Osprey VII: A Brazilian Sailing Icon

by Douglas Gomm

The Osprey VII (BL 12748) is more than just a boat — it’s a legend in Brazilian sailing. With it, the “Sea Twins,” Axel and Erik Schmidt won the 1963 and 1965 Snipe World Championships, adding to their 1961 title and securing a historic three-time world championship. They were the first Brazilians to achieve this in any sport, making the Osprey VII the first Snipe-class hull, since the class’s creation in 1932, to win more than one world title.

Built in 1960 by Pierre de Matos in São Cristóvão (Rio de Janeiro), the Osprey VII was originally bought by Margrete Schmidt, sister of the twins and a pioneer of women’s sailing in Brazil. At a time when the sport was male-dominated, Margrete stood out by winning races and challenging expectations. In 1961, sailing with Erik, she finished on the second place on the Brazilian Championship, losing only to Axel sailing the Osprey VI (12741). Later that year, her promising career was tragically cut short by a plane crash. The boat then passed to Axel and Erik, who quickly recognized its exceptional performance and adopted it as their main vessel for Snipe-class competitions.

From 1962, the Osprey VII began competing internationally. It won the 1963 World Championship in France and the 1965 edition in the Canary Islands. Even after being sold in the late 1960s, it went on to win the 1970 Brazilian Championship with Axel at the helm, already a decade old. After that, it changed hands several times and disappeared from the competitive scene, remaining silent for nearly 50 years in São Paulo.

The boat was rediscovered in 2021, in Santos, under an almond tree and covered by weathered tarps. A friend of the Schmidt/Grael family recognized the name on the hull and sent a photo to Lars Grael who forwarded to Douglas Gomm (Jr Wrld Chapoin 2013)  due to his well-known appreciation for classic boats and the Snipe class. That marked the beginning of a new journey. Once its identity was confirmed, the decision was immediate: restore the boat and bring it back to life.

Given its condition, the restoration was extensive, down to the original wood. The hull’s planking, made of high-quality Amazonian cedar, had surprisingly withstood the test of time, though other parts, like the stem, had to be completely replaced. Under the direct supervision of Erik Schmidt, the restoration aimed not only to honor the past and keep the originality but also to ensure the Osprey VII could sail on par with modern boats, using the best available techniques, fittings, and materials.

Now fully restored, the Osprey VII is ready to sail again — a living symbol of Brazilian sailing heritage.

For those who wants to see more about the restauration and follow this new area of the boat please follow the Instagram page @OSPERY_VII.