In Pampas marina in Solna, where we live, there are four really beautiful vintage boats from the early 1900s. I have just read the fascinating story of one of them, which has actually been lying at a depth of 100 metres for more than 30 years ...
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ShareAlba II has been at a depth of 100 metres
The motor yacht Alba II was built by Hugo Schubert in 1912, at the Schuberts shipyard in Saltsjöbaden near Stockholm. The exclusive boat had oregeonpine decks and a mahogany superstructure and was used as a display and representation boat at the 1912 Olympic Games. In 1919, the then CEO of Handelsbanken acquired the yacht and gave it its current name: Alba II.
In 1927, Alba II became the property of Nils Westerdahl. He used it for over 35 years, with kings and other celebrities as regular guests on board. In 1964, elderly skipper Westerdahl ordered the sinking of the yacht in a secret location somewhere in the Baltic Sea. The unique yacht disappeared, removed from all records and eventually fell into oblivion.
After almost 30 years at the bottom of the sea, a group of boat enthusiasts who had been given Alba by Westerdahl's daughter managed to find the ship at a depth of 100 metres in Kanholmsfjärden in Stockholm. The boat was salvaged and after more than three years and 25,000 hours of labour, it was launched again in 2000. It is now in the Pampas marina and if you want to read even more about the history of the boat, you can do so at www.myalba.se where I found this information.
Three more vintage boats
In addition to the Alba II, there are three more vintage boats in the Pampas marina: M/Y Atala (top picture), M/Y Vitesse and M/Y Tournesol. All date from the early 20th century and are stunningly beautiful and well restored boats. If you ever visit the Pampas, or perhaps the Sjökrogen located here, you can have a look at the boats. In the summer months they are in the water, and usually in the harbour, although they are occasionally out on tours.
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Lennart says:
Vintage vehicles of all kinds are great to look at!
30 June 2016 - 7:38
Goatfish says:
Oh, it's cool with everything old, you feel the wings of history!
Nice vintage ships 😀
Here in the city we boast the friendship galleass Mina http://www.msmina.se and the Viking ship Sigrid Storråda, a little way from town, in Blomberg. These are out on tours from time to time.
Take care 😀
30 June 2016 - 8:22
Matts Torebring says:
Great to know the history. It adds enormous value. What a story then! Unbelievable! What a job! But how nice it turned out. Created by skilled enthusiasts.
I have never taken up boating, usually afraid of rocks and boulders hidden just below the surface of the water. In addition, during all my years with a caravan, I have smiled at everyone who can't back up their caravan. Nobody should laugh at me when I approach a jetty, I have thought!
30 June 2016 - 8:26
Ama de casa says:
What incredibly beautiful boats - and what incredible enthusiasts! It's a good thing there are such people so that these beauties are preserved for posterity 🙂.
30 June 2016 - 8:39
Deciree says:
They are most beautiful with a lot of mahogany, I think 🙂 Have a nice birthday Helena 🙂.
30 June 2016 - 9:36
Ditte says:
These vetaran boats are really nice and well maintained and I usually stop and look at them when I am in the neighbourhood.
Nice to know more about their history.
And these are "real boats" as opposed to a bunch of plastic vessels that don't look like boats at all.
30 June 2016 - 11:03
admin says:
Lennart, I agree!
Geddfish, it's almost a bit dizzying when you try to think back to what such ships have been through. Thanks for the link! Nice ship!
Matts, it is always a different experience when you know the history. Peter has had some boats and so on, as he grew up in the archipelago. I have only had one canoe 😉 .
Ama de casa, it's really impressive that so much time, effort, dedication and money has been put into rebuilding it!
Deciree, I also like the mahogany. And thank you so much! 🙂
Ditte, these are really "real" boats! 🙂
30 June 2016 - 11:13
nils-åke hansson says:
Truly worth preserving
30 June 2016 - 11:55
BP says:
What an exciting and very different story about Alba II. Interesting!
Vintage boats are great. They have so much to tell somehow. And the enthusiasts who own and restore them really love their boats.
30 June 2016 - 12:21
Emma, sun like sun? says:
It's these boats that you stop and really admire. And fascinated by people with this passion because I guess that's what you have to have to take care of these beauties.
30 June 2016 - 13:43
Role o Carina says:
What wonderfully beautiful boats you have in the Pampas!
Had a HT boat myself in the 80s for a few years 🙂 .
Take care......
