An extremely well-bred yacht from a period when the transatlantic relationship between Philip L. Rhodes and Abeking & Rasmussen was particularly close; for very good reason both designer and builder were fiercely proud of GAEL.
An extremely well-bred yacht from a period when the transatlantic relationship between Philip L. Rhodes and Abeking & Rasmussen was particularly close; for very good reason both designer and builder were fiercely proud of GAEL. Rhodes’s 60-page specification and a healthy build budget challenged arguably Europe’s finest builders to raise their already high skill levels, and allowed use of only the best materials: in particular, double teak hull planking reinforced by the best alloys of bronze. Five owners in 60 years have risen to the subsequent challenge of honouring that perfection in maintaining GAEL as one or the finest yachts ever of this size and type, and enjoying her beautifully conceived public and private spaces and ease of sailing at fast passage making speeds.
Brokers Comments
An extremely well-bred yacht from a period when the transatlantic relationship between Philip L. Rhodes and Abeking & Rasmussen was particularly close; for very good reason both designer and builder were fiercely proud of GAEL. Rhodes’s 60-page specification and a healthy build budget challenged arguably Europe’s finest builders to raise their already high skill levels, and allowed use of only the best materials: in particular, double teak hull planking reinforced by the best alloys of bronze. Five owners in 60 years have risen to the subsequent challenge of honouring that perfection in maintaining GAEL as one or the finest yachts ever of this size and type, and enjoying her beautifully conceived public and private spaces and ease of sailing at fast passage making speeds.
Refits
WINTER
CANTIERE NAVALE FRANCESCO DEL CARLO, VIAREGGIO, ITALY
- Remedial work on lower frame ends and connecting floors
- throughout engine room and midships
- Complete engine rebuild.
- New 20 kW Kohler generator installed
- Diesel tanks cleaned
- Upgraded electrical system
- Renewed plumbing throughout
- Bilges painted through midship and engineroom
- Anew battery box installed
- New plastic grey and black water tanks
- New fire and crash pumps
- Complete overhaul of both systems
- New soundproofing insulation in engine room
- 80% of the seacocks replaced
- Hull stripped to bare wood from waterline down
- Faired and thoroughly inspected
- 6 x New coats of paint
- Pump room reformed to gain better access to pumps and machinery
- Windlass mounts rebuilt
- Installed new windlass backing plate
- Deckhouse was stripped; 12 coats new varnish
- Re-painted deckhouse roof
- Re-painted bulwarks
WINTER
ASTILLEROS DE MALLORCA, SPAIN
- Complete replacement of deck
- 20 mm Teak laid deck on 3 x 10 mm plywood substrate (2018)
- Replacement of 6 x deck beams, and repairs to many others
- Replacement of 2 x frames and repairs to 1
- Rebuild of the owners cabin to a design by Oliver Design, Getxo, Spain
- Associated systems renewal
- (Jaime Oliver actually worked with Philip Rhodes on several projects)
- Crew area refit
- Re-chrome of all deck hardware, and some interior
- Complete re-wiring including new distribution boxes
- New methacrilate engine and main electric panels
- New black water tank
- New grey water tank
- Seacocks removed, full service, replaced with new fastenings
- New propeller shaft and cutlass bearing
- Engine realigned on new flexible mounts
- New navigation lights
- Anchor windlass improvements
- Rig out, full service, new electric cabling; new standing rigging
- Re-finishing of painted and varnished surfaces
- New external cushions
OLDER REFITS
- 2000 Major refit Miami, USE
- 1983 Major refit, Southampton, UK; naval architecture, John Munford
- 1972 Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany
History
PHILIP L. RHODES DESIGN NO. c724
ABEKING & RASMUSSEN BUILD NO. 5767
She was launched at Lemwerder, Bremen as GAEL for Robert Fiévet, chairman and CEO of Fromageries Bel (The Laughing Cow / La vache qui rit/ Babybel), the dairy products business cleverly developed by his father-in-law, Léon Bel.
