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The Poolvos

The "Poolvos" is a classic sailing yacht with sharp lines, a so called Y-bottom, in section somewhat shaped like a wineglass and it has an integrated keel. A sharp yacht has a sharp bow in contast to round or full ships. Sharp yachts were important in the development of boating for pleasure in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands were no yachtclubs as there were in Great Brittain or the US to encourage such an development, therefore we were rather late. The Poolvos build in 1922 marks this point in development in the Netherlands perfectly, wich is the building of wooden (sharp) pleasure sailing yachts.

As mentioned the ship was build in 1922 on the shipyard 't Jacht owned by mr.Bernhard in Nieuwendam, Amsterdam North. Mister Bernhard's yard build at the time mostly steel workboats and flatbottom ships but let his boatman (carpenter) build this ship for own use.

During WW-II the ship was hidden in a barn in a small village Durgerdam just north of Amsterdam and on the contrary to many other yachts, was kept from the hands of the germans. In 1947 the ship got another owner who undertook many journey's to the northern sea's. He renamed the ship as Poolvos (polar(snow)fox). In addition the heavy gaf rig was replaced by a ketch rig. After 1983 the ownership of the Poolvos changed many times and she lost much of her previous glory. To the sequensing owners the maintainance was practical and financial a to hudge obligation. Every two or three years the ship changed ownership.

From 1992 till now the Poolvos is in the caring hands of a group of five, that has become mate's in the struggle of the Poolvos' live. Was there from 1992 the plan of restoration with volunteers, while the ship was owned by a trust; in 2000 when the former had not proven to work, the five man took over ownership and are expecting to relaunch the old lady in the summer of 2004.
This site is about making just that happen.