ALPHA 34 - SHAHEEN
Design #2242 ALPHA 34
SHAHEEN
Sparkman & Stephens 34’ built by Alpa Cantieri (Italy) in 197
Originally designed as a fast 34’ cruiser/racer by Sparkman & Stephens in New York, ‘SHAHEEN’ is one of around 30 yachts built to the same design by the Alpa Cantieri yard in Italy during the late 1970s. SHAHEEN herself was built in 1977.
The design (S&S design no. 2242) is of the the flatter deck ‘Mediterranean style’, and is not dissimilar to the similar era Swan 38, and with which SHAHEEN shares her comfortable high-sided cockpit and many other refined S&S design features.
At 34’ SHAHEEN is most similar in overall size to a Sigma 33, but has a mast that is approximately 10ft taller, plus 42% more ballast and 48% more sail area - all of which make her a very fast and comfortable yacht - particularly in light winds.
HISTORY
The earliest history of SHAHEEN is unclear, though it is understood that most of her early years were in Italy close to where she was built, and after that in and around Cyprus. I have no information as to when she was moved to Scotland, but I bought her from Colin and Rosie Swale (of ‘Children of the Horn’ fame), and they sailed and lived on board her at Ardentrive on Kerrera, the island immediately opposite Oban on Scotland’s marvellous West Coast.
When I bought her from them in 2007 in some state of ‘tiredness and disrepair’ (there’s an interesting story as to why), and it was my intention to restore her to her former glory and then to cruise and race her for a season or two here on the East coast before returning her to the West for more leisurely cruising.
Having transported SHAHEEN closer to Edinburgh to carry out this restoration more conveniently, my plans were necessarily put on hold for getting married, and then again with the arrival of my daughter. My wife and daughter are quite rightly the two ladies that take up most of my time now, and sadly my plans to restore SHAHEEN to her former glory have unfortunately fallen by the wayside.
After more than ten years of ownership, and with considerable resistance to doing so, I have to face the fact that I am not going to get the time required to restore her, and that it would be better that she go to a new owner who has the love and time to spare to bring back to her best.
SPECIFICATION
CONSTRUCTION:
Hull: in GRP, hand moulded in one piece.
Deck: sandwich of belco-balsa and GRP, moulded in one piece with large anti-slip surface
Mast and boom: in special alloy, all rigging in stainless steel. Keel-stepped.
Cockpit: in teak wood.
Interior: in selected marine woods.
Technical data: Sails:
LOA: 10.12 m Total Sail Area Max: 65.1 m2
LWL: 8.38 m Main Sail 20.4 m2
Beam: 3.20 m Jib 1 20.0 m2
Draft: 1.75 m Genoa Light 44.7 m2
Ballast (Lead): 2,200 kg Genoa Heavy 32.1 m2
Displacement: 5,000 kg Storm Jib 7.0 m2
Head Room: 1.90 m Spinnaker 105.0 m2
Cabins: 2
Berths: 7
CONDITION
Shaheen was well designed by S&S, and well made by Alpa, but having fallen out of regular use she now is a restoration project. She needs an owner who has the time and funds to bring her back to her best, and sadly that is no longer me.
At the very least she will need new rigging, new sails, new engine, new electronics, and most likely a new mast (other Alpa 34 owners have converted to a double-spreader rig). I had already started on the fuel and engine side of things, and she comes with new fuel & exhaust lines, filters, fuel tank and exhaust silencer all ready to be fitted. The rest though is down to the new owner, but there is no doubt that with these things completed Shaheen will make a stylish and comfortable fast cruiser for her new owner.
I fully expect any offers made to reflect Shaheen’s current condition as a restoration project, and any prospective buyers are welcome to come and see her where she is on her cradle at Port Edgar, the marina beneath the famous Forth bridges west of Edinburgh.
Price
Offers over £5,000 are invited, including cradle
Contact Details
Stuart Brown | sjbonline@mac.com | 07813-036428
More photos are available by request.
