INTRODUCTION
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 Stephenswas 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.
New high-aspect bulb keel w/ innovative carbon hull-plug & keel trunk
New high-aspect carbon rudder
New high-medium hybrid modulus carbon spars from Offshore Spars
New EC6 carbon standing rigging from Future Fibers
New generator
New lithium-ion battery bank
Chainplates moved outboard to accommodate modern rig and sail plan
Deck hardware layout reconfigured for racing
All plumbing throughout & most wiring replaced
New fuel tanks
New B&G sailing instruments
New grand-prix hydraulic system for deck & rig functions
All new sails
New interior joinery and floor soles
New anchor and windlass/chain system
New dodger and semi-hard top (modular) bimini
Custom carbon/foam/wood veneer VIP bench on aft deck pushpit
All new pumps and comfort systems
Quoted replacement value (if built new today) ~$7,500,000.00
*Current name reserved, buyer must agree to rename upon closing
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.
The battery bank is located underneath the starboard settee
Fuel tanks are located in the keel-bilge, with a day tank further aft
All hatches and port lights are new
All lighting has been converted to LED
Both heads are electric w/ push button controls, both offer 3-way valves
The hot water tank can be heated via the electric element or an engine-loop heat exchanger
Reverse-cycle HVAC compressors keep the main salon and cabins cool/warm as desired
There was previously a watermaker installed (removed to save weight for racing)
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 and 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.
All halyards and control lines lead aft to the cockpit from a system of mast-base blocks and deck organizers. Multiple Spinlock jammers allow versatility at the two companionway utility winches
Excess sheet and halyard tails are organized by a system of custom removable canvas rope bags which mount around the companionway and cockpit combings
Inboard sheet-lead tracks service both jibs and both staysails, while outboard sheet-lead tracks on the toerail service the spinnakers and code sails
The foredeck, side decks, cockpit, and aft deck are all laid in teak boards
The cabin top is freshly painted in ‘MoonDust’ non-skid
All hatches are flush and have been replaced, as are the port lights and salon side-windows
The one exception is the varnished butterfly hatch amidships which not only provides an immense amount of natural light and ventilation to the salon, but serves as a subtly beautiful homage to the traditional yachts from which the aesthetic inspiration was derived.
The decks are bordered by a raised varnished toe rail. The eyebrow is also varnish as is the companionway, pedestal, cockpit combing, traveler and aft-deck owner’s bench seat.
The custom varnished wheel is arguably the centerpiece of the deck. It spans the helmsman’s cockpit well nicely to allow for fingertip driving from either board.
Custom-designed red cushions (2023) line the cockpit combing and benches. A matching red cushion adorns the custom owner’s bench seat on the aft deck, this cushion is heated via a remotely controlled 12V element.
All deck cleats are stainless steel and come with custom teak chocks for racing (which prevent them from catching feet or lines).
Navigation lights were redesigned with quick-connect mounts for fast and easy removal before racing.
Behind the owner’s bench on the aft deck there is a sturdy flush socket that supports a large varnished flag pole for the ensign.