ALISARA is a good looking yacht of many facets.   Conceived and built for long distance cruising at pace, with a simple and well-engineered interior and great deck layout.   She comes with many unique features including water ballast, rotating mast, solid sprayhood offering great protection, lift keel and the ability to dry out.   Conceived and built for a very experienced owner, she has exceeded his expectation of her.   Now the chapter is completed she has been pit stopped here at Berthon including new paint, service of the keel and other minor works, so that she can be ready for her next owner.  

Concept:

The concept behind Alisara was to produce a 40 foot, high-performance cruiser that would be faster, safer and more comfortable than a typical 50 foot, series-production yacht. Above all, she had to be fun to cruise, for an owner who had mostly raced, but at the same time be able to access shallow waters.

High Performance: 

The North Sails, fully-battened main has a ‘fat head’ and full roach. It is set behind a rotating carbon wing-mast. The drifter and asymmetric are flown from a 2m bowsprit, extending the effective length of the yacht and allowing good speeds in light airs. The working jib is attached to an adjustable jib-boom which improves aerodynamics and aids goose-winging.

Stability is ensured by a deep-draft, bulbed lead keel and by a simple and effective water-ballast system, equivalent to 8 crew sitting on the rail.

The light, easily-driven hull, designed by Rob Humphreys, has twin rudders for better control.

Comfortable and Safe at Sea:

One of the greatest contributions to comfort is her speed, which allows one to minimise sea-time in bad weather and reduce the need for night passages. The next is the ability to sail more upright by virtue of the righting moment, aided by water ballast.

Protection from the elements is greatly enhanced by the fixed cockpit canopy, while the centre-cockpit arrangement reduces pitching while seated there.

Down below, comfort and safety have been thought through by extensive hand-holds, deep basins and a system of night lighting.

Safety, especially in the event of an emergency, has been covered by using a check-list normally associated with offshore racing. However, the immensely strong, self-supporting carbon mast is probably one of the greatest contributions to safety, because it has so few points of failure compared to a conventional mast and rigging. The dangers of grounding are also greatly reduced, because the keel lifts if it touches bottom and is enclosed within a carbon-reinforced strong box, rather than relying on keel bolts. Other safety features include a See-Me radar target enhancer.

Access to Shallow Waters and Small Harbours:

The keel lifts vertically through 5 foot, reducing draft to just 3’ 6’’ (1.06m) and Alisara dries out, supported by the long flattened bulb and twin rudders. Manoeuvring in tight spaces is aided by a drop-down bow thruster.

Comfortable to Live Aboard:

The cockpit makes a very pleasant area for relaxing or enjoying food produced in the well-equipped galley. The main saloon is exceptionally light and airy and has been given a Japanese theme. Sleeping arrangements are flexible and make good use of lee-clothes to portion off or not, as desired. The lighting provides ample reading lights and includes a dimmer over the saloon table.

Yachting World reviewed ALISARA soon after she was built (copy of article available). Toby Hodges described her as a “custom cruiser with attitude” and described the “wealth of good ideas” on board. 

 The Royal Cruising Club awarded the owner the Bluebird Trophy for the project to design and build ALISARA. This is only presented on rare occasions for a “noteworthy contribution to the development or heritage of cruising”. An article subsequently appeared in the RCC Journal, Roving Commissions, describing the project (copy of article available).

The 46 crewmembers that have spent a week or more on ALISARA have universally commented on how enjoyable the experience was.

ALISARA spent the first 18 months of her life undergoing sailing trials in the English Channel. Then, over the last 6 years, she has been on an extended cruise from Lymington to the west coast of Scotland, across the North Sea to Norway and Sweden, then to the Aland Islands, Finland and Estonia, before returning via Denmark, Germany, Belgium and France. Every year was made up of 6 one-week legs, with a crew change after each. During that time she has admirably proven the concept and given great pleasure to many friends and relations. The constant has been the owner /skipper, who has come to appreciate the way in which ALISARA has performed in all sorts of conditions and circumstances.

It is sad to see ALISARA being prepared for a sale, with a freshly painted hull and replacement parts. However, I shall be trading down to a smaller yacht and teaching grandchildren the pleasures of cruising. I will not be able to go as fast or as far, but I still hope to have as much fun.

My intimate involvement in the project to design and build ALISARA means that I will be able to pass on to a future owner a wealth of information about ALISARA. This not only covers the manuals and specifications for gear and equipment, but also includes personal experience of how to get the best out of them. ALISARA is a unique yacht and I hope that a future owner will be able to enjoy her as much as I have.

RCD Status: The yacht conforms with the essential safety requirements of Directive 94/25EC (Recreational Craft Directive) and is categorised A – “Ocean”

Hull, Deck & Superstructure Construction:

·         Foam-cored, glass-reinforced, epoxy sandwich construction for hull, deck and superstructure.

