With only two owners over her near half a century
Transcription
With only two owners over her near half a century
Fleurtje Fleurtje Withtwo onlyowners two owners overnear her half nearahalf a With only over her century lifetime, this three-masted schooner century lifetime, this three-masted schooner has been preserved as a unique example of has been preserved as a unique example of mid-twentieth century navalnaval architecture and and mid-twentieth century architecture design. Frances and Michael Howorth are are design. Frances and Michael Howorth invited on board this very yachtyacht for for invited on board this private very private an exclusive viewing an exclusive viewing Photography by Alexis Andrews; Photography by Alexis Andrews; underway, Tim Wright underway, Tim Wright o no n b obaoradr d II t seems almost inconceivable t seems almost inconceivable a yacht so famous canthe sail the that athat yacht so famous can sail oceans foryears 47 years andremain yet remain oceans for 47 and yet one the kept best kept secrets in yachting. one of theofbest secrets in yachting. Tothat, do that, she to had to have very private To do she had have a verya private owner a loyal and dedicated owner with with a loyal and dedicated crew.crew. Such Such the case Fleurtje, the classic is theis case with with Fleurtje, the classic 56.9956.99 metre three-masted staysail schooner, a metre three-masted staysail schooner, a veteran of 1960, is only in 2007, veteran of 1960, whichwhich is only now, now, in 2007, beingbeing reviewed for the reviewed forvery the first verytime. first time. ThereThere are not three-masted classics are many not many three-masted classics sailing the world’s oceans and that sailing the world’s oceans and fact thatalone fact alone makes Fleurtje special and in a class whosewhose makes Fleurtje special and in a class otherother members include Creole, Adix Adix and and members include Creole, Athena. Designed by Robert Clark,Clark, she was Athena. Designed by Robert she was builtbuilt in 1960 at the in 1960 at NV the Amsterdamsche NV Amsterdamsche Scheepswerf, the shipyard of De Scheepswerf, the shipyard of Vries De Vries Lentsch in The Netherlands, for Yiannis Lentsch in The Netherlands, for Yiannis (John) Carras, the Greek shipping magnate (John) Carras, the Greek shipping magnate who who wentwent on toondevelop PortoPorto Carras in in to develop Carras Thessalonika, now now the largest private marina Thessalonika, the largest private marina in northern Greece. He had the yacht in northern Greece. He named had named the yacht Carita after after his then wife and it Carita his then wifelater and changed later changed it to Argonaftis. to Argonaftis. Leila Leila Kennedy, a London-based interior Kennedy, a London-based interior designer, was was the the current owner’s designer, current owner’s representative during the search, acquisition representative during the search, acquisition and initial refitting of theofyacht. She has and initial refitting the yacht. Shemany has many goodgood memories of those days days and and the the memories of those following years, during which she sailed following years, during which she sailed aboard on many occasions. She recalls that she aboard on many occasions. She recalls that she was was askedasked by the owner to look for by the owner to lookand for and acquire a traditional-style sailingsailing yacht yacht aboutabout 60 60 acquire a traditional-style metres long. The search was narrowed down metres long. The search was narrowed down to Creole, Aquarius and Argonaftis. The first to Creole, Aquarius and Argonaftis. The first need of repair so attention two yachts were in so attention two yachts were in need of repair was was focused on the the youngest of of focused on latter, the latter, the youngest themthem all, which was then berthed in Porto all, which was then berthed in Porto Carras. The yacht had seldom been been used used and and Carras. The yacht had seldom even even then,then, rarelyrarely underunder sail; at the time of of sail; at the time purchase there was speculation that her purchase there was speculation that her original 24-year-old mainsail had hardly ever ever original 24-year-old mainsail had hardly been been raised. Once he had taken possession of of raised. Once he had taken possession his new yacht, the owner not only changed his new yacht, the owner not only changed her name but also greatly altering her her her name but set alsoabout set about greatly altering appearance and sailing characteristics. appearance and sailing characteristics. The The marine surveyor and naval architect marine surveyor and naval architect employed by the purchaser was the the employed by the purchaser was Bosham-based John John Winterbotham. He went Bosham-based Winterbotham. He went on toon become the project manager, becoming to become the project manager, becoming immersed in every aspectaspect of theoforiginal refit refit immersed in every the original in Italy in 1984 and has continued to have in Italy in 1984 and has continued to have dealings