There was at this time a particularly close relationship between Rhodes and Abeking & Rasmussen, and for good reason both designer and builder were particularly proud of GAEL.
Fiévet wasn’t a stranger to the Bremen yard’s famed build quality. GAEL was replacing his Henry Rasmussen designed, A&R built 48 ft canoe-stern wishbone ketch ROSE-JOAN (Build no. 4285 of 1949), one of the yard’s first large post-war builds for Bretan Jean Lacombe. Rhodes's 60-page build specification was minutely detailed in the quality of timber and alloys of bronze to be used in the GAEL's construction.
After eighteen years sailing out of Toulon, in 1980 Scottish metal broker Alexander (known as Alastair) D. Stewart became GAEL's second owner, a member of the Clyde Cruising Club and Royal Highland Yacht Club with a penchant for large ketches sometimes raced offshore. However, there is currently no evidence GAEL sailed in Scottish waters.
At some point ownership transferred to Count Alberto Marone Cinzano, chairman of the eponymous Italian drinks company. Following his death in a car crash, the boat was kept in trust for his daughter, the winemaker Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano, who spent a considerable amount of time cruising the Caribbean. It was during this time the next owner got to know GAEL, eventually buying the boat in 2011 – and paying the VAT on her as he wanted to take her to the Mediterranean.
GAEL has been in present ownership since 2017 since when the refit and maintenance and programme has been impressive, including major work at Astilleros Mallorca winter, and at Cantiere Navale Francesco del Carlo, Viareggio, Italy, winter.
©2022 Iain McAllister/ Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd.
Construction
- Double teak planking over iroko backbone & laminated oak frames
- Bronze fastened throughout
- Lower bilge strakes: single planks, 45 mm
- Remainder, double planked: inner, 28 mm; outer, 17 mm
- Frames: 90 x 90 mm laminated white oak
- Heavy oak floors and ¼ inch bronze floors in sections
- Bronze cross strapped with 3/16th inch x 4 inch bronze
- 20 mm Teak laid deck on 3 x 10 mm plywood substrate (2018)
- Varnished teak deck house and superstructures
- Lead keel, monel bolted
Deck Layout, Equipment and Ground Tackle
FROM AFT
- Chromed fairleads both sides on taffrail
- Chromed pasarelle socket
- 2 x Chromed Panama fairleads in bulwark
- 3 x Chromed A&R pattern mooring cleats
- Chromed electric winch; covered deck switch
- Chromed vent cowl
- Chromed lockable Highfield levers
- Associated padeyes and sheaves for mizzen running backstays
- Stainless steel mizzen boom crutch
COCKPIT
- Varnished teak cockpit coaming with chromed top trim
- Coaming runs forward to deckhouse
- Cockpit in two distinct layouts fore and aft of mizzen mast
- Aft is a traditional well with wide 'U' seating
- Access to lockers and lazarette under seating
- Removable seat and back cushions (moulded around the combing)
- Drop leaf cockpit table; for 8 when dining
- Mizzen mast position
- Removable curved and leathered helm seat at mizzen mast
- Teak grating helm plinth
- Leathered stainless steel steering wheel
- Pedestal console: chromed binnacle, navigation and engine instruments
- Stainless steel protective bar over
- Forward of mizzen, extended bridge deck
- Chromed mainsheet track and blocks on car
- Raised hatch over owner's cabin; non-opening ports port and starboard
Cockpit winches on stainless steel plinths outside coaming
- 4 x Antal chromed self-tailing winched: sheets/ mooring
- 2 x No. 6 Nevins: main running backstays
- Associated chromed A&R pattern cleats
SIDE DECKS
- Chromed downwind sail sheaves at rails
- Chromed genoa track and cars on rail each side
