on the day itself but the marine minestry would not supervise the safe crossing of the fleet and so it was cancelled.

Caption

Gerhard Roenne’s Runa III and sistership Maisie were built by N.H. Nielsen in Skovshoved. Here we see them ready to go in the spring of 1912, and it can be seen that the launch is effected without a cart/trailer. Runa III is just suppoted by a couple of sticks that are removed when the boat is launched into her element, joining her sister. Glide would be a more appropriate description of the launch, in that the keel is greased so that the boat slides down the slip. The balance is kept by using long ropes tied to the mast. This simple method was used by many yards but required experienced hands to guide the ropes.

Translation by G H Gilbert