Sailing out of the Past

[31seahorse]

Hello All,

With rain in SW Florida and weather of the most challenging sort throughout the northern parts of the country I offer this diversion:

I walked around one of the weekly swap-meet/flea market locations today as the rain began to give a hint of what was to follow. Most vendors were packing and fleeing, but a few hearty souls remained to snag that last Washington, Lincoln, or Hamilton from the dwindling crowd.

A gaff-rigged beauty of a sailboat in an thin, old, wooden frame caught my eye. The vendor ignored me as he bantered and haggled with another person who must have looked more like a buyer than I did. Anyway, after considering walking on I remained and got the opportunity to ask the age-old question, "How much are you asking for the boat picture?" I knew that his first response would be his pie-in-the-sky price, but for $10 he had me by the mainsheet! I agreed on the price, but did insist that he provide a plastic bag to protect my treasure form the increasing rain.

Below is the boat, the inscription, and the writing on the back of the framing material. Can any of you help with identification of the boat: design, model, etc? I can read some of the elegant handwriting on the picture: Aug 1929.

On the back it appears to refer to Amsterdam and again Aug 1929. Is the language French? Can anyone recognize the name of the boat or the other words on the back of the framing?

Thanks and stay warm! Phil

Note: My copy of Sailboat Classes of North America is on a shelf in PA or I would have consulted it. If you have one handy the boat type might be in there.

 

[topcat0399]

What a gorgeous ship!

Hope you find your answers.

 

[TLW]

My first thought was "oh, it's an Amphibicon" but I can't find enough info to follow that thread of thought. They were built (wood) in the 1950s, but I remember some Dutch connection. I was thinking your picture might be of a predecessor, or pedigree link from 1920s - but striking out.

 

[Jackdaw]

The writing is clearly Dutch.

 

[31seahorse]

Thanks for the quick responses. Any thoughts on the name of the boat from the handwriting or the other information on the back of the frame?

 

[DAVA390]

Phil, check E mails

 

[Ron20324]

Thanks for the quick responses. Any thoughts on the name of the boat from the handwriting or the other information on the back of the frame?

Any chance you can Xerox the back and send it via US mail? A lady-friend's mother is from the old country and speaks it, but neither one can make out the writing.

 

[kappykaplan]

Enlarged in the browser . . .

Thanks for the quick responses. Any thoughts on the name of the boat from the handwriting or the other information on the back of the frame?

Looks like the date is 3 Aug 1929. Last word of second line is Amsterdam.

 

[Kermit]

Does this help y'all read the inscription better?

 

[Rick Webb]

How About This?

http://translate.google.com/?sl=nl

 

[31seahorse]

Thank you for your interest in the picture and inscription. I followed Kermit's lead and worked on the original pictures of the old writing. Cropped and adjusted the contrast. If you care to investigate farther...... altered pictures are below.


I looked at maps of the Netherlands for a city or body of water ending in "Lee" or "See" which seem to be the last letters in the first word of the second line of the inscription on the back. In the first line after the name of the boat that appears in parenthesis seems to be the symbol: o / o which might refer to a boat "out of" a port or body of water.

During a break in the research Eileen and I took the powerboat out to Cayo Costa and walked on the sand spit at the enterance. Many other boaters chose to go there on this beautiful Sunday so, there were no more slips available at the state park. Later, we motored out a short distance beyond Boca Grand pass. Finally, back to the Lee County launch ramp at Bokeelia.

Phil

 

[Jackdaw]

Checked with a Dutch friend of mine last night. Sadly the boats names is un-readable, but the rest is:


Of the (name of the ship) of the Zuiderzee near Amsterdam, Aug 1929.

The 'op de' threw me, I'm more used to the Dutch using 'van' for 'of the' but the form is the same. And like others I saw 'o/o' and not 'op'. Nor did I pull out Zuiderzee, but my friend did right away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuiderzee

 

[Apex]

Try one letteer at a time for the boat name? Nice penmanship, days of yore. The boats name is in BOTH pictures:
Cj...gjer

 

[31seahorse]

Hello Jackdaw & Apex,
Thanks for your contributions! Maybe the name is " The Guuzjun" or "The Guuzjein"? I am looking at one letter at a time. I will remove the back of the frame later today to see if there is any more writing inside, but I plan to think on that project carefully so I don't ruin the backer or the frame. Someone has already lifted a portion of the backer to check for hidden money, maps, old paintings, or whatever. Phil

 

[Caboteur]

This is difficult to read obviously!
However "Zuiderzee cy Amsterdam" is evident... the 1928 Olympic games were held in Amsterdam and sailing events on the Zuiderzee... there must have been numerous yacht clubs or marinas which no longer exist in the area.
The flush deck boat brings back some memories but not enough to give it a name (for me anyways). Beautiful reminiscence of an era gone by.

 

[oldersalt]

Try submitting this to the Wooden Boat forum. There are lots of old-boat fanatics (or is it old boat-fanatics) over there.
Good looking old boat.
Good luck.
Oldersalt

 

[Caboteur]

Guuzje or plural Guuzjer or Guusje & Guusjer are Dutch for sweets or candies... someone take it from there?

 

[woodster]

try and contact this sailor and see if he can translate it for you Jack Van Ommen on his web site cometosea.us...he is a dutch sailor and full time at that he will be more than glad to help you ....i have a dutch friend here in Ga that i am trying to get to translate this for you...but also try Jack as well..

regards

woody

 

[jimmcgee]

There's also a Zuiderzee Museum (http://www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl/?language=en) dedicated to the history of the area.

The link is to the English version of their site. Someone there might be able to help.

 

[31seahorse]

Thanks oldersalt, Caboteur, woodster, & jimmcgee,

Following all the leads offered will take some time. I have learned from your translations and suggestions. The Olympics and the Zuiderzee Museum are sources to be explored. I think a short story might just write itself in the next few weeks.

I'm glad to have offered "a bone to chew on" during this cold weather.

Phil