40′ Robert Clark sloop

Full specification

Wooden ships comments on this 40′ Robert Clark berumdan sloop, built by Crosshaven Boatyard, Eire in 1968.                    UK Regd.

In his letter to me in the autumn of 1991, David Macaulay wrote that he “commissioned Robert Clark to design a boat to compete at the lower end of the Admiral’s Cup Rating in RORC Class 2” and “my brief was for a boat that would race well for 2 years then cruise”.

Original Build Spec and copies of plans are available.

The yacht was campaigned in her first two seasons becoming RORC Class 2 Champion in 1968 and according to a newspaper cutting from Spring 1969 starting the ’68 season with 3 firsts and 2 seconds in 5 starts. At the time she was racing against such great yachts as Quiver V, Noryema V11, Phantom and Prospect of Whitby. A silver model of Longbow 11 is on display ain the Royal Thames Yacht Club, Knightsbridge.

Subsequently cruised by the Macaulay family visiting Istanbul, Malta, Greek Islands, Spain, Channel Islands, Brittany, Normandy, South Coast UK and the South West until sold by Wooden Ships for the family  in 1993  after John Macaulay’s death, then lying in Brighton.

To convert her for cruising the pipe cots fwd were replaced with fixed berths, the pipe cot over the stbd settee berth was removed, a hydraulic drive was fitted to the engine to allow a 40 gall fuel tank to be carried, a 3-blade 16” prop replaced the 2-blade race prop, a fridge installed, extra stainless steel water tanks installed and roller furling fitted to the headsail.

She was refitted in 1993 and Coded for charter. Her last Code Certificate was current to Feb 2006. She sailed gently as a training yacht with husband and wife crew as a retirement hobby occupation from 1993 until sold by Wooden Ships to the present owner in December 04, then lying Dartmouth.

 

The hull is planked in 1 ½” teak all copper fastened to laminated oak frames with steamed oak intermediates.

4 ton lead ballast keel, keel bolts replaced in 1991. Ferrous strap floors, all regalvanised and rebolted in 1991.(Terry Pachol, Brighton Marina, original invoice on file). 4 cwt internal lead ballast.

The hull was recaulked in 1998.

The deck was replaced in 1993, yacht laid in teak over a ply sub deck with varnished teak king-plank and cover-boards. Varnished teak toe rail all round. Varnished mahogany coach-roof with 4 rectangular windows in chromed bronze frames each side. Fore hatch in front of the mast with dark Perspex lid. Grab rails each side. Sliding hatch and doors to the cabin.  Chromed bronze deck fittings.

Self-draining cock-pit with Whitlock shaft and gear wheel steering, pedestal and gear-box replaced recently. Compass mounted on the pedestal.

Bridge deck with instrument displays each side. Teak gratings.

Masthead Bermudian sloop rig on a keel-stepped alloy mast, single spreaders sets 700sq’ working sail. Stainless steel standing rigging all replaced between 1998 -04.

Internal s/s chain plates. S/s and bronze rigging screws. Single standing back-stay.

Roller headsail gear on the outer fore stay + lazy inner forestay on quick-release Highfield lever, both to the stainless steel stemhead fitting with twin chain rollers.

Slab reef alloy boom, new in previous ownership, sheets to a track across a cock-pit bridge.

2 pairs of large primary winches on the cock-pit coamings. 5 other winches on the coach-roof each side of the entrance hatch with halyards etc along the coach-roof through turning blocks from the mast base including genoa roller furling line, spare halyard, topping lift, kicking strap and main sheet winches.

3 mast winches including captive wire main halyard winch, spinnaker halyard and reefing winch.

Alloy spinnaker pole on a track up the forward face of the mast will just dip-gybe.

Fully battened mainsail, 2003 by Doyle Sails in as new condition with 3-slab reefs cleaned and serviced by the makers in 2006

Genoa on roller furling gear, 2003 by Doyle Sails cleaned and serviced by the makers in 2006.

Cruising chute, cleaned and serviced by sail maker Oct 2006.

Asymetric spinnaker repaired (2 split panels) and serviced Oct 2006.

Slot foresail, a masthead-rigged foresail which does not require runners.

1994 mainsail, 1998 genoa and lots of older sails including little used storm sails.

 

Lister Alpha 40 4-cyl 40hp diesel engine installed new in 1995. The engine is placed midships almost under the cabin sole and disguised by the midships locker joinery just aft of the mast, all easily removeable for quick and good access.

Fresh water cooled with a calorifier tank for hot water.

Hydraulic motor drive with deep sea seal stern gland to centre-line 3-blade 16” prop gives max 6.5knts.

Manually operated shaft brake.

Salt water inlet sea-cock with strainer fitted with glass top for visual inspection, easily accessed under companionway steps.

Twin lever controls, start key, rpm meter and warning alarms all positioned at the helm.

New hydraulic motor fitted 2002 and new oil cooler fitted 2000. A secondary gear change facility at the hydraulic motor in case of cable failure.

Engine space fire extinguisher and independently switched extractor fan will clear the bilges prior to any other system being switched on.

1 x 12v heavy duty engine start battery.

1 x 108Amp/hr domestic services battery on 12v circuit. Adverk smart regulator with split diode charging circuits from engine alternator. 3-stage battery charger.  Shore power connection with 6amp and 16amp circuits and breakers. Link battery monitor and galvanic isolator.

1.4Kva (suitcase type) petrol, air-cooled 2-stroke generator stored in a box in  the cock-pit locker.

10amp 3-stage 240v switch mode battery charger linked to shore-power/generator charges both batteries together.

5w solar panel keeps the batteries charged while on the mooring.

Split charger allows both batteries to be charged simultaneously.

Electronic alternator control to optimise battery charging.

150w inverter provides 240v from the batteries for phone charging, electric drill etc.