with with Fleurtje over over the years. OnceOnce dealings Fleurtje the years. she had been bought and the specifications she had been bought and the specifications drawn up, Winterbotham commented to the drawn up, Winterbotham commented to the owner that it would be much easier to work owner that it would be much easier to work with the yacht layout if her main mast was with the yacht layout if her main mast was 116 BOAT INTERNATIONAL 116 BOAT INTERNATIONAL BelowBelow right: right: fine brass detailing and classic fittingsfittings enhance the traditional feel of feel the yacht. fine brass detailing and classic enhance the traditional of the yacht. Below:Below: an awning covering the large aft deck creates a shady alfresco dining area area an awning covering the large aft deck creates a shady alfresco dining sited aft. further The asked ownerwhether asked whether it sited further Theaft. owner it was possible it andtold when was possible to movetoit move and when thattold it that it was‘Well, said do ‘Well, do it With then.’allWith was said it then.’ the all the work the change related related work the change entailed,entailed, a furthera further nine months wastoadded to the but project nine months was added the project the but the endwas result was abalanced more balanced look end result a more look with a with a muchsail better sail plan. much better plan. dell’Argentario CantiereCantiere Navale Navale dell’Argentario in Portoin Porto Santo Stefano, a family-operated Santo Stefano, Italy, aItaly, family-operated business then owned by Italian business then owned by aristocrat Italian aristocrat Pietro Gaspari, was eventually chosen chosen as the as the Pietro Gaspari, was eventually yard that would the refit.theIt refit. was It was yard that undertake would undertake selectedselected for a number of reasons, not leastnot least for a number of reasons, becausebecause Raphaelo a classic schooner had Raphaelo a classic schooner had been refitted there and theand newthe owner been refitted there new of owner of FleurtjeFleurtje had previously chartered her. Theher. The had previously chartered shipyard, it was itfelt, team shipyard, waswith felt,itswith its ofteam of craftsmen, would would undertake a sympathetic craftsmen, undertake a sympathetic refit andrefit giveand thegive newthe owner traditionalnew the owner the traditionallooking looking classic yacht wanted. classicheyacht he wanted. DuringDuring the first aging therefit firstthe refit the 597hp aging 597hp PaxmanPaxman engines engines were replaced with twowith 12- two 12were replaced cylindercylinder Caterpillar engines.engines. In addition to Caterpillar In addition to her repositioned main mast, gained a her repositioned mainshe mast, she gained a gracefulgraceful Norwegian spruce spruce bowsprit and Norwegian bowsprit and emerged from her extended cygnet cygnet phase phase emerged from her extended with long overhangs at both at bow and stern, with long overhangs both bow and stern, which which emphasised her extremely elegant elegant emphasised her extremely lines, her faired, blue painted steel hull, lines, her deep faired, deep blue painted steel hull, white aluminium superstructure and three tallthree tall white aluminium superstructure and Douglas-fir masts with their staysail plan, allplan, all Douglas-fir masts with their staysail combined to enhance her handsome profile. profile. combined to enhance her handsome Under sail she is an impressive sight, Under sail she is an impressivecutting sight, cutting a fine shape she heels to sails the to the a fine as shape as sheeight heelssails eight breeze.breeze. Fine brass detailing and classic Fine brass detailing and classic fittings fittings on deckonlend anlend air of yet deck antradition, air of tradition, yet she remains nimble in the turn and holds she remains nimble in the turn and holds herself herself up wellupwhen her well racing when amongst racing amongst her peers during Classic Week races held each peers during Classic Week races held each spring inspring Antigua. in Antigua. The long provides more than Above:Above: traditional cross-beamed deckheads span the classical-style oak-panelled saloon Theforedeck long foredeck provides more than traditional cross-beamed deckheads span the classical-style oak-panelled saloon enough working space for the crew to crew handle Below:Below: the wheelhouse may hark back to another era, but all the equipment is right up to date enough working space for the to handle the wheelhouse may hark back to another era, but all the equipment is right up to date her headsails and there a spacious sail bin sail bin her headsails andis there is a spacious adjacent to the to foremast. The captain’s adjacent the foremast. The captain’s double double cabin, complete with cabin, completeradio withroom/ radio room/ study, isstudy, insideis the forward deckhouse with inside the forward deckhouse with the wheelhouse and open bridge wing the wheelhouse and open bridge wing stationsstations aft, both which aft,ofboth of offer whichexcellent offer excellent