·         The hull laminate varies over the length and girth of the vessel to reflect the different pressures and panel sizes.

·         Carbon strengthening by the keel frames.

·         Hand-laid teak deck.

Keel & Rudder:

·         Vertically-lifting fin and bulb keel. Iron with lead bulb and stainless steel securing section.

·         Hydraulic lifting mechanism for keel.

·         Twin balanced spade rudders. Foam sandwich over stainless steel structure.

Engine & Gearboxes:

·         Volvo Penta D2 40hp diesel.

·         Saildrive.

Maintenance & Performance:

·         Cruising speed – approx. 6.5 knots @2000 rpm.

·         Max speed approx. 8 knots.

·         Fuel consumption at cruising speed – approx. 3 litres per hour.

·         Range @ cruising speed – 300+ miles.

Propulsion & Steering:

·         Volvo three blade folding propeller.

·         Lewmar wire in conduit steering.

·         Emergency tiller, fitting directly into port or starboard rudder stock.

·         Maxpower Compact Retract bowthruster

Voltage Systems:

·         12vDC domestic system.

·         240v ring main from Victron 12/2000 inverter or shorepower.

Battery Banks:

·         3 x 140 Ah 12v Exide gel house batteries.

·         2 x 12v Exide Maxima gel engine start battery / bow-thruster power (can be joined to house batteries).

·         1 x 12v Red Flash high current battery (forward to boost power to bow-thruster).

Battery Chargers:

·         Mastervolt 12v 25a smart charger.

·         Studer battery monitor.

Alternators:

·         Volvo Penta 60a.

·         Valeo smart alternator.

Shore Power:

·         Drives 240v ring main, hot water immersion heater and battery charger.

Other Electrical:

·         Electric pump for ballast system.

·         Electric pump for Hypromarine hydraulics.

Fresh Water & Water Heating System:

·         Water pressure system.

·         Additional hand pump.

·         2 x Jabsco filters.

·         40 litre calorifier, with heat exchanger and immersion heater.

Bilge Pumps:

·         3 x automatic electrical bilge pumps.

·         2 x manual bilge pumps – one fixed and one transportable.

Black Water:

·         Polycarbonate holding tank by aft heads.

Fuel:

·         Total capacity of 108 litres.

Fresh water:

·         Total capacity of 288 litres in 2 x tanks (148 and 140 litres).

Grey/Blackwater holding tanks:

·         Total capacity of 60 litres.

In cockpit:

·         Raymarine ST6001 autopilot Type S2G.

·         Raymarine S100 autopilot remote control.

·         Raymarine C80 chart plotter.

·         Raymarine Raystar 125 GPS.

·         Raymarine AIS 250 receiver (integrated into chart plotter).

·         Tacktick speed, depth and wind.

·         Tacktick analogue and dual display on rotating panel.

·         2 x Tacktick digital displays on bulkhead.

·         Wireless NMEA interface.

·         Raymarine Lifetag man-overboard system with 4 tags.

·         Plastimo compass.

At workstation / chart table

·         Furuno Navtex receiver.

Communications Equipment:

·         Icom VHF M421 DSC.

·         Hand-held Icom M31 VHF in grab bag.

Galley:

·         Force 10, 3 burner gas stove with oven / grill.

·         Penguin 12 v fridge / freezer.

·         Double S/S sink.

·         Sanyo compact 240v microwave (+ 1 spare available).

Heads/Showers:

·         2 x Jabsco WCs.

·         2 x deep basins with mixer taps.

·         Separate shower unit with tray and pump out.

Heating & Ventilation

·         240v electrical heater.

·         240v dehumidifier.

·         2 x deck vents.

·         6 x Lewmar hatches.

·         10 x Lewmar port lights.

Entertainment:

·         Radio/ CD / MP3 player with stereo speakers in saloon and cockpit.

Lighting:

·         LED navigation lights.

·         Masthead anchor light and strobe.

·         Deck light and steaming light.

·         LED cabin lights (some with red night-lighting option).

·         Reading lights.

·         LED lights under canopy (with red night-lighting).

·         Chart lights.

Summary of Accommodation:

·         6 berths in 2 cabins

·         2 WCs / washrooms

·         Separate walk-in shower

·         White and black Japanese style interior, with framed Japanese prints

·         Saloon table that doubles in size

·         Linear galley

·         Large interior storage bins

·         Work station / interior chart table

·         Teak-effect flooring throughout

Description of layout from forwards:

In the bow there is a large anchor locker with two anchors and associated equipment, plus room for additional gear. It also contains the windlass, pivoting anchor arm and the retractable bowsprit. Underneath is the bow-thruster.

Next is the forward cabin WC/washroom with a large hanging locker and shelves for clothes including covered bins. Mirror fronted cupboards are located at eye level port and starboard.

