Personally, I’ve never bought into that whole “The two happiest days of a boater’s life are….” line. I sold my sailboat two seasons ago, and still miss her mightily. Yes, it was the right decision at the right time, as I wanted to devote more time to writing my novel (you can find Chapter Three here, which may be an especially fun read for the sailors in the room). But selling my racing trimaran…

…. was very far from being one of the two happiest days in my life.

I broke into the boat biz back in 1998 selling sailboats, and listing and selling brokerage sailboats remains a passion of mine. This week, friends, readers and loyal clients, I have a wonderful brand new listing to share with you:

A 2017 Alerion 41

Serendipity is a one-owner 2017 Alerion 41 in spectacular  condition. Her owner is a long-time reader of The Fog Warning Blog (although like [too] many of the 10,000+  readers of this blog, we never met in person until recently), and when he decided it was time to make the move from sail to power, he was nice enough to, as I am known to say, “launch a flare.”

Here’s a wonderful video to round out your tour today:

Knowledgable yachtsmen and women know that they can count on …. three fingers? … true yacht-quality sailboats that can be easily single-handed without sacrificing performance. I put Alerion at the very top of this list. As does famed sailboat designer Robert Perry, who has written:

“I’d be wholly content on the Alerion 41 for two weeks. Even more content for three weeks!” 

To Mr. Perry’s opinion I’ll add these reviews…

Blue Water Sailing:

• This boat was designed to be singlehanded, which meant that the helmsperson alone can raise and trim the mainsail and set and trim the jib.
• The entire process takes less than three minutes.
• The helmsman literally only moves a couple feet from the helm.
• Harken Rewind™ reversible self-tailing winches are mounted to port and starboard of the helm accompanied by sets of line clutches that enable the helmsperson to trim or ease nearly every line on the boat. And all these lines are led under the deck, and have built-in stowage in the cockpit to keep them out of the way while leaving the boat with an overall clean look.

• Unique to the 41  is a smartly conceived anchor locker with a retractable anchor and roller that easily folds back into the anchor well. This compliments the overall look of the boat by not spoiling her sheer, while providing the functionality of a sturdy anchor and windlass setup for cruising.

• When it comes time to work on the engine, the floor of the cockpit raises up on gas springs, creating easy access that would make doing the necessary pre-sail checks a simple process. A removable panel also creates a standing and working space, so servicing the engine can be done efficiently.
• Alerion came up with one of the best looking and functioning stern platforms I’ve come across. What appears to be a large lazarette on deck actually folds up and aft to create a platform that a stern ladder can then articulate from. The overall look of the platform doesn’t detract from the boat’s appearance at anchor and is probably the perfect height for a family to get in and out of a RIB.

• What struck me the most about Alerion’s newest ride is the attention to detail throughout that remains loyal to the company’s history and principles.

Cruising World:

• Her proportions seem just right. Keeping her freeboard relatively low takes full advantage of the lovely sheer line, which is the key to creating a “buy me” first impression, and gaining headroom via the superstructure gives the thoughtfully designed interior a chance to seal the deal. Elliptical portlights, and teak eyebrows and handrails reduce the perception of height.

• My favorite feature is the convertible nav station at the after end of the starboard settee: Remove the narrow cushions, raise the desk to its proper height and lock it into place. This arrangement assumes that the owners will navigate most of the time via electronics, though the desk will accommodate a book of paper charts.

• In a moderate breeze, the A41’s high-roach main and nonoverlapping jib, set on a Hoyt Jib Boom, hustled us close hauled at 8 to 9 knots and about 30 degrees to the apparent wind. The helm remained light and well balanced, and once we were in the groove, she would nearly steer herself. Tacking merely required turning the wheel.
• One of the things I look for in the stateroom berths is whether one or two people can sit up and read in bed. It’s a small thing but it speaks to an attention to detail. It’s designed so the V-berth has sort of an opening space and your back rests really nicely against it. So that kind of ergonomic luxury is built in.

 

• My immediate reaction stepping aboard was the quality of the finish and the systems installations. The interior cabinetry, the fiberglass work, the way the wiring was laid out, they just did a great job building this boat. It was special, and it deserved our recognition.

 

Sail Magazine:

• The hull and deck on the Alerion 41 are built using the SCRIMP approach to create a light but stiff laminate that includes a balsa core with carbon reinforcements in high-load areas, such as winches and cleats. The outer layer is vinylester to resist blistering. All bulkheads are laminated to the hull to provide additional stiffness, and the deck is attached to the hull with adhesive on an inward-turning flange. The through-bolts that secure the toerail add additional strength to the assembly. Overall construction quality is exceptional, as good as you’ll get in any builder.
• Once the sails were up, the boat took off. Her narrow hull created a forgiving motion in the light chop that I suspect will also translate into an easy motion in heavier seas. The boat tacked through about 80 degrees and easily topped 9 knots on a close reach in 18-plus knots of wind. When the puffs hit, the boat would heel, load up and then dig in as the 6ft keel and ballast bulb asserted themselves. All the while, the helm remained balanced even with the main strapped in—another plus for shorthanded crews. This is not a boat in which you have to continually play the sheet to keep from rounding up in the gusts.
• The engine is located under the cockpit sole, where the teak flooring lifts up on a hinge to reveal not only the engine, but a person-sized standing pit. Step down into the sole, remove a lightweight divider, and you’ll have full access, yet another clever feature aboard this boat. Though the engine is centrally located, noise levels were negligible in the cockpit and below.

Ocean Navigator:

• The cockpit is enormous and provides spacious, comfortable seating with the boom high and out of the way. A removable cockpit table allows for entertaining in the cockpit. A properly proportioned coaming offers security and with a comfortable backrest.
• The Edson helm pedestal is positioned at just the right height for maximum visibility over the low profile cabin trunk. An emergency tiller is located below the helm seat for easy access.

 

In Closing:

Where and how, you may ask, can you meet me aboard Serendipity? She can be seen at any time after June 7th. She will spend the summer moving between Mystic and Sag Harbor. I’d be happy to pick you up at Logan, JFK or Laguardia airports, for your easy-as-pie viewing day.So to schedule your viewing,  just ….. launch a flare!

And to read more about her, here is her Yachtworld listing. 

As always, thank you one and all for sharing some of your nautical hopes, dreams and schemes with…

Big Wave Dave