Name Sea Scamp

SEA SCAMP was built as a 50m sq yacht to a design by Henry Rasmussen by Abeking and Rasmussen in 1936 at Lemverder near Bremen.

Originally named ZEISIG, meaning a small finch, or old German for 'scamp', or 'rascal', she was used by the Luftwaffe at Kiel for navigator training and recreation of air force officers.  She was captured at Kiel in 1945 and became part of the 'Windfall Fleet' - more than 170 German-built yachts that were brought to the UK by the British Government after the war as part of German war reparations.  ZEISIG was brought back by Lt Cmdr Morice Scott RN.  

Offered to the services yacht clubs on her return, she was taken by the Royal Marines at Eastney, Portsmouth, who renamed her SEA SCAMP.  She was successfully raced by them, noticeably coming second in the Plymouth-Belle Ile race in 1948, and second and third in her class at Cowes week in 1953.  The Royal Navy at Plymouth took her over in 1954 and she was reallocated to HMS Fisgard on the Tamar in Cornwall in 1956, and then in 1966 to HMS Raleigh in Plymouth, both training establishments.  In 1974 she was allocated to the Sea Scouts for the next ten years.  

In 1984, SEA SCAMP appeared on the Admiralty Small Craft Disposal List and Tony Venables and John Kapp bought her on an impulse for about £9,000.  The Sea Scamp Syndicate was subsequently set up to sail and maintain her.  As of 2026, the syndicate has around 110 members of all ages and abilities.

SEA SCAMP currently sails around the Solent in the spring and autumn with a long summer cruise – Western Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands, Normandy & Brittany, West Country, East Coast & Holland. She has taken part in the Royal Escape Race, RTIR & BCYC Cowes Regattas and a number of maritime festivals.

If you would like to sail on SEA SCAMP, please contact the Sea Scamp Syndicate Sailing Club mail@seascamp.org.uk