Then in the forward cabin there is a double bunk to port, with sail locker under, and a top and bottom bunk to starboard. The top bunk folds down to form a settee and there is further storage under the lower bunk. All bunks are fitted with lee-cloths.

In the main saloon the folding table is to port with storage bins outboard and aft. The galley to starboard has a drawer unit with Penguin fridge/freezer located outboard and then a dustbin cupboard with top hatch. The Force 10 stove, with 3 burners and oven/grill can be covered with a worktop.  Finally comes the double sink with mixer tap, which has food storage underneath. A row of cupboards above the kitchen range is designed for food storage and for crockery, glasses, etc. The Sanyo microwave cooker is located behind the sliding cupboard door above the sinks.

Moving aft, on the starboard side is the chart table and bookcase, followed by a storage bin for a folding bicycle, dehumidifier, etc. Opposite are hooks for oilskins and lifejackets plus a boot rack. On the port side is the shower room (with holding tank outboard) and the WC/washroom for the aft cabin. There is a further storage bin inboard of this which normally houses the dinghy, outboard and other equipment.  In the centre is the engine compartment, which can be accessed from 3 sides.

Finally there is the aft cabin with a 6’ wide double bunk that can be divided in two, with cupboards either side, and seats. There is further storage underneath. Outboard, and discretely hidden, are the water ballast tanks, while aft of them are the steering compartments with lazarettes above.

Rig:

·         Spars were all custom-made by Formula Spars.

·         Carbon fibre rotating wing mast, stepped on the keelson.

·         Carbon fibre ‘Park Avenue’ boom.

·         Carbon fibre bowsprit and tube.

·         Jib mast and boom in carbon fibre.

·         Kevlar side stays

·         Sparcraft pneumatic vang.

Winches:

·         2 x Lewmar 40 ST Alloy halyard winches on the mast.

·         4 x Lewmar 48 ST Alloy sheet winches in the cockpit.

Sails:

·         All were made by North Sails in 2008, except the working jib which was replaced in 2013.

·         High roach fully battened mainsail (3DL) 53 m2, with 2 reefs.

·         Set of tapered carbon fibre, custom made battens by CT3.

·         Working Jib, self-tacking (3DL) 24m2.

·         Code 1 Drifter (Racing Norlam) 57m2.

·         G-2 Asymmetric, red nylon (Gradient Norlon 150) 107m2.

·         Trysail (polyester 4800 NSP 7 oz) 13.2 m2.

·         Storm jib (NorDac 4800 NSP 7 oz) 9.4 m2.

·         Aramid anti-torque stays and Karver KF5 / KF2 furlers are used for the Code 1 and working jib.

·         The working jib has a Karver halyard lock.

·         The asymmetric is launched and doused with a snuffer.

·         Riding sail for anchoring.

General:

·         Lewmar Integra steering pedestal with 1m Y spoke carbon wheel.

·         Folding teak cockpit table.

·         Deck hardware, main and jib travellers supplied by Harken.

·         6 x C-Quip folding cleats.

·         Large aft deck designed for storing / launching dinghy.

·         Transom steps and swim ladder.

·         Ensign staff and burgee halyard.

Anchoring & Mooring Equipment:

·         20 kg Rocna anchor with 30m 8mm chain and 60m rope.

·         Aluminum Fortress anchor with 10m chain and 60m rope.

·         Small stern anchor with tape reel and buoy pick-up.

·         8 fenders, 1 step fender, 9 warps and 2 boathooks.

Covers, Canvas & Cushions:

·         Lazy jacks and mainsail cover.

·         6 canvas rope bags.

·         2 sunbathing cushions.

Tender & Outboard:

·         Lodestar NSA 230 inflatable.

·         2 ½ hp Suzuki outboard.

Safety Equipment:

·         6 man Ocean liferaft + grab-bag

·         Canister with flares, VHF, antenna, etc.

·         ACR Rapidfix 406 EPIRB.

·         Jonbuoy horseshoe MOB recovery device.

·         KIM MOB rescue sling.

·         Lifebuoy with light and drogue + second lifebuoy.

·         8 x lifejackets and safety harnesses.

·         First aid kit.

·         Heaving line.

·         Aqua Signal searchlight.

·         Large drogue type sea anchor.

Fire-fighting equipment;

·         3x Gloria 1 kg powder extinguishers.

·         Automatic engine-room fire extinguisher.

·         Fire blanket.

·         2 x Jerry cans.

·         Bosun’s chair.

·         Tool kit.

·         Hose pipe with multiple fittings.

·         Buckets and scrubbers.

·         2 x electrical cables for shorepower.

·         Fog horns.

·         Kitchen equipment.

·         Crockery and cutlery.

·         Spare radar reflector.

·         Large assortment of spare parts.