visibility. The wheelhouse carries carries an visibility. The wheelhouse an impressive array of modern navigation impressive array of modern navigation equipment and the and radio good a good equipment theroom radioboasts roomaboasts range ofrange modern communication devices. of modern communication devices. The after deckhouse containscontains the full-width The after deckhouse the full-width galley with doors on each side opening onto galley with doors on each side opening onto the side decks. Just aft of the galley, an the side decks. Just aft of the galley, an athwartships passageway provides access to athwartships passageway provides access to the saloon, the owner’s and guest the saloon, the owner’s and guest BOAT INTERNATIONAL 117 BOAT INTERNATIONAL 117 on o nb o ba o radr d accommodation and and portport and and starboard accommodation starboard sidedecks. A dayhead is located to port. sidedecks. A dayhead is located to port. Fleurtje’s ample aft deck and and helmstation Fleurtje’s ample aft deck helmstation can can be spanned by an to create an an be spanned by awning an awning to create elegant terrace under the the shadow of her elegant terrace under shadow of her mighty mizzen mast, and and this this areaarea can can be be mighty mizzen mast, usedused for for alfresco dining. Her Her mainmain deckdeck alfresco dining. saloon is positioned between this this aft deck saloon is positioned between aft deck and and the internal dining area,area, while her her well-wellthe internal dining while equipped galley is advantageously positioned equipped galley is advantageously positioned to give direct access to both the the dining to give direct access to both dining saloon and and the aft dining table. saloon thedeck aft deck dining table. The The high-standing superstructure provides high-standing superstructure provides the interior withwith goodgood headroom. Traditional the interior headroom. Traditional cross-beamed deckheads and and oak-panelled cross-beamed deckheads oak-panelled bulkheads create an atmosphere of polished bulkheads create an atmosphere of polished classic elegance, but but this this doesdoes not not preclude classic elegance, preclude the the addition of modern creature comforts, addition of modern creature comforts, suchsuch as aaslarge flat plasma television screen a large flat plasma television screen that that is raised by remote control fromfrom an oakis raised by remote control an oakpanelled cabinet in the saloon. Guest panelled cabinet in the saloon. Guest accommodation occupies the the amidships accommodation occupies amidships section of the below the main mastmast withwith section of yacht the yacht below the main six cabins on the lower deckdeck including the the six cabins on the lower including master, two two guestguest doubles, a twin and and two two master, doubles, a twin singles withwith a Pullman above eacheach berth. EachEach singles a Pullman above berth. cabincabin has has an en bathroom withwith a bath, an suite en suite bathroom a bath, marble-clad wallswalls and and countertops and and teakteak marble-clad countertops decking. Gold-plated tapstaps are are fromfrom Orient decking. Gold-plated Orient Express, supplier of bathroom hardware to the Express, supplier of bathroom hardware to the Georges V Hotel in Paris. Below the the guest Georges V Hotel in Paris. Below guest corridor is theis gyro compass compartment and and corridor the gyro compass compartment a substantial winewine store.store. a substantial As built, the yacht offered basicbasic crewcrew berths As built, the yacht offered berths for about 20 crew. WithWith the original sail plan for about 20 crew. the original sail plan and and lack lack of modern sail handling devices she she of modern sail handling devices would havehave probably havehave needed all hands would probably needed all hands on deck to sail yet in on deck to her sail efficiently, her efficiently, yetaninarticle an article published at the of her the yacht published at time the time of launch, her launch, the yacht is described as needing fewer crewcrew thanthan olderolder is described as needing fewer yachts of similar size.size. Today, crewcrew quarters forward of the the dining areaarea is a is sophisticated setting for more formal dining yachts of similar Today, quarters Above: Above: forward of saloon, the saloon, the dining a sophisticated setting for more formal dining withwith accommodation for afortotal complement raised-and-fielded oak oak panelling gives the capacious master cabin a traditional feel feel accommodation a total complement Below: Below: raised-and-fielded panelling gives the capacious master cabin a traditional of 16 forward on the lower deckdeck and and of are 16 are forward on the lower comecome complete withwith a crew galley and and mess. complete a crew galley mess. Below the the crewcrew areaarea is the laundry room, Below is the laundry room, which is well-equipped withwith washers and and which is well-equipped washers dryers. The The refrigerators and and freezers are also