One of the nice things about Germany´s Baltic coast is that it is pretty straightforward: Not all too many marinas, predominantly assorted in three main areas around Luebeck, Flensburg and Kiel, make it literally impossible not to meet anyone familiar. Or discover a well-known boat along the jetties. This happened last week. You know it from my past post, I lodged in Kiel for the occasion of my older son´s Optimist training camp. As I was strolling the pontoons the other day, I set sight on a pretty familiar rear …
RÉMY is the ship´s name of a very interesting yacht, in fact. In 2021 I´ve already published an article about this boat. Back then she was still in the building shed. RÉMY is a wooden sailboat and built as a one-off partially by her owner, Jan von der Bank. Of course, I did call him right away! And lucky me – he invited me for a little dash out the coming weekend. So, get dressed accordingly, dear readers, this will be a true gentlemen´s weekend sashay …
Class among classics: A Berckemeyer!
You know it already: I am a fanboy of Martin Menzner´s designs. The boats drawn and envisioned by this man are timeless classics, sought after and a rare breed. Berckemeyer Yacht Design is a true accolade for any building material that is about to be shaped along Martin´s tempting lines. Be it aluminum or, as in the case of RÉMY, timber.
This is the BM31, a retro-classic daysailer designed by Berckemeyer Yacht Design aka Martin Menzner. It kind of features the signature cornerstones of Martin´s style as well as stylistic borrowings of the past. Such as the three distinct ellipsoid portholes or the pilot-cutter-style coachroof. What a beautiful boat! No matter from which side you look at her, there is always this tingling aspect of a “clean modernity” meeting with some all-familiar classic details.
Nonetheless, the fact that she is a wooden boat makes it even more outstanding: Jan has made his lifelong dream come true to build a boat with his own hands. And to craft something that is not made from anonymous, chemical stuff but literally carved out of living, real, natural material. There is something special about wooden boats – this one is a prime example.
Let´s sail this beauty …
A few days later we meet again. It´s a wonderful warm Saturday. The Kiel Bay area is bristling with sailboats – there´s a reason why this place is called “Sailing City”, I can see it now. Jan von der Bank is in a good mood. Leaving a hard working week behind, he had invited one of his old friends to this little sailing adventure too. The father wants to excite his 16 year old daughter for sailing. What better occasion than this beautiful, pedigreed daysailer could there be?
Without wasting too much time with small-talk, we cast off the landlines, head out of the marina and set the sails. RÉMY springs to life and although there´s rarely 8 knots of true wind, she springs to life immediately and gains momentum. There is a saying among sailors, that you can only see if a boat sails well when there is less wind. If this is true, this BM31 is a thoroughbred performer.
We dash along with 4 to 5 knots upwind. I take my time to get accustomed to this boat. Roam about on deck, in the cockpit. Sitting down here and there: Watching, identifying, learning. Whilst the young lady – after some encouragement by her dad – takes the helm herself, my younger son who had joined me for this right also relaxes in the cockpit. It´s a lush, warm day. The low puffs are spiced up with some gusts clocking out at 15, 16 knots TWS at max. When this happens, the Berckemeyer shows her true sides … immediately.
Light-footed, responsive and quick
Jan treated the boat to a full laminate performance sails setup. As a matter of fact, almost all Berckemeyer boats I´ve seen so far sported the canvas by UK Sailmakers and RÉMY is no exception. The membrane sails are razor-sharp shape true. There is no thrashing and no slack in the Jib or the mainsail. Nice detail: I nod to Jan from the bow, acknowledging the recessed furler.
It makes the whole bow section appear to neat and clean. Nice side effect: More sail area in the foot and better laminar flow over bow onto the Jib. Something, modern yacht design try to optimize more and more with inverted stems and inclined front sections. But back to RÉMY: Her bow, though not exactly “slim”, cuts nicely through the little chop. What I find interesting is the fact that there is no noise whatsoever here in the front of the ship …
The Genua is sheeted through padeye mounted on a longitudinal traveler to fine tune sheet lead. Today is not a race, so we set it to mid-level. Speaking of racing: RÉMY has already successfully participated in regattas, one of which was last year´s renown Silverrudder. The world´s biggest single-handed regatta around the large Danish Island of Fyn has become a true classic in the racing calendar of so many European sailors. Jan and RÉMY finished last year, the starting fee for the upcoming edition is already paid.
