CAPELLA OF BURNHAM – HISTORY & CONSTRUCTION
Build: 1960
Yard: Sutton, Great Wakering, UK
Design: Alan Buchanan
Type: Vashti Class Sloop RORC Class II
Materials: Teak / Oak and rock elm frames/ bronze and SS fittings and frames/ lead keel
Class: Lloyds 100A1
Winches: Produced by H&M Engineering, Gillingham, Kent
Dimensions: LOA 37.2’
LWL 26.4’
Beam 9.5’
Draft 6.2’
Displ. 11TM
Water tank 120 ltr /ss
Diesel tank 60 ltr /ss
CAPELLA of BURNHAM was built in 1960 for E W Hawkins (Bill) of H&M Engineering, the hull was built by E W Sutton, Great Wakering to Lloyds 100A1 and finished at the H&M factory, all stainless steel fittings were produced in house for the owner of this firm to very high standards. Special winches were produced in bronze and finished in chrome. The owner had a special interest in the building process and this reflects in the materials which were used.
The Vashti Class yachts were Alan Buchanan’s favourite boats and he kept a photograph of CAPELLA on his desk, The racing successes in Europe, and winning the Sidney Hobart with these yachts did very well for his design office.
CAPELLA was built as a sister ship to Vashti and Fidelis, she was very successful in her first year of racing, beating all her sisters winning the Town cup in 1960 and voted Yachting Monthly boat of the year, featuring front page in November 1960. Over the years CAPELLA proved to be the fastest of the Vashti class boats, which was confirmed in recent classic races.
Bill Hawkins kept Capella until 1966 together with her bigger sister CAPELLA of KENT in Gillingham Marina, she was sold to R D McMeekin of Sevenoaks, who also kept her at Rochester on the Medway. In 1974 she was sold to R M Pryce of Beccles, Suffolk and again in 1977 to Eric Soyland of Hawaii who owned her through the 1980s. CAPELLA was sold to the current owner in 1994 and sailed to Holland. After which followed a long period of ongoing renewal and restoration, during the winter and extended cruising in the summer. CAPELLA is stored inside a boatyard shed every winter, her condition is very good and still extremely original.
Some of the work undertaken over the years :
1995: New engine/ Gearbox/ prop shaft/ max prop/aqua-drive new VHF
1996: New prop shaft tube in Bronze SS
1997: Replaced coachroof, bridge deck and cockpit
1998: New Taylor cooker
1999: replaced rudder and bearings/ tube
2000: chrome work on fittings redone
2001: new Webasto cabin heater
2002: re-wired electrical system
2003: build fridge in galley with compressor unit
2004: new SS fuel lines and filters
2005: new engine dials and instrument
2006/7: replaced teak deck several deck frames and refastened beams, replaced parts of the stem and transom.
2008: recaulked and repainted hull under the waterline
2009: extended work on mast new mainsail and genoa 1
2010: new sounder/log installed
2011/2012: repainted coach roof with epoxy paint
2013: new electrical control box with new chart table cabinet
2014: repaint/ varnished hull
2015: Engine and gearbox major maintenance
2016: Varnished, general maintenance
2017: placed Hydraulic windlass for anchor
2018: New winter cover
Deutz/ Lombardini FM 1004, 4 cylinder diesel engine 40HP, techno drive gearbox, aqua-drive coupling, max prop two-blade propeller
Sestral compass
Walker stern log
Autohelm 2000
Raymarine log/depth
Flares
Sailor VHF
Anchor gear
2 x CQR anchors with 40m chain
Baby Blake marine toilet
Taylor cooker
Taylor heater
Webasto hot air heater
Compressor cool box in galley
Two domestic batteries
One engine battery
Split charge unit
Battery charger
Shore power supply
New mainsail
New genoa 1
8 other sails, storm main, storm jib etc.
Sheet winches H&M
Merriman halyard winches
Merriman roller reefing
Lewmar halyard winch
Vetus anchor windlass (hydraulic, needs to be hooked up)
Manual 2” whale (bronze)
Electric bilge pump
Engine-driven emergency pump (under repair)
Dinghy
4 person life raft Plastimo
Flares etc.
BROKERS NOTE:
A high specification and extremely well maintained and presented example of the much-praised and sought-after Vashti Class design from the late 1950s early 60s. Refurbished to a high standard in the current ownership, cruised and raced with much success in Classic Regattas. A beautiful yacht to own, well balanced and original to Alan Buchanan’s design.
GUIDE: SOLD
LYING: Rotterdam
VIEWING: Through CLASSIC YACHT BROKERAGE
DISCLAIMER: Classic Yacht Brokerage offer the details and photographs of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information or images or warrant the condition of the vessel, machinery or rig. Buyers should instruct their representative, agents or their surveyors to investigate such details as the buyer requires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