Battery monitor at chart desk.

Circuit breaker panel on all systems

Shore power cables and 13 akp sockets with circuit breakers.

2 Kw mains fan heater for winter use on shore power.

 

35 gall stainless steel fuel tank in the midships bilge, like the engine, keeping the weight distribution correct.

 

Accommodation.

7 berths. Large fore peak cabin with 4 berths, 2 fixed lower berths with drawers and lockers under with an infill section to make a large double berth.

Two suspended berths over in varnished mahogany frames.

Passageway aft to starboard past the mast with large storage lockers to starboard, heads compartment to port with Blake sea toilet (overhauled in 2003) and hand basin (drains into the heads).  Hot water supply, heated by the engine cooling system.

Large saloon cabin with drawer unit against the heads bulkhead over the engine.

Port and stbd settee berths with a pilot berth over the port settee

Large chart desk in the after port corner with drawers under and instruments over.

Galley in the aft starboard corner with Force 4 3-burner grill and oven gimballed, stainless steel gas cooker, all piping replaced recently. 12v fridge. Work surface and double stainless steel sinks. Salt and fresh water brass hand pumps.  Manual pump-out.  Hot water calorifier tank (currently only plumbed to the heads basin)

Approx 60 galls water in 20 gall stainless steel tanks under each settee berth _ a 20 gall tank under the cock-pit.

Good locker space above and below. Centre-line steps to the cock-pit.

6’+ head-room all through. Varnished mahogany joinery, all original and in excellent condition.  Individual drawers and lockers for each crew member.

Varnished cabin sole boards and coamings, white painted deck-head.
Equipment

Sestral Major steering compass on the Whitlock wheel pedestal

Stowe Simrad sounder and log visible from both helm and chart desk.

Stowe Simrad  close-haul indicator.

Stowe Simrad wind vane linked instruments showing wind speed and direction, true and apparent linked to the auto-pilot to steer both by wind or compass, visible from helm or chart desk.

Furuno GP30 GPS at chart desk ariel on the ush-pit, linked to the DSC VHF and with RS232 connection for PC chart plotting software.

Simrad DSC VHF radio, masthead ariel, emergency ariel, external cock-pit speaker.

Handheld VHF at chart desk with 12v charger and spare battery.

NasaPro Navtex with separate masthead ariel.

Autohelm 4000 auto-pilot (new 2005) interfaced with electronic compass and wind instruments.

Navigation and Pilot books.

Solent and Channel tidal stream atlases.

Binnoculars 7 x 50 Steiner Commander.

Paper charts, Harwich to S Ireland incl French coasts.

12v clock, wind-up clock and barometer.

8-man canister life raft, in date to Nov 2007 incl flare kit and basic RORC kit

3 life jackets, auto-inflate with integral harness (100N)

1 child’s life jackets with integral harness (100N)

3 bouyancy aids

6 harnesses + lanyards

2 horse-shoe life-buoys with lights

Danbuoy

MOB Parbuckle system

EPIRB in cock-pit locker with bracket and line (an over-size unit for this yacht)

Lots of flares to Code requirements + Grab Bag (Dates need to be examined)

3 fire extinguishers to Code requirements including a new 2006 unit in the cock-pit locker.

2 manual bilge pumps to Code requirements

2 12v bilge pumps on float switches on separate batteries with time monitors and independent electrics.

Manual, portable fire pump with hoses and nozzle, great for water fights.

Brass (mouth blow) air horn

Gas fog horn + bicycle pump to recharge

Anchor ball and motor-sailing cone shapes.

12v anchor light connected at mast or at cock-pit for cock-pit lighting.

Gas alarm with bilge sensor.

Grab Bag incl thermal bags, survival suits, emergency VHF ariel, inflatable radar reflector, water, flares etc

Brass fog-horn and shapes, clock and barometer

Gas alarm. Manual gas tap at cooker.

Fuel cut-off valve in the cabin sole.

Auto fire extinguisher in the engine compartment.

Water and fuel cans

Bolt croppers

Emergency fore stay permanently rigged to the masthead and stowed at stbd shrouds. 45lb CQR anchor

45lb CQR anchor

55 meters approx 9/16” chain + 100meter warp, stowed in fore peak chain lockers, drains to bilge.

35lb Danforth kedge anchor with short chain and 50meter warp stowed in cock-pit locker.

Manual capstan type windlass

Electric dinghy pump with deck connection.

Manual dinghy pump with pressure meter.

Warps and fenders

Winter cover, bow to stern in 2 parts.

Boathook

Bosun’s chair

Heaving line

2 block and tackles for preventers and hoisting.

Bosun’s stores with spares, electrics, fuses, shackles, mainsail cars, etc.

Sea toilet refitting kit.

Engine spares, filters (nitrogen packed) impellers, belts, anodes etc.

Many winch handles

18v battery drill with mains charger

½” + ¼” socket set

Metric conbination spanner set

100 piece drill bit set

12v lamp on long lead

Sail repair bag with palm, needles, twine etc

Car type FM radio.

Box of misc tools.

 

A fine, powerful yacht with an excellent history. 4 owners only with documented history of use and maintenance. Built to a high spec in teak with a recent teak deck.  Maintained in Code until 2006 which is a very good recommendation for any yacht, requiring stability survey, regular structural surveys and a high level of equipment.

Enthusiastic knowledgeable previous owners ran a successful sea school with her for 10 years doing some very gentle instruction for 2 or 3 at a time, up-grading her as required – new rigging, sails, engine and equipment – and keeping her in smart all round condition.

Present owner sails from Chichester on local sailing, cross-Channel and West Country cruises but is just not susing the yacht so sadly she has to go. Price reduced to sell this autumn. Someone is now going to get a really good buy!

Disclaimer:

These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.