r e x o n a 1 1 1 - back to the roots -

- the european story of a Danish cutter -

The Rexona in Frederikshavn with registration number FN. 57. Einar Sigurd Olsen, 1915, oilpainting on canvas.Source: Bangsbo Museum Frederikshaven.

The Rexona in 2007 outside the water locks at Den Oever.Source: archive association Rexona.

Contents

Introduction AssociationRexonaMissionStatementHistoryRexonaOffshoreFishing1850-1920CuttersforOffshoreFishing1850-1920LustrumactivitiesGoalTargetGroupsSustainabilityTimeschedulePartnersBudgetOrganisationContact

1

The Rexona with decktent during winter maintanance at the Naval Museum Port of Den Helder.Source: archive association Rexona.

Breakfast on deck just before leaving for a sailing trip.Source: archive association Rexona.

2010 will mark 111 years since the Danish fishing cutter ‘Rexona’ was built in FrederikshavninDenmark.TheRexonaisoneofthefewDanishcuttersstillsailing. She is a reminder of the Golden Age of the Danish and North Sea fishing industryaround1900.TheAssociationRexona,thecurrentownerofthecutter,would like to call attention to the important role of North Sea fishing and the impact forindustry,economyandregionaldevelopmentduring1850-1920.TheDanishfishing industry and cutters took the lead in the fast development of off shore fishing due to revolutionary inventions and the development of a modern fishing fleet.

TheRexonabelongstothelastgenerationofwoodencuttersbeforethemechanizationandcenturiesofknowledge,experienceandtraditionareexpressedbyherexcellentsailingqualities.“Shesailslikeaswan,”aformercrewmemberinLemvigsaidduringaninterview.TheRexonasymbolizescenturiesofshipbuilding, methods of fishing and navigation skills. During the period 1850-1920industrialization,urbanizationandafastgrowingpopulationledtoanincreasing demand for fish. Improved (international) networks made transport over large distances possible. Denmark had the most advanced fishing fleet and modernshipbuildingindustryaround1900.OtherNorthSeacountries,inparticularNorway,TheUnitedKingdom,GermanyandTheNetherlandslookedwithinterestandcopiedtheDanishexample.

TheRexonaisthesailingculturalheritagefromthisperiod.TheAssociationRexona wants to restore the cutter in the authentic style (based on the painting of 1915 and original drawings), sail to Denmark and ancient fishing grounds to promote the important role of North Sea fishery for public awareness. Furthermore, theAssociationwouldliketosailannuallytoDenmarkandtoinstitutionalizecooperationwithDutch,DanishandotherEuropeanpartners.

IntroduCtIon

2 �

The Rexona on television during SAIL 2005 during the news broadcast.Source: NOS, the Dutch Public Broadcasting Organisation.

The Rexona outside the harbour of Lelystad.Source: archive association Rexona.

The Rexona on the Wadden Sea outside the port of Den Helder.Source: archive association Rexona.

� 5

The Rexona on the IJsselmeer during the cutterrace of 2005.source: archive association Rexona.

The Rexona in the Inner Harbour during the annual cutter race -2005- in Enkhuizen.source: archive association Rexona.

MIssIon stateMent

The Association Rexona (www.verenigingrexona.nl) is the owner of the cutter since 1997.TheMembersoftheAssociationaredevotedtomaintainthisuniqueshipandtopassknowledge,experienceandskillswithregardtosailing,constructionandtheoriginal use of cutters for offshore fishing.

ThegoaloftheAssociationistokeeptheRexonasailing,toofferthisopportunitytothepublicandtotakecareofthisculturalheritage.IncomeoftheAssociationisgeneratedfromtheannualcontributionsofmembers,donationsandcontributionsforsailingdays.Thisincomecoverstheannualexpensesformaintenanceandadministration.Experiencedskipperseducatecrewonthejob,inordertopasstheknowledge,skillsandexperiencetonewcomersandnewgenerations.Duringthewinterthememberscarryouttheregularmaintenanceactivities.Bigreconstructionsaredonebyprofessionalshipyards.Themainreconstructionsarefinanced by sponsors, subsidies and donations. The Prins Bernhard Foundation and twoprivatesponsorswillfundthenecessaryrenovationofpartsofthemidshipinthewinterof2008-2009.Trainingweekendsforcrew,navigationcrewandcaptains are being organized in the spring. Passengers are ‘crew’ during sailing trips. Thereare12sleepingcabins,kitchenandtoiletfacilities.

