Shane Kearns and Azzuro an S&S 34.
The continually inspirational story of determination and dedication with one of Sparkman & Stephens most acclaimed designs.
“With a legendary restoration and a growing list of wins, the Komatsu Azzurro - the S&S 34 they say can never do it - has its sights set on winning the Rolex Sydney to Hobart.”
Mera an S&S Swan 48 started her trip round the world in July 2017, together with captain Espen and Robin.
You can catch up with Mera and their wonderful blog as they travel below.
Moorea on the horizon
SANITY is a Delta 94 designed by Sparkman & Stephens (#1899) and built by South Hants Engineering in 1980. We became her custodians on the 5th May 2017. This, hopefully humble offering is a tribute to the boat and our adventures with her.
SANITY (Previously REVID)
Visit the website of the beautiful S&S yacht SUNSTONE, designed in late 1964 by Sparkman & Stephens. In the design, Olin Stephens developed his 'Finisterre' model, keeping the centreboard, but deepening the hull and adopting a low aspect, but powerful sloop rig. However, 'Sunstone' was revolutionary as the first of S&S's many successful fin and skeg designs.
SUNSTONE - Fatu-Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
“Scheherezade”: Is a classic S&S built in 1969 in Sweden by IW-Varvet in Henan. Her vital statistics are Length 31’(9.3m), water line 22’. Beam 9’. Draft 5’2”. Displacement 3.6 tons. Fin and skeg.
We met in August 1988 at Mercury Yacht Harbour on the Hamble, our meeting followed a frustrating period without a boat. The intention was to get afloat with a little 21-25 feet boat to potter round the Solent. It was love at the first sight of “Scheherezade” in a cradle tucked in the corner of Mercury car park. Her lines were stunning and interior untouched polished wood. But she was longer than our plan and more than our budget as all our cash was tied to our business.
SCHEHEREZADE - Painting by Terry Sprake
We asked the lady broker about her history, we didn’t get much information. So “Scheherezade” joined the family, but we didn’t have a clue the impact she would have.
After 39 years of faithful service she was due for a refit; one of the very first IOR boats signed by S&S, her lines were drawn by the young German Frers. Sagittarius is the sister ship of the second ‘Morning cloud’ owned by the late Sir Edward Heath, former Prime Minister. The Italian, Giorgio Carriero had Sagittarius built in late 1971 at the Cantiere Carlini in Rimini on the Adriatic Sea.
S&S - SAGITTARIUS
Built to a very high standard , Sagittarius is constructed of mahogany planking on locust frames and teak deck glued on plywood over hemlock beams. The fittings and hardware were top of the line for her time.
Sagit spent her first season in 1972 with her first owner racing in the Mediterranean. She was then trucked to the Channel where the Italians placed 1st in Class 2 in the 1973 Channel Race during the Admiral’s Cup series. Sagit was once again shipped back to the Med.
In September 1973, our father, Andre Laffitte purchased Sagit. The family, as crew campaigned her in all major Med regattas with great success. In addition to her heavy campaigning, Sagit provided the family with over ten years of long range cruising from her home port in Golfe Juan to Greece and Turkey and back to the Cote D’Azur.
During the summer of 2009, an agreement was reached to have Stephano Carlini, son and now proprietor of the original yard where Sagit was built conduct the refit. Sagit was truly on her way home to where she was born. Mr. Carlini was delighted to have the boat return as she was the first and only model he ever built at the age of 14.
The work was scheduled to begin in November 2009. Sagit was delivered to San Remo after the last race of the season. She was then trucked across Italy to Rimini. The work began immediately by a careful survey of how the boat would be put back together as it originally was, as close as possible. Many pictures were taken and printed before the removal of any fittings, which were labeled with a number, side and direction.
She was then stripped of her deck down to the laminated beams. The cockpit whose plywood was somewhat in bad shape due to the various alterations modifications and piercing along the years, was completely rebuit step by step so as not to lose the original shapes, proportions and positions.
The only structural piece which urgently needed a replacement was the strong laminated beam supporting the mainsheet track. The accomodations were left nearly unchanged except a new Yanmar 3JH4 engine, an engine cover better insulated and a new head were replaced.
