Sea Scamp V 43 (Zeisig)

Current boat name

Sea Scamp V 43 (Zeisig)

Boat class

6831

Function

Sports and Leisure

Type

Length (m / ft)

12.5 / 42.6in

Beam (m / ft)

2.6 / 8ft 6in

Leeward

Keel - long

Masts

one

Rig type

bermudan

Propulsion

Sail/engine

Date of build

1936

Place of build

Bremen

Present use

Windfall

Built by Abeking & Rasmussen as the Zeizig, a 50 square metre yacht for the Luftwaffe. Allocated to the RM as SEASCAMP, a cruiser racer yacht (windfall yacht) built to a design by Henry Rasmussen by Abeking and Rasmussen in 1936 at Lemverder near Bremen. LOA 12.97m, MB 2.6nm, DR 1.7m, 7 tons. Hull is carvel built with Austrian white oak frames, Honduras mahogany planking and Oregon pine decks, fastened with copper nails and roves. Has pointed bow and counter stern. Has one timber mast rigged as a sloop with Bermudan sails. Current engine is an inboard diesel made by Thornycroft in 1992, 3cy, 21.6 hp @3600 revs. Built in 1936 as ZEISIG (a small wren like bird or old German for scamp or rascal) to the order of the Luftwaffe at Keil for navigator training and recreation of air force officers. Military aircraft were restricted by the Treaty of Versailles. She was captured at Keil in 1945 and brought to the UK as reparations by Lt Cmdr Morice Scott RN (commodore of the Square Rigger Club). She was offered to the services yacht clubs and was taken by the Royal Marines at Eastleigh, Portsmouth, who renamed her SEASCAMP. She was successfully raced by them, noticeably coming 2nd in the Plymouth- Belle Ile in 1948, and 2nd and 3rd in her class at Cowes week in 1953. The Royal Navy at Plymouth (HMS FISGARD and RALEIGH) took her over in 1954 and she alternated between the Royal Britannia Naval College, Dartmouth, the Sea Cadet Corps and Plymouth until sold by the MOD by Admiralty tender in 1984 to the SEA SCAMP syndicate. During her time with the Sea Cadet Corps she was employed as second sail training vessel to ROYALIST. Current condition is excellent with a new deck and associated work in 1993, new underwater planking and wooden floors in 1999 and also new off keel and new bronze keel bolts in 1999. SIGNIFICANCE: windfall yacht, used by service crews until 1980s. Between 1946 and 1952 was important for helping to reestablish the RORC racing. (Listed on NRHV) Source: present owner 2000 and The Windfall Yachts by M Cudmore.