TheRexonacurrentlysailsonlyonNetherlandsinlandwaters,WaddenSeaandIJsselmeer. After the reconstruction the ship will be seaworthy and can sail to DenmarkandintheNorthSeaarea.Theweb-site,sofaronlyavailableintheDutchlanguage,providesfurtherinformation.

The Association Rexona wants to preserve one of the last wooden fishing cutters fromthenineteenthcenturyandtoraiseawarenessoftheimportantroleofNorthSea fisheries during 1850-1920.

assoCIatIon rexona

� 7

Fragment from a policereport from 19�1. The Rexona had a collision with the vessel Monica.Source: Handelsministeriet København.

Certificate of registration as a sailing monument.

TheRexonawasbuiltin1899bytheshipyardOlseninFrederikshavn.SheisaFrederikshavn cutter for Seine fishing. She was registered in Frederikshavn under the name ‘Nevada’, registration number FN 57, with a motor of 12 hp, 17 meters long, 5 meters wide, depth 2 meters, 28 GNT (37 BNP). She was made of oak and hadaSwedishengine.Shewasoneofthebiggercutters.

The first owner was C. Ambjørn, who sold the boat in 1916 to J. Carlsen. From 1917 she was registered in Esjberg, under registration E 365. The new owner was L.G. Jensen. S. Enevoldsen was the new owner from 1929 and he renamed her to ‘Rebekka’. In 1933 the new owner was A.C. Nielsen, who renamed her again, to ‘Karen’. In 1961 the new owner was K. Piet, who gave the present name ‘Rexona’, registered in Lemvig under registration number L 386. Other owners wereV.Poulsenandfrom1975-1977N.BechLarsen.ThesummerharbourwasinThyborøn. The Rexona was used as a fishing vessel until 1977 when she stopped fishing.

In 1977 she was sold to Sam (Piet) Kaptein, a Dutchman. He sailed to the Netherlands by motor power ( the Rexona had a 2 cilinder Hundested motor (96 hp) and dragged also the cutter ‘Nordstøm’ to the Netherlands. The Rexona had a wheelhouse,butnolongeramast.

From1980thenewownerwasVictorvanDalen,whorenovatedandrepairedtheRexona.Heputonanewmastandsails,removedthewheelhouseanddidmanyotherreparations.In1984hesailedbacktoEsbjergandin1985hemadeatourtoNorway,SwedenandDenmark.AtthisoccasionhevisitedLemvig,wherehemetthelastownerandsomeformercrewmembers.

In1997theAssociationRexonawasestablished.ThepresenthomeportisDenHelder,themainMarineharbourinTheNetherlands.TheRexonahasbeenrecognized as a sailing monument by the Dutch authorities (National Register Sailing Monuments, Nr. 753).

HIstory rexona

� 9

The Rexona in the fifties in the harbour of Esbjerg sailing with registration number E ��5. Source: Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet i Esbjerg.

The Rexona in the fifties in the harbour of Esbjerg sailing with registration number E ��5. Source: Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet i Esbjerg.

Water colour painting of Lemvig by Hans Brygge. Source: E. Damgaard, ‘Byvandringer i Lemvig, Lemvig 2002.

The Rexona with registration number L ��� in the harbour of Lemvig around 1970. Source: Cultural-historic Museum Lemvig.

HIstory rexona

10 11

The Olsen shipyard in Frederikshaven around 1900. The Frederikshavencutter FN 5� is being pulled up the dockyard. Source: Bangsbo Museum Frederikshaven.

Fishing cutters in the harbour of Esbjerg. Oil painting on canvas, signed ‘F.0�’. Source: Morten Hahn-Pedersen, ‘Fra Viking til borebis, Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet i Esbjerg, 2001.

Announcement ‘new cutters’ explaning characteristics of the Nevada and the sistership Frem.Source: Fiskeriforenings Medlemsblad, 20 february1899.

HIstory rexona

12 1�

Schematic visualisation of the Danish Seine fishing method.Source: E. Skelmose, Snurrovodfiskeri i tekst og billeder, Esbjerg 1968.