dryers. refrigerators freezers are also keptkept down herehere and and therethere is access to both down is access to both the bow thrusters and and air conditioning plant. the bow thrusters air conditioning plant. The The engine roomroom offers standing headroom engine offers standing headroom and and is both spacious and and practically laid laid out. out. is both spacious practically TwoTwo 12-cylinder Caterpillar 34123412 engines, 12-cylinder Caterpillar engines, eacheach developing 624hp, drivedrive variable pitchpitch developing 624hp, variable propellers at a attop speed of 15of knots and and a a propellers a top speed 15 knots cruising speed of 12 when under cruising speed of knots 12 knots when under power. She She consumes 242 242 litreslitres per per hourhour at at power. consumes 15 knots and and 1,2671,267 litreslitres per hour at 12atknots 15 knots per hour 12 knots 118 118 BOATBOAT INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL The The owner’s (below far left) and and guest en suites (below) all have baths, marble-clad wallswalls and and owner’s (below far left) guest en suites (below) all have baths, marble-clad traditional-style gold-plated fittings. Below: one one of the cabins on board traditional-style gold-plated fittings. Below: of five the guest five guest cabins on board but but at 8 atknots her her 32,000 litre litre fuel fuel capacity 8 knots 32,000 capacity givesgives her aher range of 3,000 nautical miles. The The a range of 3,000 nautical miles. layout offers engineers easyeasy access to major layout offers engineers access to major equipment and and so makes for easy servicing. equipment so makes for easy servicing. NewNew sound shields fittedfitted to the generators sound shields to the generators ensure it is itquiet to work inside and,and, withwith ensure is quiet to work inside added insulation, ensure that that sound doesdoes not not added insulation, ensure sound travel to guest areasareas of the Leading aft aft travel to guest of yacht. the yacht. Leading fromfrom the the engine room is the lazarette and and engine room is the lazarette steering compartment that that comes complete steering compartment comes complete withwith a carpenter’s storestore and and smallsmall workshop a carpenter’s workshop and and offers storage for spare partsparts and and separate offers storage for spare separate access up toupthe access to aft thedeck. aft deck. SinceSince re-launching as Fleurtje, the yacht has has re-launching as Fleurtje, the yacht undergone a further four four refitsrefits and and maintains undergone a further maintains her her Lloyd’s classification status. WorkWork carried Lloyd’s classification status. carried out out at Astilleros de Mallorca, Pendennis at Astilleros de Mallorca, Pendennis Shipyard, UK, UK, and and Savannah and and Norfolk, Shipyard, Savannah Norfolk, Virginia in the USAUSA replaced or upgraded Virginia in the replaced or upgraded much of the and and nearly all ofallthe much of machinery the machinery nearly of the sailing elements. In 1991, all three masts werewere sailing elements. In 1991, all three masts replaced withwith newnew Douglas-fir spars. replaced Douglas-fir spars. The The design team,team, guided by Leila Kennedy design guided by Leila Kennedy put put in much timetime and and efforteffort into into the redesign in much the redesign of the dated interior of the thenthen 24-year-old of the dated interior of the 24-year-old boat,boat, which at the of purchase was was still still which at time the time of purchase 1960s style. The The interior of the yacht was was 1960s style. interior of the yacht refitted out out using raised-and-fielded oak oak refitted using raised-and-fielded panelling withwith plenty of solid brassbrass fittings. In In panelling plenty of solid fittings. order to expedite the the process, the the entire order to expedite process, entire interior, including cabinetry and and panelling, was was interior, including cabinetry panelling, assembled off site in its and and thenthen assembled off site in entirety, its entirety, broken down and and reinstalled as soon as the broken down reinstalled as soon as the rest rest of the refit refit had had taken place. Whenever of the taken place. Whenever possible, locallocal Italian craftsmen and and possible, Italian craftsmen werewere usedused and and proved to be workrooms proved to abe a workrooms delight to work with.with. Despite language barriers delight to work Despite language barriers and and at a attime when communication withwith the the a time when communication owner depended on telexes and and operatorowner depended on telexes operatorcontrolled international telephone calls,calls, the the controlled international telephone project wentwent amazingly smoothly and and everyone project amazingly smoothly everyone was was extremely pleased withwith the final result. extremely pleased the final result. During an extensive refit refit in Falmouth, UK, UK, During an extensive in Falmouth, between 19941994 and and 1995, Fleurtje’s pig-iron between 1995, Fleurtje’s