J.R. Tolkien (schooner)

J.R. Tolkien is a gaff-topsail schooner of Netherlands registry used for passenger cruises on the Baltic Sea and elsewhere in European waters.

J.R. Tolkien off Brest, France, in 2013
History
East Germany
Name	Dierkow
Port of registry	Rostock
Builder	Edgar-André-Werft, Magdeburg
Launched	1963
Notes	Converted to a topsail schooner, 1994
Netherlands
Name	J.R. Tolkien
Namesake	J. R. R. Tolkien[1][2]
Operator	Van der Rest Sail Charter
Port of registry	Amsterdam
Acquired	1994
Identification	IMO number: 7017064 MMSI number: 244496000 Callsign: PFRB
Status	Active[3]
General characteristics [4]
Type	Topsail schooner
Tonnage	139 GRT
Length	41.7 m (137 ft) (overall) 36 m (118 ft) (deck) 31 m (102 ft) (waterline)
Beam	7.8 m (26 ft)
Height	32 m (105 ft) (main mast)
Draught	3.2 m (10 ft)
Propulsion	Caterpillar diesel engine 365 hp (272 kW)
Sail plan	Sail Area: 628 m2 (6,760 sq ft)
Speed	11.5 kn (21.3 km/h)[5]
Capacity	90 guests 10 three berth & 1 two berth cabins
Crew	10

Originally named Dierkow, the vessel was built in 1964 as a seagoing diesel-electric tug at the Edgar-André-Werft in Magdeburg, East Germany. As a tug Dierkow was employed in freight transportation under East German registry from the Baltic port of Rostock.^[6]

In 1994 Dierkow was acquired by the Van der Rest family for conversion to a topsail schooner with auxiliary propulsion for passenger cruising. Undergoing conversion at Rotterdam between 1995 and 1998, the craft was placed in Netherlands registry at Amsterdam and was renamed J.R. Tolkien in honor of the British author J.R.R. Tolkien.^[6][1]

As a schooner J.R. Tolkien is a topsail-rigged vessel of 139 tons and measures 36m in hull length (41.7m overall) with a beam of 7.8m and draft of 3.2m. Two 32m masts carry a sail area of 628 square meters. Auxiliary propulsion is supplied by a Caterpillar engine of 365 horsepower.^[6]

J.R. Tolkien carries a crew of 10 with 20 to 90 passengers on a day sail or up to 32 passengers on weekends or longer cruises. Accommodations include 11 cabins (ten with three berths, one with two berths) with separate shower and WC. The main salon can seat 50 persons for dinner. J.R. Tolkien is operated by Van der Rest Sail Charter,^[6] who also operate the barquentine Loth Loriën.^[7]

See also

• List of schooners
• J.R.R. Tolkien
• Loth Loriën (barquentine)

Gallery

• 
  Warnemünde 2024
• 
  Kiel 2021
• 
  Ramsgate 2007
• 
  Saloon interior 2013
• 
  Dublin 2007
• 
  Rear taffrail 2008
• 
  Boulogne 2013
• 
  Hamburg 2013
• Seebrücke Binz 2023