- Main mast running backstay – all ash and bronze blocks
- Chromed Panama fairleads in bulwarks
- Teak pasarelle stowage at starboard shrouds
DECKHOUSE
- Varnished teak uprights
- Engine room intakes port and starboard aft
- 3 x Large windows port and starboard
- 2 x Large opening ports forward
- White painted glassed roof
- 1 x No 6 Nevins main sheet winch on roof aft starboard
- Varnished teak handrails port and starboard
- 2 x Large chromed vent cowls port and starboard aft on coach roof
- Sliding companionway hatch
- Removable sunbathing cushions
- Stainless steel main boom crutch
- Mainsheet blocks and padeyes
- 2 x White painted dorade boxes with chromed vent cowls forward
MID DECK
- Trunk cabin extensions forward from deckhouse
- Opening hatch, chromed vent cowl & mushroom vent over port guest cabin
- Opening hatch, chromed vent cowl &mushroom vent over stbd guest cabin
- Locker between
MAIN MAST POSITION
- Traditional pin rail port, starboard and forward of mast
FOREDECK
- Chromed staysail boom traveller and purchase blocks
- Raised trunk cabin with hatch over galley
- Vented gas bottles locker incorporated
- 2 x Dorade boxes and chromed vents; one each side
- Deck stowage on custom teak chocks for liferaft
- Forward companionway to crew accommodation
- Sliding companionway hatch
- Lockers each side
- Removable cushions for locker lids
- Stainless steel tripod for staysail boom gooseneck
- Chromed mooring cleat
- Chromed Panama fairleads in knights heads port and starboard
- Anchor launchers/ rollers port and starboard of stemhead
GROUND TACKLE
- Lofrans Titan A 24 V 2000 W windlass
- Chain gipsy; vertical and horizontal warping drums
- 125 lb CQR bower anchor with 100 m 14.5 mm chain
- 15 lb CQR kedge anchor with 20 m chain and 100 m warp
- Hurricane large Admiralty anchor with 100 m warp
Accommodation and Domestic Equipment
FROM AFT
4 x RAW TEAK STEPS DOWN TO SUNK DECK SALOON
- Stainless steel handrail to port
- Varnished teak carpentry with teak and holly sole
- Navigation station to port
- Full size chart table with many chart drawers under
- Navigation and comms displays as specified below
- Pull out cocktail bar cabinet starboard aft
- L-shaped dinette around large varnished teak dining table to port
- Sofa to starboard
- Camper & Nicholson clock and barometer over stairway down fwd
- Forward starboard sideboard: large games locker and TV stowage
- Forward port sideboard
- Chromed opening ports in fwd bulkhead
- Blinds for side windows
- 9 x Deckhead brass lights
- 2 x Reading lights
DOWN 3 STEPS AFT TO EN-SUITE MASTER CABIN (completely refitted 2018)
En-suite shower compartment to starboard
- Teak grating; wraparound wood bench
WC Compartment to port
- Tecma Nano toilet with wood lid (2018)
- Washbasin inset in Corelan top
- Lockers under and over
- Mixer tap; shaver socket
- Stainless steel towel rail and roll holder
- Mirror; shelf
- Brass deckhead light
Double berth central with headboard aft
- Drawer stowage under
- Bedside tables with lamps port and starboard
- Drawers under
- Lockers in aft bulkhead port and starboard
- 2 x Reading lamps
- 2 x 24 V Fans
- Louvre door hanging lockers to port and starboard
- Bookshelves recessed in forward bulkhead
- 2 x Brass deckhead lights
- Hatch in deckhead over
RETURN TO SALOON AND DOWN FWD 3 x STEPS TO FWD ACCOMMODATION
DAY HEAD/ EN-SUITE TO FWD GUEST DOUBLE CABIN TO PORT
- Electric toilet
- Corelan basin and top with chromed mixer tap
- Deep shower tray; teak grating and seat
- First Aid cabinet
- Hatch in deckhead shared with port guest cabin
- Light over shower
- Light over basin
- Deckhead light
GUEST CABIN TO PORT
- Double berth
- Additional single berth sliding out above