Danish cutter in the fifties hauling nets onboard. Source: Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet i Esbjerg.

The Danish Seine fishing (Snurrevodfiskeriet in Danish) was invented in 1848 by Jens Laursen Vaever (1822-1914), who lived in Krejbjerg in Jutland, Denmark.

Inthismethodalargepartofthebottomoftheseaissurroundedbyropesanda fishing net, cast by the fishing vessel. The vessel hauls the nets and the fish are caught in the net. In 1880 Frederikshavn was the first harbor where Danish Seine fishing was introduced on a large scale. Before that time fishing took place close to the coast in small boats or even from the beach. Mainly white fish (codfish and haddock) were caught.

With this new fishing method large quantities of flatfish were caught. Danish Seine fishing became the most common fishing method in Jutland and it was introduced soonafterwardsinEngland,Scotland,Sweden,Norway,IslandandIreland.IntheNetherlands it took longer and Danish Seine fishing was introduced only after the FirstWorldWar.

Danish Seine fishing came at a moment of industrialization, urbanization and a fast growing population and there was a growing demand for food and fish in particular. From an economic perspective flatfish were much more profitable than white fish. Seine fishing caused a revolution in the ship building industry. There was a growing demand for larger ships, which could fish further offshore and could reach new fishing grounds.

From1898theDanishgovernment,acknowledgingtheeconomicpossibilities,granted loans to build fishing vessels. The fishing industry became an important sector and towns along side the West-coast of Jutland rapidly developed. Within a few decades the small town of Esbjerg became the most important harbor of Jutland. After 1900 the development went even faster by the mechanization of the fleet and introduction of new means of transport to distribute fish. It was the Golden Age of the Danish fishing industry, which would last until the outbreak of the First World Warin1914.

offsHore fIsHery 1850-1920

Andriaen Coenenz, map of fishing grounds around 1570. Source: Morten Hahn-Pedersen, ‘Fra Viking til borebis, Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet i Esbjerg, 2001.

1� 15

Drawing of a Bohuslenske type fishing boat. Source: A. Hjorth Rasmussen, ‘Vejen til Nordøen’, Nordmuseet Hirtshals 1984.

The Frederikshaven cutter Johanna Olsen registration number FN 1�� manoeuvring in the harbour. Source: Bangsbo Museum Frederikshaven.

Until the appearance of Danish Seine fishing the most common fishing vessel was the ‘Bohuslenske’ model. This was a small boat, appropriate to fish close to the coast. Thenetwascastintheseabyasmallboat,thekutterjol.

Danish Seine fishing led to a revolution in the construction of fishing vessels from 1880 onwards. The vessels became much larger, fit for sailing on high see (North sea ) and with a storage for fish and a special fish barrel for living flatfish (up to 4,000 fish), which were kept alive.

The architect E.C. Benzon from Frederikshavn started with designing (big) vessels for Danish Seine fishing in 1885. These cutters belonged to the ‘Frederikshavn’ model.Thiswasthebeginningofanewgenerationofcutters,withanaverageof25-30 GNT, about 50 feet long, 6-7 feet deep. The largest vessels had even 35-50 GNT. Thevesselsremainedweeksonseabeforereturningtotheharbor.Around1900there were about 200 cutters with more than 10 GNT (from which less than 100 with more than 20 GNT). The number of crew was five or six.

Thebiggervesselshadamaingaffsail,smallgaffsail,topsail,jib,foresailandasmall mast on the afterdeck. The mechanization of fishing vessels started from 1885 with a small steam motor (3-5 hp), which was used during maneuvering or windless periods.Sailingremaineddominant.Around1900the200biggercutterswereequipped with semi-diesel engines. In 1920 almost all 4,600 Danish fishing vessels hadamotorandthesailingvesselbelongedtothepast.

danIsH fIsHIng vessels In Jutland about 1900

The fishing harbour of Lemvig in the sixties. Source: Cultural-Historic Museum Lemvig.

1� 17

Scan of an original drawing of the Frederikshaven fishing cutter Jakob Anderson around 1�9�Source: Bangsbo Museum Frederikshaven.

danIsH fIsHIng vessels In Jutland about 1900

1� 19

Lustrum sailing trip of the Rexona in 2010.

