Ken Freivokh has been working in the field of architecture and design for almost five decades. The British designer has been responsible for projects such as the 88-metre yacht "Maltese Falcon" and the 141 metre"Dream Symphony" responsible. Outside of his professional activities, he devotes himself to several unusual hobbies. Twelve years ago, he and his family bought an old farmhouse with plenty of land in the south of England. The desire to keep alpacas arose while he was living in Peru for several years. Today, he runs one of the most prestigious alpaca farms in the UK with almost 100 animals. The herd consists of the offspring of imported breeding animals from Snowmass Ranch in Idaho, USA. Eight males formed the foundation stock, with a further eight prize-winning alpaca beauties following later. The animals were imported to England via New Zealand, a considerable logistical effort due to the import regulations.
Quality of the fleece is crucial
Alpacas are not only judged by their physique and appearance, but above all by the quality of their fleece. The animals on Freivokh's estate produce wool with a thickness of just 14 micrometres. This fineness clearly surpasses merino wool and cashmere. The exceptional softness enables the production of particularly comfortable garments. Pier Luigi Loro Piana, who is also known as a passionate sailor, is one of the main purchasers of first-class alpaca fleece. Freivokh has already sold several of its breeding animals to breeders in France, Spain, Ireland and England. The domesticated camel species is affectionate and curious, and the animals always want to know what their owners are up to.
Other passions besides breeding
In addition to breeding alpacas, Freivokh runs three ponds with around 200 koi carp, some of which are over 30 years old. Border terriers have also been part of the family for many years. He likes to spend his free time flying remote-controlled helicopters, sailing or riding his motorbike. His sailing history spans many years, during which he mainly took part in regattas on half and quarter tonners. One of his most memorable experiences was his participation in the 1979 Fastnet race, which took a tragic turn. His crew had to be rescued from the storm by helicopter.
Unforgettable moments on "Mariette" and "Maltese Falcon"
The many seasons on board Tom Perkins' classic "Mariette" are among Freivokh's favourite memories. He competed in numerous regattas with the ship. He also associates his best diving experiences with Tom Perkins, who invited him aboard the "Maltese Falcon". They sailed through the South Seas for several weeks, anchoring between the Cocos Islands and off Fiji. The exploration of the Galapagos Islands with Perkins' diving boat was the highlight of this trip.
This article first appeared in BOOTE EXCLUSIV 2/2021 and has been updated for this online version.
Sören Gehlhaus
Stellvertretender Chefredakteur BOOTE EXCLUSIV
