Ö10 Muu malli Tore Holm

A rare Scandinavian classic, one of the beautiful Tore Holm yachts still sailing, with documented heritage and strong restoration potential.

S/Y Ulla is a cutter-rigged mahogany yacht designed by the renowned Swedish yacht designer, boatbuilder and Olympic sailor Tore Holm, and built at his yard in Gamleby / Gammelby around 1951. Holm was not only a designer but also one of Sweden’s great competitive sailors, winning two gold and a bronze Olympic medals in sailing. His life and work are documented in Tapani Koskela’s extensive biography I Have Won, I Have Lost, described as a major work on Holm as designer, builder and sailor.

Ulla represents the pure essence of the Scandinavian kustkryssare tradition: long and elegant hull lines, narrow beam, deep keel, mahogany construction, and refined sailing performance (Photos 1,2,3, and 4. Note: some photos show the old sails). She is not just a boat, but a piece of Nordic maritime culture. The classic sail plan and Ö8-related documentation show Ulla’s traditional long hull profile and current sail configuration (Photo 5).

The sailing performance is good. The boat has sailed for the last three seasons in the Turku Archipelago, and some videos can be seen here (Video 1, Video 2). She is slow compared to modern boats of the same size, but she feels solid underfoot and is very stylish through tacks and manoeuvres. In choppy sea conditions she keeps a steady course, drawing beautiful lines through the water without much slamming. When sailing upwind, she points reasonably well, with an apparent tacking angle of around 90 degrees in good conditions. She likes to be sailed with some confidence. The new sails have brought back the joy of sailing in both strong and lighter archipelago winds. She already moves in 4 m/s, and in 6–10 m/s she really shines. Winds of 10–14 m/s are manageable with 2–3 experienced hands.

In terms of investment, this is a rare piece on the market with a lot of beauty, at a reasonable price for what it offers. In 2026, Ulla reaches 75 years of history, and the existing documentation traces her story well over time. In addition to the purchase price, the future owner should consider an additional investment of around 10,000–20,000 € during the next 5–10 years to address general hull leakage and possibly renew major keel bolts. Nevertheless, her current condition allows her to be kept in good sailing order for the next 10–20 years with normal annual painting and varnishing work (own opinion).

The boat requires two persons for docking or leaving the harbor. At low speed in reverse, she only turns effectively to port because the propeller is slightly offset to starboard. At higher reverse speed, this effect mostly disappears.

Rig & Sail Inventory

Ulla recently received, in 2025, a new custom-made sail wardrobe produced by Neb Sails in Finland, with a total value of approx. €8,500. The sails are made from Dimension-Polyant DCX laminate, a durable low-stretch cruising laminate with good diagonal stability, UV protection and mildew resistance (Photos 6–7). They fit well and have given the boat noticeably more power under sail.

The ordered sails include:

Mainsail – 32 m², Genoa – 37 m², and Jib – 14.5 m²

The Lazy Jack bag and genoa deck storage bag are made from quality materials and look good on deck (Photos 8–9).

Additional sail and rigging equipment:

Ulla also has a double headsail / twin foresail arrangement (Photo 10 – with older sails), one of the details that links her visually and functionally to the performance-oriented classic rigs of her period. She can therefore use the genoa and jib at the same time. The twin foresail arrangement (Photo 11) also allows the use of an upper jib.

Older spinnaker, likely from the 1990s, but in acceptable condition (Photo 3)

Beautiful and light hollow wooden spinnaker pole (Photo 12)

Wooden mainsail boom

Traditional wooden mast from the Näsijärvi period, approx. 1980. The original mast broke in a storm.

Technical Specifications

Length overall: approx. 12.8 m (42 ft)

Beam: 2.55 m

Draft: approx. 2.10 m

Displacement: approx. 6,300–6,500 kg

Mast height: approx. 17 m from waterline

Sail area: approx. 83.5 m² with mainsail, genoa and jib

Berths: 4 (5)

Engine: Volvo Penta, 26 hp, approx. 1980. The oil tank was cleaned in spring 2026.

Design & Classification

Ulla is known as an Ö8 kustkryssare, although her dimensions are somewhat close to some Tore Holm Ö10 yachts such as Irmelin and Elsi-Anne. This is historically interesting, because in the square metre / skerry cruiser classes it was not unusual for mast or rig dimensions to be modified so that a boat could be measured into a different class. Tapani Koskela’s book provides excellent information about Swedish boatbuilding by Holm and his family, and about how these boats were classified and standardized.

