Wooden Ships Comments on this Kim Holman Bermudan Sloop
Designed by Kim Holman and built by Kimber and Blake in 1961 for ‘Kip’ Alexander, son of famous Bristol Channel pilot Lewis Alexander, owner of the pilot cutter Kindly Light. She is mentioned in Adlard Coles ‘Heavy Weather Sailing’ book because of her exemplary sea keeping capability.
Wooden Ships Comments on this Kim Holman Bermudan Sloop
Designed by Kim Holman and built by Kimber and Blake in 1961 for ‘Kip’ Alexander, son of famous Bristol Channel pilot Lewis Alexander, owner of the pilot cutter Kindly Light. She is mentioned in Adlard Coles ‘Heavy Weather Sailing’ book because of her exemplary sea keeping capability. She competed in several Fastnet races and survived the well known Santander Race of 1964 where she was one of only 6 yachts to finish out of 46 starters.
The design is typically Holman, far greater beam than was common from UK designers of the time, more akin to the American designs from S&S. Her overhangs are understated and her sheer is sweet but not exaggerated. She is without doubt a very pretty yacht with superb sailing characteristics and yet another example of the genius of Kim Holman.
After her early racing career she was fitted out for blue water cruising and made several trans Atlantic voyages plus a cruise of the Norwegian Fjords.
The current owner bought the yacht in 1999 and after many happy years cruising the English Channel and France, she was laid up ashore and is now in need of a full restoration.
The yacht has not been surveyed but is clear she will need largely re-splining, some replacement shifts of planking, checking of keel bolts and fastenings, new sails and rigging plus a complete refit of the interior and systems.
This is not a small project but she is a superb and beautiful looking yacht certainly worthy of the time and money required to get hr afloat once again. At only 36’ long she is a very manageable sized yacht, but her generous beam and freeboard give her exceptional internal volume with a Thames Tonnage of 10TM.
Length on Deck 36’
Length Waterline 25’
Beam 9’8”
Draft 5’6”
Thames Tonnage 10TM
Construction
Carvel planked in 1” mahogany above the waterline and larch below, all copper rivet fastened to steam bent Canadian Rock Elm timbers.
Frames are 1.75” x 1.5” at 7.5” centres.
The hull was splined from new above the waterline. Some of the spline glue joints have let go.
Mix of bronze and galvanised strap floors across the centreline.
External lead ballast keel fastened with bronze keel bolts. Bolts last drawn approximately 1998.
Marine plywood deck sheathed externally. High toe rail all round with a scrubbed teak capping rail.
Varnished teak coachroof coamings with a GRP sheathed plywood coachroof deck. Raised doghouse aft. Teak hand rails and dorade vent boxes.
Large self draining cockpit with tiller steering. Varnished teak cockpit thwarts open to lockers beneath on port side and aft. Teak cockpit sole grating.
Rig
Masthead Bermudan sloop rig on a deck stepped alloy mast with a slab reefing alloy boom.
Stainless steel standing rigging from 1998, to internal stainless steel chain plates.
Twin lower shrouds and a single cap shroud with a single standing backstay and stem head forestay.
Full set of sails mainly from 1992.
Mainsail sheets to a track at the aft of the cockpit.
Genoa hanked onto the forestay.
Lewmar 44 self tailing primary cockpit sheet winches.
Barient 10 non-self tailing secondary cockpit sheet winches
Barient 18 non-self tailing halyard winches on coachroof deck.
Machinery
Volvo Penta MD2020 3cylinder 20hp diesel installed new in 1996. Engine needs work, injector pumps needs overhaul or replacement.
Centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller gives 6 knots cruising speed.
Stainless steel fuel tank of 80 litres under the cockpit sole.
2 x 12 volt batteries of unknown condition, charged from the engine alternator.
120 litre stainless steel water tank under the saloon cabin sole.
Accommodation
5 single berths including a quarter berth, 2 saloon settee berths and 2 single berths in the forecabin.
6’6” headroom midships, 6’ headroom forward.
Steps down over the engine box with galley to port and the chart desk and quarter berth to starboard.
Galley has a Plastimo 2 burner gas stove with oven and grill, needs replacing. Single stainless sink with pressurised cold water.
Chart desk faces forward using quarter berth as a seat.
Half height bulkhead separate off the main saloon.
Saloon is very spacious due to the generous beam. Settee berth either side with a forward trotter box. Shelf behind under the deckhead and lift up backs to storage lockers.
Offset dropleaf mahogany saloon table. Gas fired cabin heater on the forward bulkhead.
Starboard side door going forward with heads compartment to port
Heads has a Blake manual sea toilet and hand basin with pressurised cold water.
Forecabin has 2 single berths with 6’ headroom and good storage space.
