From renowned designer Ed Burnett’s drawing board, HELENA was launched in the summer of 2018, her every detail fashioned by a small team of British craftsmen with a proud heritage of wooden boatbuilding led by shipwright Mike Ludgrove over a period spanning more than a decade. With lines echoing from the 1930’s, she is every inch a classic inspiration from the Golden Age of yachting, yet combines all the advantages of watertight and modern construction and new and efficient systems. When we visited HELENA immediately after her return from the Mediterranean it was almost impossible to believe this was a boat that had sailed 9000 miles in one summer. She is capable and beautiful - what more can we say! With lines echoing from the 1930’s, she is every inch a classic inspiration from the Golden Age of yachting, yet combines all the advantages of watertight and modern construction and new and efficient systems.
"On her maiden voyage down the eastern Atlantic seaboard, through the Gibraltar Strait to the East Mediterranean, HELENA consistently turned heads, attracting admirers in every port. I recall the thrill of heading down the French Atlantic coast then crossing Biscay at HELENA's helm. In fresh to strong winds she comfortably took us through challenging seas, regularly exceeding ten knots. She is a boat built for family, friends and adventure."
I am delighted to advise that HELENA was quite amazing. Mike Ludgrove... presented the yacht in a perfect condition. She sails beautifully and is a credit to his determination and commitment to her construction. I am confident that the “Sydney Sailors“ will look to repeat the experience in the future. Thank you for your assistance in making this possible - Jonathan Kahn
Ed Burnett design no. 103 This modern classic design, which reflects her owner and builder Mike Ludgrove's passion for very English vintage yachts and designers, like Fred Shepherd, was one of the last designs to leave the drawing board of the late great Ed Burnett. A designer renowned for elegant, luxurious and fast craft, Ed’s designs were described by Classic Boat magazine as, “the best in the world for what we might call contemporary traditional design”. Collaborating with Howard Swift of Yealmbridge Yachts in Devon, they set about designing a craft to fulfill Mike's dreams - which began when he first sailed on board Lord Amory's 77ft 1895 Stow & Son ketch RONA in 1966. More than fifty years were to elapse before HELENA was lowered into the waters of the River Exe, Devon, in August 2018, after the completion of her build which had spanned more than a decade. The whole project was overseen by Mike who conceptualised the idea of this modern classic sailing yacht and headed up the team of craftsmen who brought HELENA into being, making every inch of her by hand, in his own workshop. The uncompromising manner in which HELENA has been designed and built results in a vessel of classic timeless beauty, enormous strength and seaworthiness, and exceptional on board comfort. She has also proven to be a boat capable of exhilarating speed, and an adept, go-anywhere blue water passagemaker. Going back a few years, the story involves Mike learning his craft at Lyme Regis Boatbuilding Academy, building a classic clinker lugger, a classic Bill Dixon 42, followed up by a modern racing boat, and finally committing to build HELENA following design meetings with Burnett and Swift. The build then moved through to completion of the hull, but the decks, the beautiful interior fit out, the hand crafted spars and stainless fittings took much longer. Entering the 2019 Spetses Regatta in the Greek Saronic Islands, she achieved a respectable 3rd position during the third day of racing and was cited for the Concours d’Elegance Category. HELENA's maiden voyage to the Eastern Mediterranean and back to the UK would span almost 9,000 miles, to include some very testing conditions in the Atlantic on her return voyage. HELENA has been nominated in the Traditional New Build category of the Classic Boat Awards 2020. The citation reads: "For Mike Ludgrove, it was simple: 'You can’t have boats like this unless you build them with heart and soul. It’s an exercise in madness.' Not that it stopped him. After 13 years, Mike realised his lifelong dream and launched HELENA, 54ft of wooden, strip-planked elegance."
- Humidity controlled materials used throughout - Maintained at below 13% moisture content - All adhesives, esp Epoxy and Resorcinol, maintained at > 18 deg C HULL - Pacific coast grown 40mm Douglas Fir planking - Clear and better grade; no knots or resin pockets - Planking spindle moulded into speed strip tongue and groove - Then bonded plank on plank with West System Epoxy Resin - Planks 316 stainless steel screwed to the plank below @500mm c/c - Planks West System epoxied to frames and and 316 stainless steel screwed - Similar at stem and transom stern - Entire hull vacuum epoxy glassed for abrasion resistance and added strength - 3 x layers 1000g biaxial glass; double diagonal and fore and aft - Resorcinol laminated mahogany frames - Resorcinol laminated mahogany deck beams - Resorcinol laminated mahogany stem and 15:1 structural scarf - Resorcinol laminated iroko floors - Floors Resorcinol bonded to frames - And epoxied-in 12mm 316 stainless steel threaded rod - Deck beam knees mahogany epoxy laminated - And using and traditional lap jointed grain orientation - Knees epoxy bonded to frames and deck beams - And epoxied in 12mm 316 stainless steel threaded rod - Wood Keel Resorcinol laminated Iroko; structural 15:1 staggered scarf jointed - Dead Wood; deadwood knee resorcinol laminated Iroko - Reinforced with 12mm 316 stainless steel epoxied-in threaded rod - Transom curved lamination with 6 x 12mm Lloyd's approved 1088 marine ply - Mahogany fashion pieces epoxied and screwed to inside DECK - 2 x 12mm Lloyds approved BS1088 marine ply epoxy laminated - Screwed and epoxied to deck beams, beam shelf, transom and breasthook - Hull deck joint reinforced using 3 vacuumed laminations of biaxial glass - And West System Epoxy to top of Gunwhale - Swept teak 15mm decking Sikaflex bonded and caulked - Varnished teak caprail topping painted gunwale COACHROOF - Epoxy laminated construction using 3mm teak veneers to full 40mm thickness Every major structural joint, to include hull planking, frame lamination, wood keel, lead ballast keel, deck beams, knees, cockpit, coachroof and spars have been photographed in detail. These photographs are available for scrutiny, attesting to overall quality of construction.
