The Folkboat, a popular unit in the Nordic countries
Designed in the 40s by the young naval architect Tord Sundén, the Folkboat is a 7.68 m clinker sailboat. Simple and rustic, with an undeniable charm, it lends itself equally well to cruising and one-design racing. Popular in the USA, Germany and the Nordic countries, nearly 4,000 units have been produced, in wood or polyester.
A passionate purchase
A sailing novice with very limited experience, Mathilde bought her first boat half an hour after visiting it:
" With my mother's support, I acquired Freya in February 2021, so about 3 years ago now. She is number 462. We bought her without any technical knowledge of the work to be done on board, and with very limited experience on this kind of boat, so it was a very hard form of learning to tackle - especially for me, who has the most responsibility for Freya." .
And why did you choose Freya than another?
" I would say that I chose Freja mainly because she was in very good condition and the previous owners had completely redone her interior, which, together with her size and sailing capabilities, made her a very good first boat for me. I didn't know much about Folkboats and hadn't necessarily set my sights on this model, but Freja was just a beautiful boat !"
Getting started can be tricky
The first few weeks of sailing did not go according to plan. One fine afternoon in a medium wind, Freya's mast collapsed to port, but no one was hurt. Her first summer on board comes to a premature end.
Undeterred, the following year the young skipper repaired her rig, bought new sails, and continued sailing.
In turn, the engine starts to show signs of fatigue, making port maneuvers difficult.
But that hasn't stopped Mathilde from starting to enjoy herself aboard Freya. The sailing season in Denmark is quite short. In winter, it's impossible to sail.
A complete overhaul for this 1975 unit
Freya is a unit that will soon be 50 years old, but is still in good condition:
" As the sails had been damaged during the dismasting, the entire set was changed. The running rigging was also replaced, as was the mast, which had suffered too much.
Our engine problems were solved after several hours of work, and we changed the propeller to improve performance in calm conditions.
Prior to this, the previous owners had completely redone the interior, restoring the woodwork and installing a brand-new electrical system. My mother also made a new interior upholstery. As conditions in Denmark are a little harsh, we have polished the hull every year, and renewed the antifouling every time the boat is de-wintered ".
An excellent sailboat for beginners, but limited habitability
Very attached to her boat, Mathilde has forged a strong friendship with Freya, but still manages to paint an honest picture:
" In my opinion, Freja has many advantages: it's easy to rig and easy to maintain. When the boat is de-winterized, it takes just one day to prepare it for the new season. Every outing is easy and requires little preparation. And I can now sail solo without too much apprehension.
As for the negative points, I think the boat's shortcomings have to do with its size. It was certainly an advantage that it was so small when I bought it, but for me, living inside Freja for quite a long time caused backache. Being able to stand up straight inside the boat is something I miss ".
Gain experience on other units
Mathilde is currently in the Philippines, sailing a 50-foot steel sailboat for the tourist season with her boyfriend Emil. Taking advantage of this opportunity to perfect her navigation skills, she has left Freya waiting in her marina. She still doesn't know whether she'll be able to leave with her boyfriend soon Freya but there's no doubt that the little Folkboat will continue to cruise along the Danish coast.