- Book cases
- Large locker
- 3 x Deckhead lights
- 2 x Reading lights
- 24 V Fan
- Hatch in deckhead shared with en-suite WC
GUEST CABIN FWD STARBOARD
- 2 x Single bunk berths
- Drawers under lower berth
- Bookshelves
- Stainless steel sink basin within chest of drawers under
- Hanging locker
- Hatch in deckhead
- Mirror
- 2 x Deckhead lights
- 2 x Reading lights
- 24 V fan
GALLEY
To starboard
- Full length Corelan type work surface
- Large Bosch 5 x ring gas hob; electric hood over
- Fiddled stowage space under
- Drawers and lockers under
- Gaggenau electric oven under
- Samsung Smart Oven convection microwave over
- Lockers over
To port
- U-shaped Corelan type work surface
- Lockers under
- Deep 'Belfast' type sink basin aft
- 2 x Stainless steel mixer taps
- 2 x Large fridges to port
- 170 L top-loading deep freeze
- Magnetic knives rack
- Stainless steel air drying plate rack
- Spice rack
- Ample stowage below the sole boards in custom made baskets
- Numerous 240 V sockets
- Deckhead downlighters
- Natural ventilation through solid teak framed deck hatch
- 24 V Fan
SLIDING DOOR FORWARD TO CREW CABIN
- Teak veneered marine ply joinery
- Solid teak trim;
- 2 x Settee berths
- 2 x Stainless steel framed cot berths
- Folding table offset to port
- 2 x Wardrobes; ample stowage under lower bunks and cabin sole
- Mirrors
- 4 x 24 V Fans
- 3 x Deckhead lights
- 4 x Reading lights
- Hatch in deckhead
- Door to WC/ shower compartment forward
- Jabsco electric toilet
- Stainless steel wash basin
- Electric extractor, mirror, lighting
- Access panel forward to chain locker
Rig, Sails and Canvaswork
RIG
Bermudan Ketch Rig
Hollow varnished Sitka spruce spars and booms
- 2 x spreaders main mast
- 1 x Spreaders mizzen mast
- Bronze fittings & fastenings
- Masts out overhaul 2018
- All new standing rigging fitted 2018
- Chromed bronze rigging screws
- Rod forestay
- Reckmann manual headsail furler
- Slab reefing with 3 reef points in the main sail and 2 reef points in the mizzen sail
Main mast winches
- Lewmar 46 ST spinnaker halyard
- Lewmar 54 ST main halyard
- Lewmar 48 ST reef 1
- Barient 26 reef 2
- Merriman 395 cunningham
- Merriman 395 leech outhaul
- Lewmar 54 ST headsail halyard
Mizzen mast winches
- 3 x Merriman reel captive winches, mizzen halyard
- 2 x Merriman mizzen sheet
- 2 x Merriman mizzen stay's halyard
- 2 x Merriman reef point and leach outhaul
Blocks
- Majority are leather cased
Running rigging (90% new 2022)
- Main halyard 14mm Vectran
- Headsail halyard 12mm Vectran
- Spinnaker halyard 14mm Vectran
- Staysail halyard 12mm braid line
- Mizzen halyard 8mm Dyneema
- Mizzen stay'sl halyard 12mm braid line
- All outhauls & topping lifts in Dyneema
- Headsail sheet 16mm Marlow braid
- Mainsheet 14mm Vectran
- Stay'sl sheet 12mm Vectran
- Main running backstays 14mm Vectran tails; Dyneema standing sections
- Mizzen running backstays Dyneema tails; Dyneema standing sections
- Numerous other lines, sheets and spares
SAILS
- Sails all Ratsey & Lapthorn except where stated
- Mainsail (2005)
- Staysail (2005)
- Yankee (2022)
- Mizzen (2005)
- Mizzen staysail San Remo white
- Gennaker San Remo white with snuffer
- All sheets lead to outside cockpit for safety, comfort and ease of handling
CANVASWORK
Sail covers
- Ratsey and Lapthorn covers on boom for staysail, main and mizzen
- Full spare set also on board currently used as winter spar covers
Awnings
- 3 x Sunbrella Oyster white awnings, leather reinforced in high load areas, can cover the full deck
- All awnings with drop down sides for extra sun, wind or rain protection
- Lacing to close around shrouds and stays
- Winter covers for the major superstructures on deck in serviceable condition
