The 45 m2 cruisers, which in terms of size could be regarded as the equivalent of the 6mR yacht, became particularly popular. And in comparison, the wider 45s had considerably more volume inside and could offer a minimum of comfort for weekend sailing: two to four berths, a galley area, a cabin. Due to the wider hull, these boats were and are also more dimensionally stable than 6s, they are lighter and sail quite differently. In the 1920s, the 45s were probably the most popular German class, especially on the inland lakes in Berlin and southern Germany, while Kiel and the Kieler Woche in particular, remained the centre of Metre-Class yachts. However, it quickly became clear in the following years that the earlier 45 cruisers had waterlines that were too short and had a speed deficit in competition with the Metre-Class yachts. The Wunsch II of 1912, for example, had a length overall of only 8.35 metres. So in 1916, new building regulations were passed and the maximum length was set at 10.50 metres, whereby the waterline length, overhangs, freeboard and other limiting dimensions were of course adjusted accordingly. Strict adherence to the building regulations was maintained by Germanischer Lloyd, which above all prescribed the dimensions of the individual parts of the structure in order to ensure the longevity and seaworthiness of the yachts. Likewise, the homeliness through certain minimum requirements for berths, lockers and the like had proved suitable for use as a leisure craft. Thus the mutation was successful and the new Cruiser Class became by far the most popular class on the German inland lakes. Construction activity peaked in 1925 with 91 registered boats. Two years earlier, exactly 100 years ago, a typical representative of the 45s was built at the Engelbrecht shipyard in Berlin. Schelm was designed by Paul Francke, a well-known designer at the time. He belonged to the leading group of German designers and sailors from Berlin around Max Oertz and Fritz Naglo, who were however internationally isolated after the war. For her 100th birthday, Schelm is getting a makeover. Her two owners, Daniel Heine and Florian Schmid, are treating the historic yacht to a new deck, cabin and cockpit. »The Schelm will be as beautiful as new again, plus it might save a few kilos of weight and the cockpit will be more ergonomic,« Schmid explains. The two had already thoroughly restored the hull themselves years ago, when they bought her. At the time, they were explicitly looking for a 45. After all, they come from Lake Constance, one of the strongest areas for 45s. »When I was a little boy in the 1970s, a 45 m2 cruiser on Lake Constance was seen as the pinnacle of yachting emotion,« Daniel Heine explains his passion for this type of boat. A family of friends in Friedrichshafen sailed the 45 Schuft back then, their respective grandfathers had already sailed against each other in regattas on the lake and today the two boats meet again on the course. Around the turn of the millennium, however, the class had a slump, not many of these boats were sailed any more, at regattas there were just four or five 45s at the start. Bei leichtem Wind benötigen die Langkieler etwas Leetrimm // In light winds, the long-keeled boats need some lee-trim »IT WILL BE A KIND OF FAMILY CELEBRATION OF THE 45S.« read more 70 Fotos: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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