Newport, RI, US
*Current name reserved, buyer must agree to rename upon closing
Originally built as GOSHAWK in 2005, this stunning modern-classic sloop built by Rockport Marine & Brooklin Boatyard made an early splash on the New England Spirit of Tradition racing circuit as well as in several offshore races. She comes from the drawing board of Stephens Waring Yacht Design and was originally intended to be a lightweight, spirited racer with all the traditional beauty and elegance of a J-Class or 12-Metre sloop. She lived a charmed life and racked up significant silver in many events until she was put away for long-term storage at Lyman Morse Shipyard in Camden, ME, in 2015. The current owner revived her from the long nap and gave the broker (who manages the program) an open checkbook and the directive to make her ‘As epic as one can make such a boat’.Her designer Bob Stephens was retained to drive the refit/rebuild and was told to remove all the chains and to pull no punches. This led to a 2+ year, $3million+ re-think, re-design, and re-build at Lyman Morse, inarguably one of Maine’s most renowned and progressive shipyards. No component was left untouched. This special boat has since turned heads and snatched trophies at every event she’s participated in, rivaling modern super yachts in performance and clocking a top speed of 16.8 knots. Not to be confused with a one-trick racehorse, the custom and freshly refinished interior offers ample and elegant accommodation with modern comfort systems for light cruising or for overnight races.
For an owner looking to make a statement on the yachting scene there is not another bespoke yacht in this category which rivals the level of beauty, elegance, performance and craftsmanship. She is in a league of her own. A yacht which feels equally at home in a yacht club parade or as the scratch boat on a start line with a fleet of modern performance racers - you can have your champagne and drink it, too.
Please see below for a summary of the rebuild. Upon request there is a full report along with design drawings, performance metrics, components list, as well as photos and videos from the refit and from various regattas since. The full time crew of captain and engineer, along with a host of industry-leading subcontractors, has kept the work list down to a minimum, essentially consisting of preventative/scheduled maintenance only. As such, this special yacht presents and functions like a new boat.
Quoted replacement value (if built new today) ~$7,500,000.00
SPECS
MEASUREMENTS
ENGINE(S)
TANKS
Accommodations
PERFORMANCE
With her deceptively light displacement (given the classic aesthetic) and her exceptionally low wetted-surface area this boat is surprisingly sure-footed yet slippery on all points of sail. 10 knots of boat speed upwind is common, as is 14+ knots downwind and reaching.
The new rig and sails were optimized to perform well in 4-7 knot vespers commonly encountered in Southern Maine and New England while also offering a sturdy power plant capable of performing in the 20+ knot sea breezes of Newport. During the rig design much thought was also given to performance and durability in offshore and Caribbean conditions as the owner wanted to option to race in both (though she has only raced NE/Coastal since the refit).
The cold molded hull is made from an innovative composite which consists of wood, foam, and carbon fiber. The area around the keel attachment (bottom ~25 of the hull) is a solid CnC machined carbon plate which reduces weight, increases stiffness, and serves as an attachment point for a newly designed high-performance bulb keel. There is a cleverly-integrated sacrificial crush-box which was designed to absorb the shock of an impact and to mitigate damage in case of a keel strike. Long, lean overhangs offer the good looks as well as a readily-available increase in waterline length at an optimal 22° of heeling angle. The new high-aspect rudder is made from carbon and was designed and installed in conjunction with the new keel for optimal performance on all points of sail. Photos of the keel-plug installation are available for those interested in seeing the structure of the composite hull, as are survey reports from before, during, and after the rebuild.
The deck layout, deck hardware and rig controls have been completely redesigned and replaced using a first-principles approach. All control lines are lead back to the utility winches on the cabin top or to primary and secondary winches in the cockpit. The heart of the system is a ~$400,000 custom grand-prix level hydraulic system from Marine Hydraulic Consultants and Ransom Morse of Buzzards Bay Boatworks - a winning team who’s custom systems are ubiquitous in serious race boats around the world. This system is similar to those found on many prolific, modern, carbon racing sleds from 50-150 ft, with fully adjustable controls, winch speeds, ram speed and remote monitoring/troubleshooting capabilities. Every control on the deck is powered by this system including headsail furling, jib tack cunningham, jib sheet inhauler, mainsail tack cunningham, mainsail outhaul, mainsail traveler, check stay deflector, backstay, and all winches (except for the running backstay winches). This system facilitates efficient deck operations with 8-10 crew when racing, or for as few as two crew while day sailing or cruising.
