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John Anker, Yacht Designer |
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Johan Anker was born 1871 in Norway. He soon took to yacht design and building as his great interest in life. In 1905 he bought in to a small boat building yard named Jensens Yard. It now changed name and became the famous Anker & Jensen Yard. Most of the boat designing was done by Anker and the boat building was done mostly by Jensen.
Johan Anker became an internationally recognized yacht designer after entering the 1908 Olympics in Great Brittan in 1908. The sailing took place in the Solent and Johan Anker raced with his International 8meter R yacht “Fram”. He managed to secure second place in both races. A few years later Johan Anker returned to the Solent for the 1911 Coronation Regatta, this time with the yacht “Rollo”, an international 12 meter R design. This time Johan Anker sailed home to Norway with the gold medal. With the International Meter Rule yachts quickly increasing in popularity on the international yacht racing scene, John Anker had established him self as a first class designer! With the long sleek and beautiful boats that John Anker designed he soon became known as the “master of lines” not only in his home country but also in the rest of the world.
John Anker also had several other successes in yacht racing after this, one that has to be mentioned is the 1928 Olympic Gold medal when racing in the International 6 meter R yacht “Norna” with Anker at the helm and no other then the Norwegian King Olav as crew member!
Except from designing several International Meter Rule yachts, the most noticeable design from John Anker is the Dragon from 1929. The Dragon became an Olympic class and is still today a fast growing keel boat class that is raced in several countries.
In 1915 John Anker parted with Jensen and the yard was taken over entirely by Anker who keep the name Anker & Jensen for the business. Some yachts designed by John Anker: Dragon
Norna Int6mR
Blossom II Q-class
Rollo Int12mR
MAGDA IX
FIGARO IV
Brand II |
Yacht Designers 