As we are sailing by, I proceed back into the cockpit and make myself comfortable here. The cockpit of the Berckemeyer BM31 is worth a closer look: It combines design choices which make for more volume on the one hand and also features some very interesting solutions for many details. Apparently, the first thing anyone should notice is how tidy this cockpit really is … no sheet mumble.
A large – and very tidy – cockpit
The fact that RÉMYs cockpit offer so much space is due to a handful decisions Martin Menzer made when designing it. First of all, the BM31 is not a very wide boat: The Oceanis 30.1 – I know, from the totally opposite end of the spectrum – has almost the same length but a width of 2.99 meters, which in itself is also considered to be not wide as well. The BM31 is 2.74 m wide. Something you instantly notice. The reason why the cockpit is so big has its origins in the design of the transom and the two comparatively slim coamings running all the way to the back.
These are wide enough to comfortably sit on and steer the boat or work the winches, but these are not meant to put on cushion, recline and take a sunbath. Berckemeyer boats are made for sailing, I guess. The decision to sport a positive angled transom is – I can only guess here – primarily due to visual reasons, because it is definitely one key-feature that defines the boat´s appearance. But the side-effect of an outward angled transom is more space inside. The LWL of the BM31 is 8.60 meters, the LOA is 9.50 – and since the stem is straight up, the whole overhang is created in the transom.
I am insisting so much on this detail because this area instantly, after a few minutes, became my favorite place in the boat! Jan agrees and tells me that in smooth moments, either in harbor, at anchor or underway in nice conditions when the autopilot is doing its job, he also finds his best position to sit here down on the cockpit floor, resting his back onto the angled transom and enjoying a lush ride. That´s what I do now …
I sit down, take my kid in one arm, smartphone for taking pictures in the other, and enjoy having the sun shining on my nose. We do not have any waves today so the boat glides very gently over the water. There is a slight heel, but no other motions or noise interferes with this perfect impression of total silence. Effortless motion – RÉMY shows how it´s done.
Full carbon rigging and laminate sails
Sitting down there on the cockpit floor, my eye go up the mast, following the leech of the mainsail. The BM31 sports a 32 square meter main and a 20 square meter Jib. Of course, Jan went for a full carbon rigging setup. Weighing in just 2.400 kilograms, this Berckemeyer sailboat displaces roughly only half the mass as the above mentioned Oceanis 30.1 … that said, it should be clear that this boat is a totally different category.
Jan´s carbon mast is taken from a Mumm 30 and re-furbished to fit the needs of Menzner´s construction. Two sets of spreaders, fixed backstay. No frills here. As for the mainsail it´s a bit odd but Jan went for only one reef. This may have purely aesthetical reasons because one reef less is a bit less hustle less in terms of lines in the cockpit. This, by the way, is solved absolutely nicely in this boat and sports as a testament of Menzner´s true class:
Apart from the sheets, not a single (!) line of the running rigging is visible. All trim lines, furling lines, bow sprit operating lines and other ropes are running recessed, hidden from our eyes. Some are re-appearing at the central pedestal near the mainsheet jammer, some to starboard or port. That said, every line can be stowed away in sponsons underneath the coamings – very tidy, very clean. And very clever.
As for the carbon boom, this is also a pretty special story. I know myself very well how much effort – and in this case, especially financially – it is to build a boat. If you insist on putting the good stuff made by upper shelf-brands on your yacht, budget spendings for equipment and parts can quickly skyrocket and go through the roof. In Jan´s case, he went for a clever solution: The boom is a dropout from Seascape´s First 27 SE production. The boom apparently sports a “dent” all along from the gooseneck to the boom head. Unacceptable for series production, but structurally sound. No problem for Jan, he bought this piece for a special price and provided a second life for these fibers.
Steering properties of this Daysailer
After a while – it became a bit gusty – the helm was free for me to take over as conditions got a bit too demanding for the rookie young lady. With pleasure I took over from Jan. Not before taking a thorough look at the custom made carbon fiber tiller and the nicely shaped tiller extension, which is also made from carbon and ends in a wooden lableled handle.
As with every boat I steer for the first time, I tried how she responds. Putting in some pretty abrupt steering commands via the tiller, I got a feeling for the properties. The single-rudder boat responds instantly and very precisely. Every push or pull – even the slightest – on the tiller is instantly transformed into a change of course.
