Storm 12 E 31

Overview

Storm (E-31) is an International 12-Metre built in 1913 to the First Rule. She was designed and built by Anker & Jensen, with the first owner recorded as Ole Larsen Jr. and the original home port listed as Christiania (Oslo), Norway. She is currently noted as “sailing,” based in Oslo.

Design and Type

Storm is a double-ender (spissgatter), a stern form characteristic of several Scandinavian meter boats of the era. She was built to the International First Rule; in 1912 a special committee of the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club (KNS)—Johan Anker, Christian Jensen, and Halvdan Hansen—decided to rate Raak and Ull II under the First Rule and assign them “E” sail numbers. After World War I, similar treatment was given to Mars (now Skoiern) and Liv (now Lady), providing useful context for Storm’s classification and numbering.

Principal Dimensions

According to class records, Storm’s principal measurements are approximately: length overall 15.00 m, length on the waterline 12.98 m, beam 4.50 m, and sail area about 233 m² (noted in 1914).

Owners and Home Ports (Summary)

From 1914, Storm is associated with Ole Larsen Jr., home port Christiania/Oslo. Between 1919 and 1924 she is recorded with Johan K. Haaland of Haugesund. From 1925 to 1934 she is linked to A. B. Grondhal of Oslo. From 1935 to 1957 she appears with Anders Jambe of Sandefjord. From 1958 onward she is recorded with Thomas and Jørgen Braathen of Oslo, with the end date of this period not specified. Across these changes, the yacht’s Norwegian identity and Oslo ties remain consistent.

Notable Modifications and Machinery

At some point an auxiliary five-cylinder petrol motor was installed, reflecting the common practice of fitting early meter boats with small auxiliaries for harbor work and reliability in light airs.

Registry Notes

There is a note that Storm “disappeared” from Lloyd’s Register at one stage, a gap not uncommon with older wooden and early-rule meter boats whose registrations could lapse or shift across owners and ports. Subsequent records again list her as active and sailing in Oslo.

Research Notes and Context

The build attribution sometimes appears as “designed by Christian Jensen, built at Anker & Jensen,” which is consistent with the Anker–Jensen partnership rather than a contradiction. Public online sources provide only fragmentary race results, but yearbooks and regatta programs from Norwegian clubs often carry additional details on measurements, refits, and fleet activity for 12-Metres like Storm.