The 12 Metre Yacht Club was founded by Jan Slee in 2006, with a clear mission: to promote and elevate the prestigious 12 Metre Class. From its inception, the idea of establishing regional ”stations” quickly took hold. Today, commissioned stations proudly operate in New York City, Kiel, Flensburg, and Copenhagen.
The vision for a Swedish chapter emerged in 2010, when a number of experienced 12 Metre sailors, including Pelle Petterson and Lars Unger, gathered in Newport, USA, for the celebrated “Return of the Legends” event. Inspired by the camaraderie and heritage of the class, they returned to Sweden with a shared ambition: to anchor the legacy of the 12 Metre class in Marstrand.
This idea came to life on February 8, 2011, during a meeting in Gothenburg, where Jan Slee officially commissioned the 12 Metre Yacht Club Marstrand Station. Its mission was clear:
“…to promote 12 Metre sailing in Marstrand and, when possible, arrange for 12 Metre racing…”
At the same time, Pelle Petterson was appointed Station Steward, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Scandinavian 12 Metre history.
The Marstrand Station operates under the management of Göteborgs Seglarklubb (GSK), a club with deep roots in the 12 Metre Class. GSK has organized prestigious events such as the Marstrand 12 Metre Cup, the European Championships, and the World Championships. Many of GSK’s members were key figures in Sweden’s America’s Cup challenges in 1977 and 1980, campaigns that featured the iconic 12 Metre S-3 “Sverige”, designed and helmed by Pelle Petterson himself.
Today, the club’s heritage continues. Among its fleet is the graceful US-14 “Northern Light”, a 12 Metre yacht launched in 1938 and designed by the legendary Olin Stephens, now proudly owned and sailed by two GSK members.
When GSK co-hosted the 12mR European Championship in 2019 alongside Skagen, Denmark, its leadership in the Marstrand Station was further cemented. The collaboration underscored the club’s enduring commitment to the 12 Metre Class and to Marstrand as a vibrant stage for classic yacht racing.
