From an article published Oct. 23, 2020 in Motor Boats.
Thirty years ago the first issue of Motor Boats came out. Thirty years lasted Henry Counts’ cruises with an almost indestructible Swedish boat. It was 1987 when, as a sailor, he switched to powerboats, choosing a semi-unknown shipyard in Italy that has a reputation in northern Europe for building the Rolls Royces of the sea. The boat? One Storebro Royal Cruiser 31 Adriatic. Here’s her story:
Enrico Conta’s letter
“Sailor since boyhood finally at 33 I managed to buy an Alb Sail 35, excellent sloop flush deck,but rigged for cruising: goodbye racing! However for 10 years beautiful vacations to the Mediterranean, but as a hospital doctor my work commitments became more and more “demanding” and the need to meet on-call shifts did not allow me to manage vacations with ease. So it was that I decided to switch to the “motor”: for easier vacation management, but still by sea.
October 1987 – A week off to attend the Genoa Boat Show every day in search of a motor hull that would suit a sailor.
It was not easy to find a truly “marine” boat that would give me the safety of sailing and the versatility of the engine, but finally there it was: the Storebro Royal Cruiser 31 Adriatic displayed with a real model, but cut in half lengthwise. You could see the thickness of the hull, deep V-shaped bow with tapering toward the stern, propeller shafts, Volvo Penta turbo diesel engines, mahogany interior,semi-planing hull, the same hull commissioned to Storebro by the Swedish Coast Guard for short-range rescue: it was perfect!
30 years of sea vacations without ever a problem.
October 28, 2018 – The storm surge that destroyed the Carlo Riva harbor in Rapallo damaged the Storebro, which along with a few other boats did not sink, but still destined for disposal: they could not destroy it, the mechanical grip had to give up, they had to finish it with a huge hose because the hull is monolithic.
Fortunately, I found another Storebro, a Royal Cruiser 340 Adriatic, which I immediately purchased. Only 22 examples were built of which 5 were sold in Italy (small curiosity: one was purchased by the King of Norway).
They are powerful, indestructible, safe boats; in Northern Europe they call them the Rolls Royces of the sea. Too bad the Italians don’t know them, or maybe it was better for me: I got a great deal!”
Henry Counts
Gregorio Ferrari
Would you like to tell us your story and that of your boat? Write to us at info@barcheamotore.com
DISCOVER MOTOR BOATS YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Interviews, boat trials, webinars. The whole world of powerboats, minute by minute. But on video!
CLICK HERE
To sign up, it’s free!