Mechanical, Electrical and Tankage
MECHANICAL
- Caterpillar 3208 naturally aspirated 170 hp diesel engine (2007/hours
- Engine completely rebuilt 2022
- MG-506-1 Twin disk gearbox ratio 2.5:1
- 2 1/4 in 316 stainless steel propeller shaft (2018)
- 29 in Bronze 3-bladed fixed propeller
- Cruising speed 8 kts @ 2,000 RPM
- Consumption at 2,000 RPM: 5 gal / 22 L per hour
- Kohler 20 kW generator,220 hours
ELECTRICAL
- Electric engine start
- 24 V fan extracts and intakes engine room air via deckhouse dorade vents
- Mastervolt Combi 24 /battery charger
- 6 x Varta Professional LFD 140 Ah batteries wired as 3 x 24 V cells total 420 Ah
TANKAGE & WATER SYSTEMS
- 2 x Monel diesel tanks total 420 gal / 1,600 L
- 2 x Stainless steel fresh water tanks total 440 gal / 2,000 L
- Black water holding tank (2022)
- Grey water holding tank (2022)
- Matrix, 7 L / hr water maker
OTHER
- Air Marine system with 3 compressors aircon / heating to all cabins, galley and saloon
- Deck wash pump
Navigation and Electronics
NAVIGATION
- B&G Hydra 2000 depth sounder; analogue helm and digital chart table display
- B&G Hydra 2000 log; analogue helm and digital chart table display
- B&G Hydra 2000 wind speed; analogue helm and digital chart table display
- Furuno Navigator GPS chart table display
- Raymarine A75 chart plotter; helm mounted
- Digital Yacht AIT 2000 AIS Transceiver networked with chart plotter
- Furuno weather fax
- Raytheon R40 / 41xx radar; chart table display
- Furuno Nav pilot autopilot
COMMUNICATIONS
- Raymarine Ray 260 VHF; helm and chart table operation
- Icom IC-M710 SSB HF radio
- Iridium Sat phone
Safety
- Arimar - Neptune 10 Person life raft 1997; last serviced 2020
- 12 x 150N Auto inflate life jackets; all inspected and inflation tested monthly
- 3 x Auto inflate children's life jackets; all inspected and inflation tested monthly
- GME MT-403 EPIRB
- Jonbuoy MOB recovery device
- Galvanised steel emergency tiller stored in lazarette with required blocks and line
- Remote operation C02 fire extinguisher protects the engine room
- Remote operation fuel shut off valves
- Automatic extinguishers in electronics compartment and bilge mechanical compartments
- ABC powder extinguisher in each accommodation area
- Fire blanket and ABC powder extinguisher in the galley
- Smoke alarms fitted throughout the vessel
- Emergency fire pump system (2022)
- Delivers high pressure salt water to 2 x hoses foredeck and lazerette
- The 220 V fire pump can be used as a crash bilge pump in emergency
- Annual inspections and service for all fire fighting gear
- 8-A MOB module; inflatable Dan buoy, horseshoe life ring, drogue, light
- 24 V Electric auto bilge pumps in forward, engine room and aft bilges
- High water sensors and bilge pump operation lights in all 3 sections
- Emergency 220 V crash pump system (2022)
- Can move high volumes of water from any bilge area
- Emergency fire pump can serve as additional crash pump via engine room manifold
- In emergency the engine cooling raw water intake can be switched to act as a bilge pump
Other Equipment
- 3.90 meter Highfield tender
- Yamaha 40 hp outboard motor
- Teak chocks that allow tender stowage on foredeck
- Power enough to help yacht maneuvering
- Teak pasarelle
- Stanchions available
- Large selection of snorkelling gear
- 2 sets of scuba gear - without bottles
Disclaimer
These particulars have been prepared from information provided by the vendors and are intended as general guide. The purchaser should confirm details of concern to them by survey or engineers inspection. The purchaser should also ensure that the purchase contract properly reflects their concerns and specifies details on which they wish to rely.
