As you may know, we went sailing with the ship Gratia this weekend. But what exactly is this ship? Well, we have to tell you about the fascinating history of the Gratia!
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The story begins In 1900 in the Isle of Wight
Gratia's story begins in the Isle of Wight in 1900. At that time the ship was called Bertha, but only 16 years later she was bought by a Frenchman, renamed Aziade and moved to the French west coast. The ship changed hands a few more times and in 1936 it was renamed again - Blue Shadow.
Luxury yacht with bathtub
In 1938, a man named Einar Hansen took over the ship, which he named Cinderella. Einar wanted to bring some order to his unruly son and thought it would help (?) to get him a luxury yacht. He had the ship painted white and furnished it with a bathtub and grand piano.
The ship becomes a school ship
When Einar Hansen wanted to sell the ship in 1964, he realised that Swedish Cruiser Club Sailing School Foundation would be a good owner. It turned out that they had no money, so Einar decided to give the ship away. Unfortunately, the sailing school still had to decline - how could they afford to rebuild the boat to make it suitable for school activities?
Another offer: Einar Hansen gave the ship away along with a cheque to rebuild it. The sailing school gratefully accepted and named the ship "Gratia", meaning "gratitude".
School ship with many beds
Here is a Nikon 360-KeyMission photo from the mess hall, where you eat and where the crew sleeps. Computer: Press the small square at the bottom right to get full screen and use your mouse to move around the photo. Phone: Tap on the photo and move your phone around in all directions.
For quite some time, vegetables were stored in the infamous bathtub, but over time it has been replaced by more functional spaces. The mess hall now has 18 student beds and a dining table. There is also a small, small kitchen (galley), which can apparently cook for 25 people, and two toilets.
Gratia of today
The Gratia is just under 30 metres long and rigged with eight sails: mainsail, mainsail top, jib, splitter, destroyer, mizzen, mizzen top and mizzen staysail (red baron). The ship carries 18 students and seven officers.
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Ama de casa says:
An interesting story indeed! But I thought it was bad luck to change the name of a boat? I had clearly got it wrong, because there seems to be nothing unlucky at all with that beautiful ship 🙂.
09 May 2017 - 11:09
Helena says:
People have also said that to us sometimes, considering that we changed the name of our houseboat. So I think it's positive that it doesn't seem completely unusual to change names here and there 😉.
09 May 2017 - 15:56
Åse says:
What a wonderful voyage and history. Åse
09 May 2017 - 17:57
Helena says:
It was a special experience to be involved in sailing! And always fun with the history of older ships, I think ðŸ™'
09 May 2017 - 18:56
Staffan says:
Thanks for the description. Have seen her before on the West Coast. What about Gratitude today? Is she also sailing?
09 May 2017 - 18:29
Helena says:
Glad you know the ships! Yes, Gratitude also sails! 🙂
09 May 2017 - 18:56
Matts Torebring says:
But what fun! Almost like Knutsson on Antikrundan, "The story you have raises the price tag considerably".
09 May 2017 - 18:37
Helena says:
Haha, maybe it is!? 🙂
09 May 2017 - 18:57
Znogge says:
What an exciting story but I had also decided that it was bad luck to change the name of a boat. But no rule without exception because Gratia seems to stay afloat 😀.
09 May 2017 - 19:07
Helena says:
I've also heard it once, but I've decided not to believe it 🙂 And the name changes don't seem to have caused any problems for Gratia... 😉 .
09 May 2017 - 19:17
Lisa i byn says:
Interesting! I have only travelled on a sailboat once. It was when my youngest daughter was on a school trip. We went from Oskarshamn out to the Blue Maiden. Unfortunately, we had no wind, so there was no sailing. We were away 3 days and 2 nights. But right now I can't remember the name of the stretcher. It was owned by some bible school if I remember correctly.
Be well!
09 May 2017 - 20:48
Helena says:
Nice that you have been on a trip with a sailboat! Too bad there was no wind of course ... but still wonderful to be out on the water in such a boat! Have a great time!
09 May 2017 - 21:37
BP says:
What an incredibly interesting story. Oh so much fun that she is still alive Gratia!
Lovely cars by the way. Love the photo on the toilet - hahaha:-)
09 May 2017 - 22:43
Helena says:
Hehe, I just "had" to take pictures of this interesting thing 🙂 .
09 May 2017 - 22:58
Yvonne says:
I envy those who enjoy boating. I get seasick.
S... Walking is good too.
Good night!
09 May 2017 - 22:55
Helena says:
It's good that you can choose in this world! 🙂
09 May 2017 - 22:59
Lena - gott för själen says:
Nice to get some history. And those ships are so crazy beautiful!
Hug Lena
10 May 2017 - 6:10
Anonymous says:
It was so good to see you again today. A little worn out, but under refurbishment. How fun and instructive it was (in many ways) to sail with you once a long, long time ago.
18 teenage girls can't have been easy for the poor seven officers. ?
A memory for life. Was also out with the Leader. It was equally amazing and both trips remain in my heart, but Gratia is so beautiful.
Even remember our song... ?
27 July 2018 - 23:57
Christer says:
As a resident of Limhamn and an avid spinner fisherman in Norra Hamnen as a small boy in the 50s, I experienced a dear reunion yesterday. Gratia had docked in her old home port and the beautiful lines were not to be mistaken - it was the former S/S Cinderella that used to lie on the sway in the outer part of the North Harbour during a couple of decades of my childhood. She was beautiful white then and sparked my imagination in a way that made me go to sea as a 16-year-old and later become the owner of several sailing boats. Great to see that the old lady is still going strong!
04 August 2018 - 16:32