Magda VIII 12 E 4

Magda VIII: Norway’s First 12-Metre

Magda VIII is one of the most historically significant yachts in the 12-Metre Class. Designed by William Fife III and launched in 1909, she was built by Anker & Jensen in Sandefjord, Norway, for Alfred W. G. Larsen, carrying the sail number E-4. She was Norway’s very first 12-Metre and today is recognized as the oldest of the class still sailing. Over the course of her long life, she has carried several names—including Moyana II (1920), Liss V (1928), Moyana (1935), and once again Moyana II (1951)—but her graceful lines and Fife pedigree have always marked her as a vessel of distinction.

Design and Specifications

With a wooden hull measuring 18.80 meters overall, 11.99 meters on the waterline, a beam of 3.38 meters, and a displacement of 26 tonnes, Magda VIII is a substantial racing yacht of her era. Her sail plan has been modified through time, beginning at 267 m² and later adjusted to suit evolving racing rules and conditions. Despite her age, she has remained a living part of the sailing world, taking part in international classic regattas such as the Rolex Baltic Week in Flensburg, Germany, where she connects today’s sailors and spectators to the golden age of yachting.

Restoration and Current Status

Since 2008, Magda VIII has been part of the Framnæs Collection in Norway, and in 2009 she underwent a comprehensive restoration at the Framnæs shipyard that returned her to full sailing condition. According to the International 12 Metre Association, she remains seaworthy and continues to be based in Oslo, where she is maintained in active condition.

Legacy and Future

As a record-holder in preservation and sailing longevity, Magda VIII represents an authentic bridge to early 20th-century yacht design, craftsmanship, and competition. She may yet appear in upcoming classic regattas across Northern Europe, and her enduring presence affirms her dual role as both a cultural treasure and a competitive racing yacht more than a century after her launch.