25 Years of the Elling Club, Part I: Why this gathering is more than just an anniversary

Text: Antonia von Lamezan

​As the Londenbrug in Antwerp lifts that evening to the sound of a shrill bell, 18 slipways in the Willemdok are already waiting for the stragglers. Shortly afterwards, three more motor yachts from the Dutch shipyard glide through the harbour entrance in convoy. The low-hanging sun is reflected in the yachts’ striking windows, whilst historic warehouses, modern office blocks and the MAS Museum pass by.

At the jetty, Frank Herman takes the mooring lines from the “Zeeotter”. “Welcome to the family!” he calls out to Josh, the American. For him, it’s his first Elling Club meeting. For many others, the annual gathering has long been a fixed fixture in the calendar. With a total of 21 boats, the club in Antwerp is celebrating its 25th summer gathering. Anyone walking along the jetties this evening will notice that, although the people here were brought together by their boats, the atmosphere has long since come to resemble a large family reunion.

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Elling Club: A floating village

The next morning, fog hangs over the harbour. The floating village of Ellings slowly comes to life. Dog owners are out for their first walks of the day; on the jetties, you can hear Dutch, English, German and French. People stop to exchange news, chat about their favourite spots and summer plans, or inspect the latest modifications to their boats.

The first group of coffee-drinkers has already gathered on the ‘Kivi’. Robert and Yvonne Carthaus from Neuss are sitting in the cockpit with their latte macchiatos, watching the goings-on. Mowgli, the family dog – a shaggy herding dog with a loyal gaze – is sitting between them, enjoying a stroke. Robert and Yvonne are on the cusp of retirement. For decades, they were passionate sailors, setting out every summer on their Sunbeam. It was only a knee injury that prompted them to consider an alternative. At a boat show, they discovered a Elling E4. “We fell in love with it straight away,” says Robert. For Yvonne, it was above all the unique sense of space. “The interior is reminiscent of a sailing boat. Everything feels soft, rounded and cosy. At the same time, it’s much more comfortable.”

Just a few months later, in 2019, they bought their Elling in Schleswig. To this day, the Dutch waters and the West Frisian Islands remain among their favourite sailing grounds. They’ve kept many of the habits they picked up from their sailing days. “Sometimes we still think we’ve got a mast,” says Robert with a laugh. They’re still amazed at just how low the bridges are that the “Kivi” can pass under, and at how well-suited it is to shallow waters. Just as important to both of them as the boat itself is the community of owners. “We joined the club at the harbour, where we got to know other Elling owners,” says Yvonne. “The people are incredibly helpful. We support one another, go on sailing trips together and swap loads of tips.” Robert particularly enjoys giving restaurant recommendations for the Netherlands. He’s collected many of them in his restaurant guide *Hungry in the Harbour*.

​Why the shipyard’s history is part of the club’s history

Shortly afterwards, Anton van den Bos and his son Wouter join the coffee gathering on board the “Kivi”. Anton founded the Elling shipyard and has been developing it since 1997. He is now gradually handing over responsibility to Wouter. He has known many of those present personally for years. He has delivered some of their boats himself or escorted them across the water together with the owners. Anyone listening to him quickly realises that the roots of today’s club community centred around Elling go right back to the shipyard. Van den Bos talks about the years of growth, an Atlantic crossing with customers in 2008, and the impressive self-righting test of an Elling in 2014. But he also recounts the more difficult chapters in the shipyard’s history: the fire in 2016, which nearly destroyed the company. Business partners provided financial support, whilst staff remained loyal to the shipyard. “When we were able to resume production, we first completed the boats for our older customers,” recalls Anton. “For them, every season on the water counts.”

The relationship between the shipyard and the owners feels less like a traditional relationship between manufacturer and buyer, and more like that between companions who have already shared many nautical miles and experiences together. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why the community centred around Elling has been so reliable for the past 25 years.

A quarter of a century of community

Thursday draws to a close with a party in a bar near the harbour. Following a guided tour of the town and a visit to an exhibition of historical nautical instruments from a club member’s collection, everyone dances, sings and celebrates here.

A quarter of a century of club history lies between the club’s longest-serving member, who has been with us for 25 years, and Josh, the newcomer from Seattle. One has attended almost every meeting, whilst the other is experiencing his very first. Yet it feels as though they have both been part of the same circle for years. Perhaps that is precisely what makes this gathering so special. The owners come from different countries, professions and stages of life. Some live on board almost all year round, whilst others mainly use their boat during the holidays. Some talk of long sea voyages, others of trips through inland waterways. And yet, in the end, many cite the same reasons for coming back time and again: mutual support, shared trips, the passing on of practical knowledge and friendship.

On Sunday, the mooring lines will be cast off once more. Robert and Yvonne are heading back to their berth in De Heen in the Netherlands. Josh, the American, is planning his route towards Scandinavia, whilst his jetty neighbour Frank is keen to set sail for southern waters again soon. Even though the boats and crews are scattering across Europe once more, they remain connected. The Ellings are the occasion. However, the real reason why so many return year after year is the people. One owner sums it up at the end of the gathering:

“Owning an Elling is more than just owning a boat. It means being part of a community.”

​Series: 25 Years of the Elling Club

Part 1 tells the story of the anniversary gathering in Antwerp and the sense of community on the jetty. Part 2 looks at life on board an Elling. Part 3 focuses on technology, safety and practical aspects of ownership.

Is an owners’ club ultimately more important than the make and model? Or is this still just a niche interest for a select few? Share your thoughts in the comments.