The Sail-Cutter Club Colin Archer (SSCA)
"Seilskøyteklubben
Colin Archer" or "SSCA", in English: "The Sail-Cutter
Club Colin Archer" is a Norwegian club founded by traditional boat
owners in 1972. Today we are about 200 members with 100 boats from all
over the northern part of Europe, but mostly from Norway. The club
intends to promote the interest of traditionally built vessels,
restoration or construction of new boats built in traditional materials
and using original designs. Sailing and using the boats is of great
importance. We hope to be able to give information and also advice future
boat owners in their choices. To become a member of the «SSCA» you must
own or be the skipper of a traditionally built boat based on a traditional
design, not necessarily a Colin Archer design.
Our official language is Norwegian.
What is a «seilskøyte»?
The «seilskøyte» («sail-cutter») is a traditional Norwegian
double-ender, usually with one mast, but sometimes with two, as the famous
rescue vessels. Most members of the «SSCA» have a «seilskøyte». Some
of these boats are original «Colin Archers», but most of them are
designed by other designers and boat builders, often with an Archer-design
as a model. There are not many original «Colin Archers» left,
probably less than 30 in all.
Who was Colin Archer?
Colin Archer was a Norwegian naval architect, born in Norway in 1832,
seven years after his parents emigrated from Scotland. In the 1860s he
established his own ship yard in Larvik, Norway. He became famous for his
design and construction of Fridtjof Nansen’s polar ship «FRAM» and
also the double-ended pilot boats and rescue cutters. Colin Archer died in
1921. The Archer yard is no longer there, but the Archer family
keeps the property in perfect trim.
The
«RS 1 COLIN ARCHER»
The rescue cutter was launched in Larvik south of Oslo in the end of
July 1893, as the first vessel ordered by the Norwegian Society for Rescue
(NSSR). Mr. Archer developed the shape of the hull from the traditional
Hvaler boat used on the South-East coast of Norway. «RS1 Colin Archer»
is now owned by the Norwegian Maritime Museum, and the «SSCA» is
responsible for daily maintenance of the boat. Since 1973 she has been
skippered by Knut von Trepka who has brought the boat to an excellent
condition. Read more
«VENUS»
is also a famous original Colin Archer «seilskøyte» owned by the
Norwegian Maritime Museum. She went through a major refit during the
winter/spring of 1998. Kari and Thoralf U. Qvale has the responsibility
for the daily maintenance. She is a first rate example of Archers many
yachts designed specifically for regatta and pleasure.
If you have any questions about the traditional Norwegian "seilskøyte" or the "Colin Archer Club" (SSCA),