"SYLPHE", a rare classic.

The Yacht; (Original names "ARIEL", "SYLPHE IV", now "SYLPHE")

SYLPHE is a Bermudan, cutter rigged sail yacht, with a total length overall of 60 feet (18.35 meter).

She was built and designed (a one-off) in France, by the well known designer André Mauric (later involved in the design of the Pen Duicks for Eric Tabarlay). She was built for a Frenchman called Mr. Paul Blanchet. The construction started in October 1940 on "Chantier de Pharo" in Marseille. Because of the war it took until 1947 till she was put in the water. SYLPHE was designed to compete under the RORC rules of that time, a popular class in the 1930’s with all different yachts in size and sail plan. But due to a handicap system, they were able to race against each other. When the RORC rules changed again in 1953, Sylphe was fitted with a taller rig and the small bowsprit, with which she still sails today.

SYLPHEs early days were not so very fortunate. The yacht had almost finished construction when the war started and the Germans invaded France. The French yard, under the direction of Andre Mauric, decided to sink Sylphe in the Marseille harbor!!! The reason was very simple: would the Germans have found Sylphe, they would have for sure taken the 13 tons of lead that make up the keel of SYLPHE and rendering the boat and the value useless. Nobody in Marseille ever said a word to the Germans and this probably meant the survival for the yacht. After the war the boat was hauled from the bottom of the sea, the mast put on and she started sailing for the first time in 1947. Sylphes wooden hull is seasoned.

A yacht that always draws attention and makes faces turn in the direction of her mooring or passage.

LAYOUT OF INTERIOR

Left the master cabin and on the right the port side saloon-settee

Chart- and navigation table and on the right a part of the Galley

After her 1999/2000 restoration she has been brought back to the glorious state of her early days. The enormous flush-deck gives one the feeling of space and comfort. Easy to walk forward to change a sail. Relaxing and sunbathing on this forward deck is a must. Her wooden mast of 23 meters still has the original winches for hoisting sails, and NOT to mention the unique and one-design winches in the cockpit would be a shame...........

Below deck there is a spacious saloon, navigation corner, shower/toilet, galley and 2 cabins, with each a full size double bed. With her interior layout in warm cherry wood, modern comfort, safety equipment and navigational aids, she immediately gives one the feeling of safety and being at home.

Technical data:

Length over all : 18.35 meters, length over deck : 17.20 meters, length on waterline 14.06 meter. Beam : 3.99 meters, Draft : 2.60 meters.

Mast length : 23 meters. Sail area : Main 84 m2, Stay sail 34 m2, Yankee 29 m2, Genua 78 m2, Spinnaker 205 m2, Reacher 105 m2.

Accommodation : 2 Cabins, spacious saloon with two more bunks, skippers bunk aft of the saloon and shower/toilet.

Propulsion : 76 HP turbo-charged Yanmar engine, giving a cruising speed of 7 knots, 300 liters of diesel.

Instruments: : B&G log/depth/wind, 2x B&G Hydra 2000 repeaters, Comnav Autopilot, Geonav Chartplotter, 2x GPS, 4x analogue B&G meter (wind-direction, closehaul-wind direction and wind/ and boat speed), VHF, SSB radio, Sestrel compass, binoculars, maps, pilots, etc,.

Deck gear : Comfortable cockpit with diner table, deckwash with salt water, life rafts, 4 principal winches in cockpit, running back stays, 7 winches on mast and boom (1 electric Lewmar winch), electric anchor windlass with 100 meters of chain, Capelli RIB with 15 Hp Yamaha, suntents, etc, etc

Comfort: BBQ on aft deck, second diner-table on fore-deck, deck-chairs, hammock, deck shower with fresh water.

But we also took care of your comfort outside the yacht.........