Her design has similarities with:

Tore Holm design no. 997 / Ö8

https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024767711/ritning

Marita / Ebe / Gete-related Tore Holm designs, no. 996

https://digitaltmuseum.se/011024767699/ritning

Irmelin Ö10

History & Provenance

Documentation research was performed during 2023–2025, aiming to trace original drawings of the boat and historical information. Everything suggests that Ulla was designed and built by Tore Holm around 1950–1952. Documentation related to Ulla and dated 1951 is shown in Photos 13–14. Note also the name of Swedish Doctor Gustaf Nathanson, who was most possibly involved in purchasing her.

Known or reported history includes: built in Sweden at Tore Holm’s yard in Gamleby / Gammelby; later brought from Sweden to Finland; reportedly first in Espoo and later on Näsijärvi for approximately ten years; then moved to Uusikaupunki; and finally sailed in the Turku Archipelago from 2010 to 2019 and again from 2022 to 2026 after hull repairs. One story connected to the boat is that the Swedish owner selling the boat to the new Finnish owners suffered a heart attack on the day Ulla left him.

Maintenance, Systems & Refurbishment

Ulla has been actively repaired and maintained over the years. Known work includes:

Full deck renovation in 2011 (Photos 15–16), and further work in 2022 (Photos 17–21).

Supervised, good-quality underwater hull work in 2008 and 2022–2025. Additional major hull work was done in 2022 after a three-year period on land (Photos 22–26).

Coachroof / cabin restoration in 2010 (Photos 27–35).

Electrical system renewed in 2010 (Photo 36).

Fresh water tank and sink.

The electrical system is functional but could be improved. The boat can connect to 220 V shore power, has sockets for normal electrical use, and includes a battery charger.

Onboard Equipment

Volvo Penta 2003, 26 hp engine from approx. 1980. Maintained by expert hands during 2022–2026, but showing signs of age (Photo 40).

Wallas heater, condition to be checked (Photo 39).

Wallas SafeFlame two-burner stove, working (Photo 32).

Working sink and water system (Photo 32).

Approx. 100 L fresh water tank for washing / cleaning water.

Refrigerator, working, but seals should be renewed.

Toilet compartment; toilet should be renewed to meet current expectations (Photo 38).

Forward-looking echo sounder, not working at the moment.

Log.

Good-quality chartplotter / navigator.

Two automatic bilge pumps connected to the batteries and 220 V shore-power system.

Interior

The interior is one of Ulla’s most charming qualities. It is clearly hand-built with classic wooden craftsmanship and a very functional layout. Two comfortable berths in the main cabin. Two additional berths forward. Approx. five berths in total. Practical storage spaces and lockers throughout the boat. Beautiful traditional wooden details. Cozy, elegant and authentic classic yacht atmosphere.

Current Sailing Condition – Important Note

Ulla is currently located in Turku, Finland, at TPS harbour, and is sailable in Turku and archipelago waters. She has been inspected and registered for use, and all paperwork is up to date. She has been sailing in the archipelago during recent years and feels very solid. However, she is also a classic wooden boat and very different from a modern maintenance-free yacht. Like many wooden boats, she leaks after winter launch. After 3–4 weeks in the water, the hull takes up moisture and tightens well, stabilizing to a minor level. By mid-summer, the automatic bilge pumps usually activate only once or twice per day, and the boat can remain afloat safely through the season.

She has sailed recently, carries a valuable new sail wardrobe, has a beautiful and usable interior, and has enormous potential in the right hands.Overall, Ulla is a sailable classic restoration project. At the same time, she is not a turnkey modern yacht and requires:

Skilled wooden boat knowledge

Ongoing maintenance

Time, care and dedication

Two pairs of expert hands to bring her fully back to her best condition

Why Ulla is Special

Designed by Tore Holm

Built at Holm’s Gamleby / Gammelby yard

Authentic mahogany construction

Classic kustkryssare / Ö8 heritage

Beautiful long, narrow Scandinavian lines

Wooden mast and traditional rig details

Valuable new custom sails included

Rich historical background

Already sailing, but with restoration potential

Increasingly rare classic yacht type