GKSS Spigg

Spiggen was constructed by the brothers Einar and Carl-Eric Ohlson during the 1940s. The dimensions are : Length 5,65 m. Width 1,65 m. Draught 0.90 m. Cast iron keel 180 kg. Mainsail 10 sqm. Jib 4 square metres. Spinnaker 18 sqm.

Spig nr 33 ‘Pirouette’ also carried a red genoa jib (Elvström) from a plastic boat type Varianty. Mainsail in Dacron from Syversens Segelmakeri in Smögen 1950s.

The Spiggen can be said to relate to the Star Boat as Volvo P-1800 to Volvo Amazon. At the races, the Spigs, as the faster boat type, always started before the Star boats and then came the J10s. The idea behind the design was probably to be able to offer asportier alternative to the Star Boat in the transition to the Dragon.

During the 1940s, the Ohlson brothers built a first prototype that had the rudder on the transom. The class mark in the sail was a black circle with a dot in the centre. Kjell Håkansson, Brännö, sailed one of these. Spig nr 7 ‘Spiggan’ in the early 1950s.

However, they were not satisfied with the design. By shortening the keel and moving the rudder inboard, Mr Ohlson revised the design and produced a faster and sportier boat. Spig nr 15 ‘Sonett’ became the standard for all later Spiggs in the same way as the boy’s boat ‘Joyce’ became the model for all future Star boats.

The class mark in the sail now became a blue ring with a filled triangle in the centre. With the fast

‘Sonett’ as a model, several boats were given names like “Garionett” and “Piruett”.

It is assumed that as many as 45 Spiggen boats were built.

‘Piruett’ was found in the woods in Påvelund in August 1978. It was Spigg no 33 and from the old start programme from Marstrand regatta in the 1960s, she was probably built in Mariestad around 1950. The boat was in poor condition but the Oregon pine planking was quite fresh and she was refurbished.

Source:

https://www.julleregister.se/andra_jullar/andra_jullar.html

Personal communication with Mr. Gilbert Holmström as well as internet