Princess Svanevit 12 S 2

Design & Build

Princess Svanevit (S2), also called Princess Swan White, is one of the most extraordinary yachts in Swedish maritime history. She was commissioned in 1930 by publisher Erik Åkerlund as part of the Royal Swedish Sailing Society’s grand centennial celebration. Åkerlund sought to attract the world’s best sailors in the 12 Metre class to Sweden and to showcase the very finest of Swedish craftsmanship. He entrusted the design to Gustaf Estlander, one of the era’s most respected yacht designers, and the construction to Plym at Stockholms Båtbyggeri Neglingevarvet in Saltsjöbaden.

The yacht featured a lavish interior with twelve unique inlays created by artist Ewald Dahlskog, representing the peak of the Swedish Grace art movement. She was launched at midsummer 1930 and quickly became known as one of the most elegant 12mR yachts ever built.

Specifications

Princess Svanevit measures 21.96 meters in length, making her the 12th longest 12 Metre in the world. She has a beam of 3.57 meters, a draft of 2.70 meters, and a sail area of 182 m². Her displacement is 27 tons, and her mast rises 27.5 meters above deck. She was originally equipped with an FNK 110 hp engine, her hull built of mahogany, her deck of Oregon pine, and her mast of Sitka spruce. These specifications combined traditional Scandinavian craftsmanship with cutting-edge racing yacht design.

Cultural Significance

From the outset, Princess Svanevit was more than a yacht—she was a statement of Swedish artistry and ambition. As the longest and one of the most lavish Twelves of her time, she earned the nickname “Queen of the Baltic Sea.” Her beauty and craftsmanship spread Sweden’s reputation as a leader in both design and yacht building, leaving an enduring mark on international sailing culture.

An Odyssey Abroad

Following her years in Sweden, Princess Svanevit passed through the hands of prominent owners who each left their mark on her story. With director Ernhold Lundström, she sailed under the name Irene from Malmö. Later, director Nils Gäbel renamed her Silvervingen X and sailed her to Spain, where she became a centerpiece of Torrevieja. In England, she bore the name Barranquilla for nearly sixty years under property magnate Harry Hyams, who famously described her as the most beautiful yacht he had ever seen.

Throughout these decades, she remained a symbol of prestige, often towering above other yachts in the harbors of the Mediterranean and northern Europe.

Return & Restoration

After almost 60 years abroad, Princess Svanevit was rediscovered in England by two Swedish sailors who combined experience with persistence and diplomacy to bring her home. In September 2017, she returned to Sweden as a restoration project. Extensive work was carried out at Stockholm’s boat carpentry yard in Fisksätra, Saltsjöbaden, where her interior inlays were carefully restored by Jarla Möbelverkstad.

Her restored interior was even exhibited at Liljevalchs Konsthall in Stockholm in spring 2022. She was relaunched on June 29, 2022, with her first trial sail on October 12, 2022.

Awards & Recognition

Princess Svanevit’s restoration has been internationally celebrated. On April 3, 2024, she was awarded the Classic Boats Renovation Award for Sailing Boats Over 40 Feet in London. Additional work in 2025 further strengthened her condition, ensuring her continued presence on the water.

Ownership & Mission

Today, Princess Svanevit is owned by the Princess Svanevit Foundation through its subsidiary Princess Svanevit AB. She is operated as a non-profit project, dedicated to telling the story of Sweden’s floating cultural heritage along its coasts through the summer of 2027. The project is as much about storytelling as it is about sailing: the boat, her owners, and the era in which she was built are all being documented in depth.

A forthcoming book will trace her remarkable biography, weaving together yacht design, Swedish craftsmanship, art history, and the fascinating lives of her owners.

Legacy of the Queen of the Baltic Sea

From her origins as a symbol of Swedish innovation in 1930 to her award-winning restoration in the 21st century, Princess Svanevit has lived many lives. She embodies the artistry of Swedish Grace, the ambition of a nation eager to stand on the world stage, and the enduring allure of the 12 Metre class. Now sailing again in Swedish waters, she continues to inspire admiration and stands as a living testament to Sweden’s maritime and cultural heritage.