The new mast and boom (2023) from Offshore Spars were designed for lightweight durability and performance across a wide range of conditions. They are constructed of a hybrid high modulus + medium modulus carbon fiber and painted black to match the overall theme of the boat. The mast is mounted on an adjustable step to allow for a wide range of fine tuning. There are integrated Rigging Projects bullet-style halyard locks for all headsails. The rig is supported by carbon EC6 standing rigging from Future Fibers. All running rigging is made from Dyneema and other high-tech/high-performance materials, replaced each season or as-needed between events. The mast track hosts Rigging Projects Titanium locking sections for the full hoist and for two standard reef points. Additionally there is a 1/2 reef lock point which serves as a flattening reef for racing and as a ‘safe-mode’ for cruising with the bimini installed (it raises the boom above head and bimini height).
SAILS
SAILS: all new for 2023, all Doyle ‘Grand Prix Race’:
She has been optimized for and holds a current measurement certificate for the CRF rating system which governs the Classic, Modern Classic, Contemporary, and Spirit of Tradition classes. She has performed well in ORC Superyacht events as well, with podium finishes in the past two editions of Safe Harbor Newport Race Week - each time racing in the Superyacht division against much larger and more modern performance cruising superyachts.
Recent podiums
INTERIOR
The elegant modern-classic interior is testament to the exemplary carpentry and craftsmanship that can only be had (these days) from the legendary shipyards of coastal Maine. Exotic hardwoods and intricate joinery touches catch your eye in every space. A satin/oiled look was chosen over a deep-gloss varnish, which makes for a brighter and more modern take on the traditional aesthetic with a nod towards durability.
The layout consists of three cabins with a spacious owner’s stateroom all the way forward. There is an owner’s head with separate stall shower just aft of stateroom. Going further aft you’ll find twin single-berth cabins on opposite sides of the passageway, each offering ample storage by way of drawers and hanging lockers. Pocket doors offer privacy from the passageway and forward stateroom. Continuing aft, the main salon offers large settee benches on either side of a custom folding salon table just aft of the mast. There is a pilot/sea berth above the port settee, cabinets and cupboards above the starboard settee. A traditional-style butterfly hatch overhead provides natural light and ventilation. There is a large hanging locker between the port settee and galley counter, and opposite that (on starboard side) is the forward-facing navigation desk with instruments and control panels. Abundant storage is offered via drawers and cabinets. Just aft of the nav station, also on starboard side, is the guest/day head. Aft of that is a large quarter-berth. The full-sized galley is appropriately appointed for cruising with top-loading fridge and freezer wells, a gimbaled propane stove/oven, a full sized double-basin sink, and plenty of cabinet storage for appliances and provisions.
Moving further aft, out of the interior spaces (there is a bulkhead) and underneath the cockpit, the new 9kW generator (~130 hrs) offers quiet power to the battery bank and comfort systems. You will also find in this space the main hydraulic power pack, inverters and other electrical system components, engine access, access to the shaft and stuffing seal and access to the rudder post and quadrant.
DECK & COCKPIT
Starting forward at the bow, a prominent, cleverly-designed stainless-steel stem piece serves as the anchor roller, dock line fairlead and tack point for spinnakers and code sails. The anchor and chain are easily stowed away inside the flush lazaret for a sleeker aesthetic and to minimize weight and obstructions during racing. The jib-tack ram can be found in this lazaret. The Reckmann hydraulic headsail furler mounts semi-flush, with the bulk of the unit below decks for aesthetic and for maximum sail area. A hydraulic windlass just aft of the lazaret aids in deploying and retrieval. Next aft is a generously-sized flush deck hatch above the master stateroom. Four more flush hatches on the cabin top provide light and ventilation to the fwd heads and cabins without presenting an obstacle for feet or lines up top. The varnished butterfly hatch and companionway offer access to the main salon just behind the mast. The generous cockpit allows for comfortable relaxing at anchor as well as efficient operations while racing. The carbon, hydraulic Harken Grand Prix winch package provides the horsepower to muscle the sail plan, along with push-button controls for all hydraulic functions. These controls are redundant, duplicated on panels on the pedestal and on the combing on either side of the pedestal. This allows for ergonomic access by the mainsheet trimmer on either tack. The engine ignition panel and throttle lever can be found on the starboard side within grasp of the wheel. Moving aft, the mainsheet traveler is located safely behind the cockpit to keep the mainsheet free of the helmsman and other crew. Behind the traveler there are two Harken winches for the running backstays, then a large bomb-bay door style lazaret for storage. Finally, behind the backstay, the owner and their guests will enjoy the clever bench-seating made from a carbon/foam composite and sheathed in wooden veneer to match the varnish on deck. The plush red cushion for this bench is heated for chilly days.
ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
EXCLUSIONS
The owner’s personal effects do not convey with the purchase and sale, nor does any of the brands apparel.
DISCLAIMER
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