When a gust hits the boat, she heels over and springs to life. In these occasions, especially when the gust was slightly overpowering her, I felt a tendency for broaching which can be prevented by instantly bearing away or easing the main. On one of these occasions, Jan was too late on the main (chatting with his friend) and neither of my steering command could prevent her from broaching. Very powerful, very sensible in that matter. Just as you´d expect such a light boat to behave.
Let´s hoist the Gennaker!
It was so much fun sailing her, that after a brief slow encounter with a temporary calm, we gybed to a course back home. Sailing downwind in 8 to 10 knots TWS is no real fun, especially when you have to be back on the pontoon because your other son´s sailing course is about to end. “We need more speed”, I proclaimed. Jan smiled and offered to fit the Gennaker. Don´t ask me twice – let´s go!
In a matter of seconds the carbon bow sprit is extended. Jan hauls the sail bag on deck and attached sheets to the clew, the halyard and the tackline. After just a few minutes everything is ready to go up and the clean-white Gennaker unfolds in the wind. The dull 3-4 knots suddenly explode to a speed rush and RÉMY starts to dash down at 6-8 knots. Nearing the gusty area again, I was excited to see how this boat deals with sudden increases of wind speed under Gennaker. And she did exceptionally well! I did not feel any difference in her steering character. There wasn´t any increased pressure on the rudder nor any vibrations. Instead, the light-footed easiness of changing courses was great fun. I can imagine how much of a thrill this boat must be in a regatta-situation! Her quick response and precise steering capabilities make her a dangerous tool in the hands of a keen sailor, for sure!
Sailing predominantly on low courses on a board reach, the gusts couldn´t really do any harm. When a sudden increase occurred, she would heel a bit more and translate almost all of the plus of energy into speed. We clocked out at 8.6 knots SOG maximum, which is a pretty good result for an otherwise predominantly low-wind day. We dashed down back home and overtook some much bigger boats with such an ease that it was almost embarrassing to wave ….
Speaking of “not missing an appointment” – if you don´t want to miss any of the new articles published here on NO FRILLS SAILING.com you should subscribe to the monthly newsletter right now. It´s free and contains short descriptions, nice pics and of course the links to all of this month´s stories. Anyway, back to RÉMY and our downwind sailing leg …
As we luffed again, the home marina already in sight, I handed the tiller over to Jan as I wanted to play around a while with the Gennaker sheet. With some 90 square meters of sail area the big blister is a pretty intimidating and powerful sail. Had I been able to sheet in the Gennaker on my First 27 SE by hand for most occasions, pressure on the sheet aboard the BM31 is far greater. Cranking the winches changes sail trim and triggers immediate response by the boat. She is always telling you what she wants – just as you would expect it from a performance boat.
Gadgets for the virtu
And that´s the bottom line her: The BM31 classic might sport a classy look, but she is far from resembling the same odd and partially boringly slow sailing characteristics of many classic yachts. She is a true performer, make no mistake. She is a performer just the way all of her siblings, bearing the same name and sharing the same designer, are.
Jan takes down the Gennaker: He, like literally every single sailor as well, has his own style and code of conduct of how to proceed here. I am reminded of my own first trials (and errors) in Gennaker sailing and how I finally mastered especially the case of Gennaker retrieval in the end. After the large sail is back in its sails bag, we take down the mainsail. Again, I can only guess, maybe for again aesthetical reasons, there is no lazy bag and no jacks, so we have to fold and fix the canvas on the boom directly. Just as pure as it is.
Working at the mast, helping Jan to pack the main sail, I discover yet another nice gadget: The halyard jammers on the mast by Karver are absolute beauties. They allow for hoisting but will jam the halyard, preventing it from coming down again unless a button is pressed. Very practical, much more when you sail single handed. I take a note in my head as these things are maybe working for my own new boat as well …
Sustainable boat building material meets electric propulsion
Last task of the day is motoring back to RÉMYs berth. That´s as well an interesting fact about this boat. For small boats, especially daysailers which do more inshore and close-coastal sailing, electric propulsion has become the technology of choice. I rarely see any reason why one should fit a Diesel to such a small boat. Also, electric propulsion does much better go along the boatbuilding material, which in Jan´s case is wood, don´t you think?
