PEPPER III

Model: SWAN 44

Year: 1974

Design: #2112 - Olin Stephens

Builder: Nautor’s Swan

Photos: Sparkman & Stephens Association AGM Helsinki 2019: © Esko Kilpi

PEPPER III designed by legendary Sparkman & Stephens and built by world famous Nautor’s Swan in Finland in 1974. A total of 76 hulls were built. PEPPER III is hull no 65. Most of them are still sailing all over the World. Professionals and skilled sailing enthusiasts fell in love with the model right from the launch in 1972. S&S Swan 44 won the London Boat Show Yacht of the Year award in 1973.

For her first 31 years she sailed in Italy under the name Kratos. In 2006 She was sold to the UK where She sailed under the name Solo. In 2011 she was found in relatively poor but original condition in Southern England. Her current owner sailed her back to his home water in Finland where she has undergone a complete refurbishment. Today PEPPER III is in mint condition and for sure one of the most stunning S&S Swan 44 on Planet. Despite her age and beautiful classic lines, she has an awesome sailing performance and she can be a tough competitor in the race course too! You can spot Her in the Finnish or Swedish archipelago. Homeport is HSS in Helsinki. PEPPER III crew is well known for their team spirit and welcoming hospitality. If the crew is not on board, they are usually hanging at the local bar – together with other nice sailors and people.

LADY PENELOPE

Model: Stevens 47

Year: 1981

Design: #2390

Builder: Queen Long Marine in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

LADY PENELOPE on her inaugural Mirs Bay Race (Photograph credit - Hebe Haven Yacht Club) — LADY PENELOPE on her inaugural Mirs Bay Race *(Photograph credit - Hebe Haven Yacht Club)*

Lady Penelope was built in 1981 (hull #16) by Queen Long Marine in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for Stevens Yachts. She started life as a charter boat and appears to have changed hands at least four times since then until she was purchased by a couple who refitted her in Trinidad and embarked on a charter business in the Pacific en route to Sydney, Australia. She was put on the market in Sydney after her previous owners purchased a catamaran that was better suited to a local charter business and we found her armchair shopping one evening in Hong Kong.

We booked our flights to Sydney, fell in love and took ownership of Lady Penelope, so named because she has a ‘driver’ named Parker. From there, Lady Penelope went to Brisbane for some TLC and updating (her instruments may well have been original and we wanted something from this century for the journey back to Hong Kong).

LADY PENELOPE at anchor, Sunshine Island, Hong Kong

From Brisbane, she headed north and cleared out of Australia via Cairns. Three challenging days later (which included breaking the steering cable), Lady Penelope cleared into Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to switch crew as our friend could not get an Australia visa. She stopped in Ambon, Indonesia to refuel, crossed the equator and cleared into Cebu, Philippines two and half weeks later. Work called and we left Lady Penelope at the Cebu Yacht Club alongside a big ‘sistership’ - an S&S Swan 65 of similar vintage.

The next chance we could, we sailed her over to Subic Bay, Philippines where she cleared out to head home - Hong Kong. Up to this point, she had been sailed double handed but we opted to go with three for the final leg to Hong Kong knowing what the South China Sea could throw at us. But as these things go, it was a very uneventful trip.

We have had and look forward to many more wonderful adventures on Lady Penelope exploring the islands in Hong Kong and the rest of South East Asia when the world opens up again.

https://www.facebook.com/syLadyPenelope

LADY PENELOPE at the Shelter Cove Marina, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club