pig-iron ballast was was renewed, and and naval architect ballast renewed, naval architect Gerald Dijkstra was was brought in toin optimise Gerald Dijkstra brought to optimise sailing performance, which he he did did by by sailing performance, which redistributing much of the 100 100 tonnes of of redistributing much of the tonnes ballast. His His attention resulted in considerable ballast. attention resulted in considerable improvements in speed and and handling. The The improvements in speed handling. yacht was was also also given a new deckdeck using 30 30 yacht given a new using millimetre-thick teak, increasing to to a a millimetre-thick teak, increasing staggering 45 millimetres in her margins. staggering 45 millimetres in her margins. Given care,care, the the deckdeck should last last 30 years. Given should 30 years. More work, this this timetime in Savannah, USA,USA, More work, in Savannah, during 2003, sawsaw her her hullhull re-faired and and during 2003, re-faired painted withwith Awlgrip, her her rig removed and and painted Awlgrip, rig removed BOATBOAT INTERNATIONAL 119 119 INTERNATIONAL on board new stainless steel standing rigging fitted to each of her spars. The UK-based Ratsey & Lapthorn loft renewed her sail inventory so she now carries two jibs, three staysails, two fisherman mainsails and a mizzen. Her accommodation also benefited from the installation of a new reverse-cycle heating and air-conditioning system. While in Virginia, USA, in 2005 she completed her ninth five-year survey for her Lloyd’s classification, with work undertaken on her rudder, steering system, propellers and teak deck. In 2006, the winches on deck were internally renewed and the motor on the anchor windlass was rebuilt. A new sun awning was installed and many of the canvas covers on deck were replaced. Throughout the last 22 years, Fleurtje has been consistently overhauled, modernised, rebuilt, redecorated, refitted and renewed so effectively that she is now in the best condition of her life. She is certainly one of the finest three-masted schooners currently afloat. Now, after just two owners, this truly tremendous transatlantic schooner is for sale and seeking a third special owner, who will be happy to shower this majestic lady with affection and attention as she approaches her half-century. Brokers Edmiston & Company have her on the market at $14.75 million. In the 1960s Yachting World Annual they comment: ‘A yacht such as this would, in any period be remarkable, in the present day of small yachts, she seems frankly magnificent. Her place in the history of yacht architecture is assured, for technical developments have moved rapidly and far since the last sailing yacht of her size was built and there is Carita alone to reveal what the mid-twentieth century architect and builder can make of such a ship.’ Those words still ring true today, some 47 years after she was originally launched. ❏ F L E U R T J E LOA 56.99m LWL 37.03m Beam 8.56m Draught 4.88m Displacement 295 tonnes Rig 3-masted staysail schooner Mast and boom 3 x Douglas-fir masts Norwegian spruce booms Sail areas Outer jib 102.7m2 Inner jib 112.4m2 Fore staysail 88.1m2 Fore fisherman 158.3m2 Main fisherman 176.4m2 Main staysail 113.4m2 Mizzen staysail 104.7m2 Mizzen 102.7m2 Sailmaker Ratsey & Lapthorn, UK Furling systems Harken 120 BOAT INTERNATIONAL Winches 7 x Seaway Group 12,000 electric two speed 3 x Lewmar 65 manual 3 x Harken 74 two-speed manual Engines 2 x 624hp 12-cylinder Caterpillar 3412 TA Propellers Korsor, controllable pitch Speed (max/cruise) 15/12 knots approximately Fuel capacity 32,000 litres Range 3,000nm at 12 knots Bow thruster Quantum QT100hp electro hydra Stabilisers n/a Generators 3 x 80kW Caterpillar 3304s Watermakers 2 x HEM 10,886 litres per day each Freshwater capacity 21,830 litres Grey/black water capacity 3,000 litres Sewage system n/a Fire-control system(s) Halon Security systems n/a Monitoring system n/a Air-conditioning Cruise Air Communication/ navigation electronics Nera, Sailor, Fleet 77, ICOM, Furuno, Panasonic, Ritchie, Anshutz, Robertson, Brooks & Gatehouse, C Map, Nobeltec Entertainment systems JVC, Sony, Pioneer Owner and guests 10 Crew 16 Tenders 2 x 5.49m Boston Whaler Outrage, 1 x 4.8m and 1 x 4.3m Novamarine Tender-launching system Traditional poles and halyards Passerelle Custom, manually operated Paint Awlgrip Construction Steel hull and frames, aluminium superstructure, teak-laid decks Classification Lloyds ✠100A1 ✠LMC 2 Project management n/a Naval architect Robert Clark Exterior styling Robert Clark Interior designer Leila Kennedy Broker Edmiston & Company Ltd Monaco (Nick Edmiston) Tel:+377 (93) 30 54 44 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.edmistoncompany.co m Charter n/a Charter rates n/a Builder/year NV Amsterdamsche Scheepswerf (G. De Vries Lentsch Jr)/1960 Amsterdam The Netherlands Refits Cantiere Navale dell’Argentario, Italy/198485 Astilleros de Mallorca, Palma, Spain/1993 Pendennis, UK/1994-95 Savannah, USA/2003 Norfolk (Virginia), USA/2005 Price guide $14.75 million