Mariline 12 E 2 (Skeaf VI)

Mariline, E-2 (Skeaf VI): From Fife’s Drawing Board to a New Life in Portugal

The 12-Metre Class yacht Skeaf VI, later known as Mariline (sail number E-2), has a storied history that spans more than a century of European yachting. She was originally commissioned in the early 20th century by Consul Henry Horn of Schleswig, a German wood importer and passionate yachtsman who regularly campaigned 12-Metres at Kiel Week. Under his ownership, she carried the proud name Skeaf VI and joined a lineage of yachts Horn commissioned almost annually, each more ambitious than the last.

Unlike Horn’s earlier Twelves—designed by Gerhard Barg and built by the Neptun Werft in Rostock—Skeaf VI bore the hallmark of William Fife III, Scotland’s legendary designer, and was built at Abeking & Rasmussen in Germany. This combination of Fife’s refined design sensibility and Rasmussen’s renowned craftsmanship made her one of the finest German-built Twelves of her era.

Racing Anecdotes and Horn’s Legacy

Horn’s enthusiasm for racing was well known, and he forged a lasting friendship with Henry Rasmussen himself. An oft-retold anecdote from Kiel Week 1914 illustrates both men’s characters: Rasmussen watched Horn struggle through a poor start aboard another 12mR, nicknaming him a “night-watch-man” at the helm. Invited to take over for the next race, Rasmussen hit the line perfectly on the gun and sailed the yacht to a commanding lead. When Horn resumed steering, the competition quickly overtook her, much to his frustration. The crew asked Rasmussen to helm again, and the yacht crossed the line first. Although it was a humbling episode for Horn, it reinforced his loyalty to Rasmussen and the Abeking & Rasmussen yard, whose quality builds and sailing prowess became their best advertisement.

Later Ownership and Current Restoration

After her early career in Germany, Skeaf VI continued to sail under different names and owners across the decades. In 2000 she was acquired by Alberto Alfonso, who has overseen her preservation into the modern era. Today, more than a century after her launch, she is undergoing a major restoration in Portugal, with recent photographs (December 2023) showing extensive structural work: new frames, keel reinforcement, and preparation for replanking. The restoration appears to be comprehensive, aiming not merely to stabilize the yacht but to return her to full sailing condition.

Looking Ahead

The revival of Skeaf VI is part of a broader renaissance of the 12-Metre Class, in which historic yachts are being restored to race once again in Europe’s classic regattas. With her Fife pedigree, Abeking & Rasmussen build, and Horn’s racing legacy behind her, Skeaf VI holds a special place in yachting history. Her ongoing restoration in Portugal promises to return her to the water as both a competitor and a living cultural artifact, ensuring that her story continues well into the 21st century.