Sailing to Frederikshavn, Esbjerg, Lemvig/Thyborøn.

OrganizingofeventsincooperationwithotherNorthSeacountries, organisations,museumsandlocalmunicipalities.

Sailing with last crew and descendants of last owner in Lemvig/Thyborøn.

SailingtoDenHelder,Enkhuizen,Sail2010andVlaardingen.

Organizingeventsincooperationwithlocalmunicipalities,museumsand organizations.

lustruM aCtIvItIes 2010

DanishandDutchpublic.

OtherNorthSeacountries.

target groups

SailingtheRexona,restoringandconservingtheshipasmonument.

Maintenanceofthemaritime,culturalandeconomicheritageofNorthSea fishery 1850-1920.

InstitutionalizationofDutch-DanishcooperationandwithotherNorthSea countries.

aIMs of tHe lustruM

lustruM aCtIvItIes 2011

PublishingthebookaboutTheRexonafromanhistoricalperspective,dealing with North Sea fishery, shipbuilding and regional development 1850-1920.

Documentary about the history of North Sea fishery, shipbuilding and regionaldevelopment1850-1920.

20 21

The Rexona in Frederikshaven with registration number FN. 57. Einar Sigurd Olsen, 1915, oilpainting on canvas.Source: Bangsbo Museum Frederikshaven.

Andreas Olsen in 190�, owner of the J.N. Olsen Shipyard in Frederikshavn.Source: Bangsbo Museum Frederikshaven.

renovatIon to orIgInal state

longtermvision

TheAssociationwouldliketoestablishlongtermcooperationwithDutch,DanishandotherEuropeanpartnersandsailannuallytoDenmarkandotherNorthSeacountries.Accompanyingeventswillraisetheawarenessofthepublicwithregardto the relevance and role of sea fishery.

TimeSchedule

January-March 2009: Project development March-October 2009: Fund raising November2009–April2010 RenovationRexona January-June 2010 Organisation Events and sailing trip July-August 2010 Sailing to Denmark and The Netherlands Spring 2011 Presentation book and Documentary (DvD)

DanishPartners

BangsboMuseuminFrederikshavnFisheriesandMaritimeMuseuminEsbjergHistorical-culturalMuseuminLemvig

DutchPartners

FoundationNautischeMonumenteninDenHelderZuiderzeeMuseuminEnkhuizenSailAmsterdam2010FisherymuseumVlaardingen

22 2�

Members of the association Rexona during maintanance in Urk. February 2000.Source: archive association Rexona.

Restoration bow in Lelystad. April 2007.Source: archive association Rexona.

Rexona being launched after winter maintanance on the Huisman Itrec wharf in Rotterdam. March 2005.Source: archive association Rexona.

2� 25

Maiden trip Rexona. Summer 1997.Source: archive association Rexona.

Budget

Renovation Rexona to authentic state. (painting of 1915 and original drawings) SeaworthyequippingoftheRexona. Documentation,authenticequipmentandothermaterialformuseumship. Eventsatlocation.

Lustrum Commission: MaartenKoning mkoning@rexona111.eu ArnoPronk apronk@rexona111.eu Joost Woertman jwoertman@rexona111.eu VictorvanDalen vvandalen@rexona111.eu StevenGerritsen sgerritsen@rexona111.euPhone Numbers: MaartenKoning Tel: + 31 6 11562200

Joost Woertman Tel: + 31 6 42151900

Correspondence address: LustrumcommissionREXONA111 c/oMaartenKoning Jan Luijkenstraat 20 III 1071CNAmsterdam

Office Address: AssociationRexona c/oLeopoldvandenAssum Hollandiahof 39 3119 ZD Schiedam

renovatIon to orIgInal state

2� 27

2� 29

The harbour of Lemvig. Source: culture-historic Museum Lemvig.

- www.rexona111.eu -- lustrum @ rexona111.eu -

r e x o n a 1 1 1 - back to the roots -

- the european story of a Danish cutter -

a witness of centuries old trade and fisheries relations between thenetherlands and denmark. delfts tile from the 17th century from a dutch shipwreck.Source: M. Hahn-Pedersen, Fra Viking til borebisse (Esbjerg 2001).