The Diesel-alternative for a boat this size would have been the small Yanmar, currently fitted in the new Beneteau First 30. I´ve tested this boat under sails as well in spring this year and the loud chugging of the engine was … an acquired taste at best. Enervating, to say the least. Of course: If you need long duration and must bridge long distances, Diesel is still the engine-type of choice, but for a daysailer like RÉMY, electric is more than reasonable.
With two easy movements of the hand the – rather complicated looking but honestly easy working – mechanism folds down the drive shaft and the propeller. Seconds later the familiar humming of the electric engine sets in and we start moving again into the marina. If you are interested in more details about the e-setup of RÉMY, check out my first article. The mechanism fitted to this BM31 works just as fine, I have the feeling much easier than the one I´ve had in my First 27 SE back in the day.
Back in the berth: Let´s go below
A few moments later Jan swiftly and elegantly parks the boat back into her berth. We tie her up properly and sit down in the cockpit for a Goodbye-chat. We put back all the lines, coil up the sheets and put the tarpaulins over the mainsail on the boom and the furling Jib. Then I use the time to peek down below, an area I haven´t seen during our sailing day out as it was so much fun steering the boat.
Of course this yacht is in use now for several sailing seasons and you can see that. There is some wear and tear here and there, a bucket in the salon and personal items all around. But that´s what boats are for: People use them, people sleep in them. What I notice first upon coming down is the smell. Not unpleasant. Not at all. On the contrary: Wooden boats don´t stink, transpiring styrene. This one smells like a walk in the forests.
The nice and thick lacquered wooden details and floorboards have a great contrast to the white bare walls and the ceiling. It almost feels like being on a classic tall square rigged Clipper. What this boat needs is a nice, modern petroleum lamp, like those Stelton design lamps, I suddenly think. The cushions to both sides and in the bow are grey, not flashy or fancy. Just a very tasteful, classy interior.
To both side of the salon there is a small galley with a sink, 2-flame burner and stowage. Vis-à-vis a similarly small “chart table” with some stowage, the main switch panel and worktop are situated. Of course, you can only moved in a squat position here and I highly doubt that Jan is doing extensive logbook entries or navigation tasks here. In the middle the central keel-housing is situated.
The BM31 is available in two keel versions: As with almost every of Martin Menzner´s design, the lifting keel with a 2.20 meters draft is regarded “standard” for his Berckemeyer designs, but there´s also a 1.60 meters fixed keel iteration available. In Jan´s case, the keel housing also features one of the batteries and the lifting mechanism.
I love one detail down here: That´s a classic prism skylight which is fitted as a deck-through. It´s an old technique featured on many old ships back in the golden era of sailing – a nice nod to seafaring history and in itself a very powerful item indeed! The intensity of daylight distributed by this little glass “diamond” prism is stunning! It´s brighter than some artificial light sources and makes for a light suffused (and otherwise pretty dark) bow section. Wow!
Jan´s RÉMY is not only a very powerful performer and serious retro-classic racer, she is a true treasure trove for anyone who wants to build a boat with his own hands. In this I´d like to refer to Jan´s building blog, containing hundreds of entries and many, many pictures of the complete building process (click here) and his book, “Backe builds a boat” that is available on Amazon (click here) Don´t hesitate to drop an email if you have a question or grab him if you come to see his boat on one of the regattas he´s participating in.
One-off is the way. No, it really is!
As the series production companies struggle to launch boats which fit both the needs of a charter market, asking for simple, high volume “vacation makers” and the demands of sailing owners, smaller companies and even DIY one-offs/semi-custom boats are emerging as true alternatives ever so slightly. With prices for ordinary production yachts soaring, those individual boats aren´t that much more expensive anymore as well. RÉMY, the Mini 580 and even my Omega 42 are just a few examples.
I say wholeheartedly “Thank you, Jan!” for this wonderful sailing day aboard RÉMY. I hope also that our 16 year old rookie lady has not only enjoyed this little jaunt, but caught fire to enroll in a sailing club to become a keen sailor herself. As in my case, me and my son stepped back ashore, partially inspired, partially happy. We wish you fair winds and following seas for the upcoming Silverrudder, Jan!
Related articles you might also check out:
Rewind to 2021: I meet Jan and his RÉMY in the building shed
Can wooden boats supplant plastic in boatbuilding?
Another small Berckemeyer, but what a big-time beauty as well!