Erma
Painting - Oil on Board
60 x 45 cm

In 1945 a group of 16 exiled Estonians fitted out and sailed in a small sloop, Erma, across the Atlantic from Sweden to Norfolk Virgina. The voyage is described in detail in the book Sailing to Freedom by Voldemar Veedam and Carl B. Wall. The group included men, women, and children with the voyage taking 128 days.

The painting depicts Erma during the early stages of the voyage, in the North Sea, with wind conditions increasing and Harry at the helm, between the aft and middle cabin, whilst Arvid is reefing the main sail, and Rommy is fastening canvas along the starboard lifelines to reduce the amount of seas coming aboard. Boards have also been fixed between the forward and aft cabins to lessen the water coming into the cockpit area. Ellen is peering out of the forward hatch whilst two of the children are with the helmsman watching the men working around them.

An excerpt from the book covering this section of the voyage says " Sun was now high above the horizon and shone dazzingly through scattered wind clouds on the pale-green mountanous seas. With the mainsail reefed to a quarter of its normal size Harry sailed the Erma as close to the wind as he dared. From time to time, a sea, larger than the others, slammed over the bow with a thunderous crash."

After arrival in America the Erma was sold to a Baltimore shipyard owner who repaired and refitted her and then sold her to a Washington lawyer for a family pleasure boat.

Subsequent History of Erma: Terry Borton has kindly provided me with additional history on this vessel. His father was apparently looking for a boat following the war, and was told about Erma by the commander of the base at Norfolk when Erma arrived. His family visited to look her over but found that she was a terrible mess.  Petrol had leaked from the tanks, and she had all but sunk, and constant pumping was necessary to keep her afloat. The entire interior was coated with oil.  The crew had apparently stored potatoes in every available cranny, all of which had rotted and the stink was incredible.  Although reluctant to purchase, his family convinced him to take her out for a sail, and found she sailed well, and the purchase went ahead with the proviso that they sailed her to the boatyard in Galesville, MD which they did. 

After a major clean up she was slipped, when it was found that the clinker construction had taken a terrible beating in the ocean waves, and the bow stem was badly rotted.  That was replaced, and many screws put in to tighten the clinker construction which had originally been done with wooden pegs -- trunnels.  A new gas engine was installed, new sails, etc

She apparently made a great family boat with plenty of room in the cabins and wide decks for the children to play, and the family spent their summers on her for about ten years. Unfortunately, at some point Erma's interior hull had been tarred, which may have been a good idea in the Baltic, but not in Maryland, where rot set in behind the tar and slowly consumed her.  She was eventually sold, with the new owner using her as a fishing boat before she was finally beached. A sad end to a gallant lady.

Specifications and details of Erma:

LOA   36ft 6in
Beam 13ft
Age: Over 50 years old at time of voyage
Construction: Timber with oak keel
Engine: None when purchased but fitted with 8hp semi diesel
Rig: Marconi rigged with roller reefing on main sail
Steering: Wheel located on forward side of aft cabin.

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