30 June 2016 - 14:58
Annie says:
Beautiful boat 🙂
I spent my childhood summers on a boat in the Stockholm archipelago, so boating is close to me 😉.
A: I really recognise myself in what you write.
Sometimes people's comments can actually annoy me, sure they mean well but you have to think twice before you speak .. 😉 .
30 June 2016 - 16:15
year says:
I admire your ability to keep the blog alive, make it interesting and fun to read. I am an inveterate wooden boat enthusiast and followed the salvage operation on the day. Thank you for your writer's block and happy birthday. We can't stop the years from going by, but we can make sure they are fun years, so make sure you celebrate properly.
30 June 2016 - 16:18
admin says:
Nils-Åke, yes indeed!
BP, yes, I was really fascinated when I was reading yesterday 😉.
Emma, well it's lucky that there are people who are passionate about looking after these boats, otherwise we wouldn't get to enjoy them!
Rolle and Carina, yes there are some really nice boats here! Glad you had a boat! 🙂
Annie, water and boating are great 🙂 And thanks for the reply!
Annar, how nice that you followed the recovery and everything! And thank you very much for the congratulations! 🙂
30 June 2016 - 16:39
Maria says:
What beautiful boats and thanks for the excursion tips!
/Maria
30 June 2016 - 17:07
Anja says:
Ma!!! You turn year today!!! Congratulations Helena!
30 June 2016 - 17:24
Ruth in Virginia says:
I like oaks, preferably old oaks made of wood.
but likes to look at nice old boats.
30 June 2016 - 17:27
Stare Current says:
Such beautiful boats!!!
30 June 2016 - 18:57
Role o Carina says:
Oh heck, I forgot to say Congratulations!
Enjoy.......Celebrate
30 June 2016 - 19:38
Lots of other stuff and some concrete says:
How nice that the old boats are cared for and preserved. It must be a great job. We live near a shipyard so we see some nice old boats there.
Happy birthday from me too!
Agneta
30 June 2016 - 19:38
Ruth in Virginia says:
BIRTHDAY!!! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! "With a simple tulip..."
Hope you take the time to celebrate, despite all the time you spend
on your lovely blog.
30 June 2016 - 19:42
Eva says:
Super nice and certainly there is a certain charm with those vintage boats 🙂 fun in houseboat I can imagine nice evening 🙂 .
30 June 2016 - 19:59
Violen on Brandholmen says:
Beautiful and well maintained boats! Agree with the birthday congratulations!
30 June 2016 - 20:39
admin says:
Maria, thanks for the comment and glad you stopped by!
Anja, yes I do... Thank you very much! ?
Stare Ström, right?
Rolle and Carina, thank you so much! We have celebrated with bubbles and a good dinner!
Agneta, then I understand that you see a lot of boats! And thank you very much!!!
Ruth in Virginia, thank you so much! Yes absolutely, we have celebrated with prosecco and a good dinner. A little pateer for starters and then salmon and asparagus, yum 🙂 .
Eva, it is certainly cosy in a houseboat and there is a lot to look at in a marina too!
Violen on Brandholmen, thank you very much!
30 June 2016 - 21:05
Shamrock says:
Oh how nice. I have heard about Alba but the others are new acquaintances.
30 June 2016 - 21:05
Mr Steve says:
What beauties. Nice to also have the history behind these boats.
30 June 2016 - 22:43
Ikas USA says:
Awesome! And so beautiful! Had so much wanted to take Matt to Pampas marina now that we were in Sweden, but it did not happen. He loves boats and especially those with a history behind them!
Happy birthday! 🙂
01 July 2016 - 1:41
admin says:
Shamrock, how nice that you heard about Alba! She is in good company with three other fine boats.
Steve, isn't it always more interesting when you hear the story?
I understand that it is difficult to keep up with everything when you are visiting. And thank you so much! 🙂
01 July 2016 - 6:10
Helena says:
Maybe I'll take a trip by and check out the boats next time I'm in Stockholm 🙂 .
01 July 2016 - 13:18
admin says:
Helena, yes and visit us at the same time of course! 🙂
02 July 2016 - 7:59
Mats says:
Hello!
My name is Mats Moberg and I am from Matfors. Some time ago, someone with an interest in boats contacted me to see if I might know something about a boat they had found. It was a small tug boat in sheet metal. Made and sold to SCA-matfors to be used in Ljungan at the factory. Now I have found some interesting information about the boat. But unfortunately I have misplaced the phone number of the person who was interested. Maybe someone can guide me to the right person.
03 May 2020 - 8:07