Above: a family affair… Germán Frers Sr and daughter Zelmira, the naval architect and photographer who wrote The Story Behind Recluta – as much a family history as the story of a yacht name that has been an integral part of the Frers family for over 80 years. The latest incarnation (opposite) and Germán Frers with his siblings ‘dry-sailing’ one of their grandfather’s designs in the late 1940s
It took a lot of time and effort to per-
suade them to switch to the process we had designed… and we lost a lot more time while they changed what had already been done; all the completed frames were now realigned and levelled according to our plans by connecting them to a steel beam in turn connected to a steel structure that we designed and built for the purpose. Another challenge, one we cannot talk
very much about, was the fact that every piece of equipment bought overseas had to be shipped to Uruguay, rather than direct to Argentina. From screws, to winches, Sitka spruce for the spars, batteries, stove, fridge, water maker, blocks… everything. So we spent a lot of time travelling to
and from Uruguay to bring everything back to the yard. A lot of emails over a period of two or three years…
1943 Recluta vs 2021 Recluta I changed the original interior layout completely to reflect the changes that have occurred over the past 70-80 years. The galley was moved aft, from the forward crew quarters to the middle of the boat close to the main saloon. Two double guest cabins were built
forward with an adjacent toilet. These two cabins can be converted into one large one with the removal of a longitudinal dividing panel. Aft there is now an owner’s cabin
sporting a double berth and toilet with separate shower. The coachroof is a little higher than the
original to allow for the fact that people are taller… and also that I now have a 2m tall grandson. I maintained the height of the bulwark, but I raised the deck within the bulwark to gain headroom.
And now The launching of ‘Recluta’ took place on 18 December 2019, on the occasion of the visit of my granddaughter Camila Frers who is the yacht’s godmother. One week after launching she went back to the shed to finalise various jobs and installations which I expected to take two or three months maximum before she was ready to sail to the Med in April 2020… Then in March a draconian quarantine
was declared by the government. It was forbidden for anyone to go to the boat or do any work on her. So Recluta remained unattended for nine months or so; once the lockdown was lifted it took us a further two months to get things moving again.
A moving tale From the start of the Recluta project no one was more deeply involved than my own daughter Zelmira. As well as being a qualified naval architect, Zelmira took it upon herself to photograph and record
every moment of the Recluta build, firstly for our family, but then transforming her hard work into a magnificent 200-page book* full of words and magical photos, including many historic images reflecting my family’s – and the original Recluta’s – long story with the sea. Once afloat Recluta has weaved her
magic further with Zelmira, who from being rather lukewarm about sailing classic yachts is now sailing whenever she can, trimming sails and understanding what sailing is about. It is now a deep emotion, and it gives me great pleasure. Of course our family has cruised
together for many years during the south- ern winter school recess. I have also com- peted with my other children regularly on Heroina, but Zelmira was never involved in the sailing itself. Now Recluta has aroused the interest of
my children and grandchildren. She has inspired them in many ways related to our family life and family history. She has con- tributed very greatly to our togetherness. Today Recluta is safely ashore at the
Cantieri Navale dell’Argentario being maintained and prepared for next summer, racing and cruising… and perhaps then a nice sail back home to South America.
* The Story Behind Recluta, by Zelmira Frers
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