FROM AFT - Chromed Panama fairleads port and starboard - 2 x Chromed and teak mooring cleats - Flush, lockable, watertight hatch: access to lazarette and Lewmar steering gear - Stainless steel Antal mainsheet blocks - Stainless steel and teak boom gallows; Lopolight stern light and Navtex antenna COCKPIT - Deep cockpit with sunk and raised, teak stave capped teak coaming - Self draining with oversize drains - Leathered stainless steel ship's wheel - Teak trunked housing - Raymarine autopilot controls - Caterpillar engine panel - Bow thruster control - 12 V Charging socket - Halyard Marine engine alarms located here. - Teak cockpit seating - 3 x large lockers under - Teak grating cockpit sole - Antal runner tackles ANDERSON STAINLESS STEEL SELF-TAILING WINCHES - 2 x 46ST port and starboard - mainsheet - 2 x 50ST port and starboard - yankee - 2 x 52ST port and starboard - running backstays TRADITIONAL TRUNK CABIN - Teak louvre and panelled companionway doors - Sliding teak hatch - Ritchie steering compass - Raymarine repeaters - Varnished teak grab rails port and starboard - Bronze opening ports port, starboard and forward - Butterfly skylight; armoured laminated glass - 2 x Brass vents mounted on teak Dorade boxes DECK - Cast 316 stainless steel deck fittings designed by Ed Burnett - Deck blocks and sheet leads from Antal classic stainless range - Brass vents mounted on teak Dorade boxes over main and forward accommodation - Stainless steel vent cowl protection bars - Chromed Panama spring fairleads port and starboard - Teak and chromed spring mooring cleats port and starboard - Diesel filler - Antal headsail tracks port and starboard - Antal staysail blocks port and starboard AT MAST - 1 x Anderson 46ST stainless steel self-tailing deck mounted reefing winch - 2 x Anderson 46ST stainless steel self-tailing halyard winches - 4 x Halyard locks FOREDECK - Double butterfly skylight hatch - 2 x Brass vents mounted on teak Dorade boxes - Stainless steel vent cowl protection bars - Lewmar stainless steel V5 anchor windlass; vertical chain gypsy & warping drum - Foot controls - 60lb/ 27kg CQR anchor with 100 metres of 1/2 in/ 12mm chain - Danforth spare/ kedge anchor - Chain leads via stainless steel hawsepipes to custom bowsprit mounted roller - Chromed Panama fairleads port and starboard - Teak and chromed spring mooring cleats port and starboard
- Light Scandinavian contemporary style - Solid Rock Maple joinery, contrasting with - Grey Belgian linen soft furnishings from Naturalmat - Berths for up to six have sprung mattresses handmade by Naturalmat - Frigast lamps from the Danish Cabin range - Downlighters throughout - Ample grab rails and posts Solid curving teak companionway steps - 2 x to engine box - 2 x to cabin sole - Nav station to port and galley to starboard GALLEY - Wallas diesel oven and 2 x burner hob - Efficient gas free cooking - Safe single fuel requirement - 2 x Bowl stainless steel sink - Mixer tap set into teak worktops - Seagull fresh water purifier - Fridge/freezer box beneath teak counter top - Ample locker space on two levels - 240 V Sockets - Controller timer for diesel Hydronic heater - Freshwater maker control panel - Large floor standing cupboard unit - Removable to facilitate access to systems including: - Battery bank; freezer compressor; diesel tanks; front of engine NAV STATION - Full size chart table - Large capacity full size chart stowage under - Separate instruments compartment under - Drawer chest beneath for further charts, instruments & regularly used tools - Chart Plotter - Navtex - Battery management control - Shorepower controller - VHF radio - SSB transceiver - Tridata display - Tank gauges - Switch panels - Ship's clock and barometer - 240 V sockets - Chart reading light - Access door to cable conduits and discrete electronic systems - Wet locker QUARTER BERTH TO PORT SALOON FORWARD - A bright, airy living space with high headroom throughout - Port and starboard sofas - Starboard U-shaped sofa removable for access to tanks, pumps etc - Seats six surrounding an elegant teak table - Table easily removed for easy access bilge - High capacity stowage below, behind and above all seating - Bookshelves outboard port and starboard - Magazine rack. - Drinks cabinet beneath saloon table - Soft furnishings in grey Belgian linen - Straight port side sofa seats three - Modernist oil portrait of Helen of Troy on main bulkhead - TV