Tramp was built in 1976 by Calligari in Ravenna, Italy, as a contender for the Italian Admirals Cup team, but failed to make the selection for 1977. She was constructed to design number 2222 C2, one of three boats built to this design, the other two being Prospect Of Whitby iv & Dorethea. She was built of aluminium to the IOR rules, with flush decks, a tall high aspect rig with large over lapping genoa. Length overall of 13.5m, a beam of 3.7m & draft of 2.15m.
On deck Tramp retains much of her original equipment, with the exception of a new mast in 2005. However below deck she has been comfortably fitted out for cruising, gone are the days of open plan, pipe berths & sail bins. She now has twin cabins, saloon, galley, heads & nav station.
Tramp of Airlie
We purchased Tramp Of Airlie in 1998, making the fatal pre-purchase mistake of falling in love with her. Initially we kept her in the Med, where she had spent all of her life. We know little of her history since 1976, until 1988 when she was racing at The St Tropez Yacht Club. In 2001 we sailed her back to the UK to her new home port in Grimsby where we compete in local club races & regattas & venturing further a field to compete in RTIR. We have used her for many Summer holidays along the South & East coast, France & the Netherlands. Despite her size Karen & myself can manage her quite well, although hauling the main up or short tacking can sometimes test your fitness.
Since bringing Tramp back to the UK, we have been able to slowly keep up with refurbishing the boat. Although being aluminium, one would anticipate the hull requiring little maintenance, however one of the “joys” of ownership is being able to keep the paint on the hull. Over the years we have had the hull re-sprayed with awlgrip, re-painted the decks, replaced headlinings & varnished throughout.
- Chris & Karen Hames
Sherpa of Rame is a classic S&S designed SHE 31 Traveller sloop, built in 1974.
Unusually she was passed on from son to father in 2001. She is normally moored at Hornet SC in Portsmouth Harbour, though she can be found occasionally alongside at Warsash SC where her owner is a member and also resides. Sherpa of Rame is sailed mainly in the Solent and along the English south coast, however she visits ports from South Brittany to the Netherlands for several weeks each year. Her plan for 2010 is to cruise The Netherlands. In 2011 she hopes to visit Vannes, South Brittany, wintering in La Roche-Bernard, attending the 2011 S&S AGM en route.
She 31 - SHERPA of RAME
“AVISTA” is a modern classic by Sparkman & Stephens and Nautor Swan. I have very extensively overhauled and updated the equipment on “Avista” without compromising the original design since buying her in 1998.
Built by Nautor Swan O.Y. in Pietarsaari, Finland.
Date hull built 09/1977. Hull no 010 from a series of 40.
Built to Lloyds 1001A. Standard and Certified.
Yacht launched 03/1978.
Designers Sparkman & Stephens Inc. Design No 2238.
The original line drawings for “Avista” were signed by Olin Stephens in 2003.
Auxiliary Sloop with masthead rig.
S&S Swans are probably the best of all Swans produced todate and certainly “Avista” is the best 411 in the world. Swan 411s are a development of the popular Swan 41 and is a very well proportioned yacht, forty were built. She is a wonderful compromise between the aesthetics of yesterday and the performance of today. Her long overhangs, tumblehome and graceful sheer combined with a hull and rig designed to work in any conditions. The Swan 411 is a very powerful yacht, and is particularly competent upwind, a hallmark of all S&S designs. Together with the 65HP engine make motor sailing a breeze.
The legendary S&S design combined with the highest Scandinavian build quality of Nautor Swan make these yachts rugged ocean wanderers, second to none. The tried and tested traditional configuration below deck, make her a very safe and comfortable passage making yacht.
Yachting Monthly Swan 411 ‘AVISTA’ – Video review
Clairella is one of seventeen Delta 94s built in Britain in the late 1970s and early 1980s to the She 31 hull design with an improved deck moulding. Her original owner raced her two-handed in the Azores and Back Race of 1979 and in the Three Peaks Race the following season.
CLAIRELLA - Delta 94
She has since provided enjoyment in both racing and cruising modes. Cruises have included the 900 mile round trip to Bristol for the first International Festival of the Sea, North and South Brittany, and the Ijsselmeer. Racing results have included overall winner in the Classics Race at the Portsmouth International Festival of the Sea and Class 2 winner in the Royal Southampton Yacht Club’s Two-Handed Cowes-Cherbourg Race in 2000.
Alan & Jean Massey, Mike & Louise France
Please note that Sparkman & Stephens Association Merchandise can only be purchased by members.
