History

Schooner Kathrina History The schooner Kathrina is an exceptionally well-built, three-masted wooden sailing ship, the construction of which began in 1947 in Sarvisalo, Pernaja. Shipbuilder Albin Gustafsson from Porvoo led the project, and Walter Forsell served as foreman. Kathrina was launched in the spring of 1949, and initially operated as a cargo ship in the Baltic Sea, transporting goods between Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Under the command of Captain Arne Lindberg, Kathrina transported, among other things, coffee, bicycles, steel and building materials, as well as sand for the needs of the Finnish construction industry.

By 1971, Kathrina had transported almost 300,000 tons of sand. In the 1970s, Kathrina was sold to Richard Thompson Coon, who began converting the ship from a cargo ship to a passenger ship. The conversion work was carried out in stages at several shipyards, including Suomenlinna. In 1993, Juha Stillman acquired Kathrina and continued the restoration together with Johanna Panelius. New decks, masts and modern systems were added to the ship to enable operations, and it was decided to rig it as a topsail schooner.

The renovation was also covered in television and radio programs, which reported on the work for traditional sailing. In 2012, Kathrina was transferred to the ownership of RPR Group, but Hugo Stillman was responsible for daily maintenance, sales and management. In 2015, a major renovation was carried out at the Suomenlinna Viapori shipyard, where, among other things, the old cabinet and sauna were replaced with a professional kitchen. Kathrina's most recent major renovation was carried out in 2019–2020, when the ship's scandeck was replaced, the railings were renewed, the entire bottom was relined and a large number of side and bottom planks were replaced.

In 2019, Kathrina was transferred to Dynamo Shipping Ltd Oy. The company is currently run by Markus Jämsen, Leo Stillman, Hugo Stillman and Riku Räsänen. Kathrina currently cruises in the summer from ice break to ice break, offering up to 80+ cruises per season. In the winter, Kathrina operates as a restaurant and charter service at the pier, which allows sailing experiences even in the cooler months. Through cruises and events, the traditional sailing ship culture is supported and the maintenance of this unique ship is enabled for future generations. Maintenance challenges and volunteer opportunities: A traditional wooden sailing ship requires constant maintenance and renovation, and Kathrina is docked at least every five years for hull inspections and maintenance work.

The ship's bottom is regularly relined, and damaged planks are replaced with new ones to keep the ship safe and seaworthy. Kathrina is planning an extensive renovation in 2025–2026 at the Suomenlinna shipyard, when thorough restoration work will be carried out. The scope of the renovation and the maintenance of a traditional sailing ship are demanding both financially and technically, as each maintenance operation requires precise craftsmanship and expertise. Kathrina is organizing volunteer work to support the renovation, and all lovers of the sailing ship tradition are welcome to join.

If you are interested in participating in the maintenance of Kathrina and the preservation of its tradition, you can leave your contact information and we will contact you regarding volunteers. Together we can ensure that Kathrina and other traditional sailing ships remain a valuable part of maritime cultural heritage for future generations. By cruising on Kathrina, you are also supporting traditional, ecological sailing ship traffic and its valuable history.

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