on extendable bracket behind doors - 240 volt sockets - Butterfly skylight in deckhead SALOON HEAD TO PORT - Tecma electric toilet - Shower unit - Mirrored cabinets at eye level - Stainless steel inset sink - Corian counter top; lockers under SMALL LOBBY TO FORWARD ACCOMMODATION OWNER'S SUITE FORWARD TO STARBOARD - Double berth with spacious stowage beneath - Hanging locker and drawer unit - Forward through door to en-suite manual toilet and shower - Stainless steel sink with mixer tap - Half butterfly skylight above PASSAGE CABIN TO PORT - Single berth to port with stowage beneath - Hanging locker and draw unit forward - Half butterfly skylight above - 1 x Bulkhead light - 2 x Downlights FORWARD THROUGH DOOR TO WORKSHOP/ STORAGE SPACE - Iroko workbench to port - Tool store in drawer unit and cupboards below - Starboard side housing to battery bank dedicated to bow thruster unit and Anchor windlass - Watertight hatch forward opens into chain locker
RIG - Bermudan Cutter Rig to Ed Burnett's design and specifications - All spars from Pacific coast grown Douglas Fir - Personally selected from batches of Spar grade timber originating in Washington state - No knots or resin pockets - Annular ring count 30 to 40 rings per inch - All are hollow section laminations except for the bowsprit - Mast section has 14 laminations for strength - Scarphed using a 15 to 1 ratio joint - Stainless steel fittings locally cast or fabricated to Ed Burnett design specs - Stainless steel rigging wire by Navtec - Rigging screws and wire terminals by Petersen rigging - 2 x Spreader; 1 x diamonds hollow mast - Hollow boom - Solid bowsprit with stainless steel cranse and gammon iron - All warps by English Braids - Halyards and sheets: Dyneema SAILS - Hyde Hertage range buff DacronTraditionally cut into narrow bolts; re-sewn for strength and elegance - Mainsail - full length battens and lazyjacks - Staysail - Roller furling yankee; Reckmann furler - Asymmetric spinnaker CANVASWORK All by Exe Sails - Sprayhood with removable windows - Sail covers
MECHANICAL - Caterpillar 3054 marine diesel, 108HP - Onan MDKAU super quiet diesel generator - Teignbridge bronze propeller and Temet 25 drive shaft, fitted with PYI - Sure Seal and backup cartridge replacement system - Stripper rope cutter - R&D marine flexible shaft coupling - Halyard marine exhaust and muffler system - Halyard marine Sea Strainer alarm - Halyard marine Exhaust temperature alarm - Sleipner Sidepower Bowthruster, joystick controlled from cockpit TANKAGE/ WATER - Tek Tanks UK thermo-welded polyethylene tanks - 3 x Fresh water tanks - total 850 L - Johnson pump Aqua Jet Duo for constant house water pressure - Dessalator D60 water maker - 4 x Diesel tanks - total 810 L - Johnson pump fuel transfer impeller pump - 1 x Black water 90 L - Johnson pump Viking vacuum black tank pumpout - 1 x Grey water 50 L - Johnson pump grey tank pumpout, auto or manual - Sigmar 80 litre stainless steel calorifier. Heating circuits from Engine - Hydronic heater and 240 volt inputs - Sigmar thermostatic source water temperature mixer ELECTRICAL - Electrical circuits for 12, 24 and 240 volts - Victron Multiplus battery management and inverter system - Remotely controllable via panel at Nav Station - Adesas Galvanic isolator - Adverc charge management to forward battery bank for thruster and windlass - Switch Panel for 24 and 12 volt circuits. - Hubbell shorepower port - Hagar 240 volt isolator panel - AGM batteries for both House and forward windlass/ thruster banks - Wema colour code backlit gauges
- Ritchie steering compass - Raymarine radar system - Raymarine C120 Chartplotter and radar screen - Raymarine Smart Pilot Tridata, Wind, Depth, Log, Sea temperature - Raymarine Handheld VHF - AIS - Navionics charts - Admiralty charts for Mediterranean, Western Europe and North America - Yeoman Navigator Pro - Lewmar Mamba Drive Autopilot - Furuno Navtex NX 300 receiver - Icom IC M801E MF/HF transceiver - Icom VHF transceiver
- 4 x Fire extinguishers - Fire blanket in galley. - Johnson pump bilge impeller - Johnson bilge high water alert - Johnson bilge switch auto pump - Jabsco heavy duty bilge blower - McMurdo EPIRB - Flare pack - Lopolight steaming, stern and running lights
- Waveline 3m inflatable tender - 5HP 2-stroke outboard motor - Nylon docklines - Fenders
- Richard Downer : (1, 14, 18, 34, 42, 46, 49-54, 56, 57, 59, 60,Ian Roman : (2-8, 29, 71)
