Halfdan Hansen



Halfdan Hansen (1883-1953) was a well-known and experienced yachtsmen. His previous boat Tamara VIII (EX Noreg 1927) was a successful Anker designed 8mR. In 1932 He asked Jensen to design a fast cruiser with a bit more accommodations than an 8. He used her for 3 years but felt he wanted a bit more of a cruiser. The Tamara X (Jensen also) was bigger still but also moved away from the "Meter boat" type a bit more. Tamara X proved a more popular type and led to 5 sister ships being built and also some larger versions of the type.

Halfdan was very much involved with the KNS (Kongelig Norsk Seilforening - Royal Norwegian Yacht Club). He was Director from 1924-1928. He was also the Norwegian representative, along with Johan Anker, at the International rule meetings in London in 1919. This meeting solidified the "International Rule" as the main rule for international sailing. The Americans were pushing very hard for their "Universal Rule" and I think it came down to one vote.   (Johan Anker's view of the two rules)

Halfdan also wrote several books on yachting described in his obituary below.

After he sold Tamara she stayed in Norway until about 1958 when it was sold to an owner in Southern California. I bought her in 1998 and shipped her to Italy for a complete restoration. She had always been kept in the water and had her original shape and a fair sheer line. Her original mast had broken in the 80's and was replaced by an alloy one (Masthead rig) and unfortunately her interior was completely changed in the 60's. All the hatches and the cockpit were original and the original deck was in place under 8mm plywood. This made it easy to replace the deck and covering board as originally designed. I made a trip to Norway to do research but found no drawings and only 2 early photos but I found three of the sister ships to Tamara X (the later boat) that was built at the same yard. I recreated the interior matching the style of these boats.

Tamara has attracted a lot of attention because of her beauty and she certainly represents the very high level of Norwegian design of this period.

Tamara IX has now been sold to Håkon and Linda Honningsvåg and has returned to Norway after 50 years!

      

Halfdan Hansen (1883-1953)

Halfdan Hansen has gone. He was found dead in the mountains, which he loved as much as the sea...

It's hard to think that we no longer have him amongst us, will no longer see his beautiful "Tamara" heading out of the fjord, and will no longer be able to read his objective and inspiring articles - under the renowned signature "H.H." - in Seilas either.

There will be a feeling of emptiness after the passing of Halfdan Hansen. He was a central part of not only Norwegian but Scandinavian sailing and his name was well known almost everywhere where sailing is a sport. His many sailing friends in other countries will share our sorrow over his departure.

Halfdan Hansen was born in Oslo on October 16th 1883 and was a real "Kristiania Boy". He was President of the insurance company Hansa where he had worked since 1906. He was well respected in his line of work and a great leader of his company.

His work in and for the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club was so comprehensive that it will be hard to relate it without forgetting something. He joined the club in 1904 and soon showed capabilities as a brilliant helmsman. With his "Tamaras" he was respected and liked but feared as a competitor. Countless were his triumphs on the regatta circuit in other countries as well as at home. It will suffice to mention his run of victories at Europe Week and the Jubilee Regattas at Sandhamn in 1930 where with his 8-Metre "Tamara 8" he won four 1sts in a row, as well as first in a class of 16 boats.

With his abilities and his glowing interest it was natural that Halfdan Hansen soon found a place in the running of the club. In 1916 he was on the committee, from 1920 to 1924 he was Vice Commodore and Commodore from 1924-1928. It is no exaggeration to say that from the day he started his involvement in club until the end of his life he was the steering and the frame of the club. Without Halfdan Hansen as a member, with his input of such forward thinking and important work, our committee would have had no importance. He was always available as a chairman of the jury and we remember him from right at the beginning assisting H.M The King in arranging the Kongens Serieseilaser (King's Race Series). Over the years we all know what this has meant to Norwegian sailing and we are sure His Majesty will be the first to acknowledge that this breakthrough was mostly due to Halfdan Hansen's involvement.

When he passed away he was Squadron Chief, Commodore of the Cruising Division and a member of the Regatta Committee. He was also the only Norwegian sailor who tried to bring his interest to people through writing. In 1919 he published "Regattasejlernes Haandbok" (The Regatta Sailor's Handbook) and in 1924 "Yachtseilas" (Yacht Sailing) which was published again in 1945. For the 50th Jubilee of K.N.S. he wrote together with Malling K.N.S.'s Jubilee Book and in 1950 he wrote (with Sven Salen) "Seilas" ("Racing"). He was the Norwegian contributor on the Swedish compendium "Nordens bàtar" (Scandnavian Boats). He also wrote several articles for "Seilas" and foreign publications. At his death he was finishing his pilot book which we'd all eagerly anticipated.

Outside our club he also had a string of entrusted work. He was a member of Norway's Olympic Committee, Oslo's Friluftsràd (Outdoors Council), Reisetrafikkforeningen in Oslo (Oslo Touring Club) etc.

In 1936 Halfdan Hansen was elected as an honorary member of Kongelig Norsk Seilforening. On that occasion he related that his time as a member of the club had been a great adventure and life would have been so much poorer for him had it not been for the K.N.S. Halfdan Hansen gave more than he took. It will be a long time before Norwegian sailing finds someone to replace this highly valued honorary member. He has written his name forever into the annals of Norwegian sailing.

K.H.

There was a big public attendance when Halfdan Hansen was laid to rest on Saturday the 11th of April in the Nye Krematorium in Oslo. K.N.S. members stood guard at the flower garlanded coffin and our honorary member Ingar Dobloug carried the K.N.S. burgee which was lowered with the coffin.