Joseph Soper is probably best remembered for SATANITA, a cutter legendary for her speed - and a “fair turn of speed” is one of the properties noted by the yachting press of 1929 for this creation by Philip and Son from another of his designs. ZEPPHYR was moreover conceived as an able sea going cruiser and at 62 foot on deck she’s the perfect size for a family yacht of this vintage.
Joseph Soper is probably best remembered for SATANITA, a cutter legendary for her speed - and a “fair turn of speed” is one of the properties noted by the yachting press of 1929 for this creation by Philip and Son from another of his designs. ZEPPHYR was moreover conceived as an able sea going cruiser and at 62 foot on deck she’s the perfect size for a family yacht of this vintage. In impressive condition and a considerable beauty, her forte is nevertheless in the sheer practicality of her layout, rig and accommodation – to which her ownership by the same family for more than 40 years is testament enough.
Brokers Comments
Joseph Soper is probably best remembered for SATANITA, a schooner legendary for her speed - and a “fair turn of speed” is one of the properties noted by the yachting press of 1929 for this creation by Philip and Son from another of his designs. ZEPPHYR was moreover conceived as an able sea going cruiser and at 62 foot on deck she’s the perfect size for a family yacht of this vintage. In impressive condition and a considerable beauty, her forte is nevertheless in the sheer practicality of her layout, rig and accommodation – to which her ownership by the same family for more than 40 years is testament enough.
History
This magnificent yacht, designed by J.M. Soper & Son in 1928, was built in Dartmouth in the famous Philip & Son shipyard for H.B. Ede of Dartmouth, mainly built in teak with steel ribs, launched in July 1929. In her early days ZEPHYR carried two boats on deck, these were a 12 ft cedar planked motor launch and a 12 ft sailing dinghy with centre board, for which the davits, which survive to this day were provided.
Apparently Zephyr had arrived in Italy in the 50s owned by Marquis Giacomo De Santis of Rome. In 1957 she became the property of the Marquis Giacomo Dusmet and in 1963 of Doctor Bracci -Torsi of Rome. In 1965 she was at the Versilia Boat Club of Viareggio and in 1969 she went under the Panama flag of Yen Bay Enterprise Inc. and although the owner Renè Paolanc of Milan was President of the company, in the Lloyd Register of 1966 she was registered to Club Nautico Versilia and home port Viareggio.
It was in 1972 that Dr Carlo De Carlo bought her and then replaced the cotton sails with Dacron, along with the electric wiring and the propeller. In 1985 he replaced original ribs with stainless steel, installed a generator, fridge and all the electronic equipment up to date. At that time the original tender (wooden 12 ft. boat) was replaced with an inflatable dinghy with Evinrude 15HP engine. Over the years he had maintained her making renovations, restyling and installing new systems and equipment as needed.
From the original plans (project n°9603) it is clear that the original main access to the cabins has been changed and access to the main deck is now by a ten step companionway staircase, was designed with the clear intent to separate the master accommodation aft with two double cabins and en suite head, from the crew in the bow area with three hammocks and a separate head. After 1960, the relationship between owners and crew changed very much leading to a complete transformation in the bow, where now there is a cabin with two berths and a proper galley.
Amidships abaft the mast, there is the large saloon styled as the chart room used by everyone to get together and for meals.
The original sail plan has been lost and even the archives at Ratsey & Lapthorn had been destroyed in the War. In 1984, during the Veteran Boat Rally in Sardinia at Porto Cervo, strong winds snapped the boom, which it transpired had been made in 1937 (the year was branded on the inside). What is on the boat today has been remade identically to the original by Cantieri Carlini of Rimini.
Construction and Refit
Built to Lloyds 100 A1 Classification under their special supervision ZEPHYR was of semi composite construction; steel framed with carvel 5 cm teak topsides and pitch pine bottom planking with a semi elliptical counter stern and overhang bow. The teak deck planking was laid over a yellow pine subdeck.
From 1985 to 1990, in successive stages, many of the original ribs, mainly aft in the boat have been replaced (by Navaltecnica in S.Benedetto del Tronto) stainless steel 306 mm. 6 x 60 x 60 x 60 ”Z” sections. Seven of the original frames found to be in impeccable condition remain and the original planking also in exemplary condition has been preserved and re placed over the new frames
In 1994 Marco & Franco of Pineto and La Riccia of Pescara (for some parts) undertook other restoration including, remaking the new teak deck (15mm. teak over an 8mm. marine plywood layer) over the existing 25 mm teak one also creating a new deck house and cabins.
Accommodation and Domestic Equipment
Access to the accommodation below is via the deckhouse and teak companionway stairs over the engine room - as well as by hatchway for’ard. The deckhouse itself has enough space to sit six people or rest two, very useful during night watches at the helm, leaving the sleeping guests undisturbed. The wide windows provide excellent all round visibility and very much light inside.
Headroom below is generous at 6 ft 3 inches under the deck beams. The deckhead is as the original white painted and the cabin sole is of teak and holly. The saloon is fitted in the original polished mahogany with birch upper panelling. Ventilation is by a combination of sliding and butterfly hatches as well as some opening ports. From the foot of the companionway steps a turn to port and aft along the passage leads to:
Aft cabin
- 2 x single berths – one each side with joinery stowage locker and panelling
- 2 x opening ports
- Butterfly hatch above
- 2 x reading lights
- Access to engine room
- En suite head with Baby Blake WC and basin
Returning by doorway fwd port side of engine access to passage fwd
- Guest head with manual WC and shower port side of corridor
Guest cabin to starboard, access by foot of companionway
- 2 berths up and under
- Full size hanging locker
- Shoe stowage under lower berth
- Foul weather gear locker
Saloon / Chart room
- Seating with wide leeboard
- Drop leaf dining / chart table
- Sofas and chairs
- Closets
- Cupboard
- Drawers
Guest cabin forward
- Opening ports, vent by mushroom on deck
- 2 x berths
- Stowage under
- Lockers
Galley – also accessible from deck by hatch and stairway
- Alpes 4 burner hob & oven
- Sink, draining board/ worktop
- Portable electric heater
- Ample stowage above outboard and below
- Bow cabin with workshop, refrigerator, electric panel, generator and anchor chain locker
- Large custom fridge charged by generator – 2 hrs for 1 day cooling
Linen / upholstery
- Two sets of sheets
- One set of blankets
- One set of bed covers
- Three sets of cushion covers
Rig Spars and Sails
The yacht is cutter rigged – as original with
- Original Douglas fir mast and 2 spreaders
- Douglas fir boom
- Douglas fir bowsprit to original dimensions
- Forestay to stem
- Stay from tip of bowsprit to top spreader height
- Stay from tip of bowsprit to mast head
- Running backstays to Highfield levers
Sails in Dacron by Zaoli Sails 2008 of reduced weight, cream colour
(cut in keeping with classic yachts)
- “Marconi” mainsail - 110 sq m 8.5 oz total 37 kg double modern Dracon; two reef points
- Genoa 110 sq m for light winds 3 oz total 17 kg hanked from bow sprit to mast head
- Jib 80 sq m 8 oz tacked from bow sprit at ¾ height and secured by two running backstays
Older sails
- Marconi mainsail - 110 sq m 10 oz canvas weight 80 kg (can be reefed down to
95 sqm to the first row of reef points, 85 sqm to the second row of reef points)
- Genoa 100 sq m 8 oz canvas weight 30 kg to be tacked at ¾ of the mast height
- Jib 80 sq m 6 oz canvas, tacked at ¾ of the height
- Jib 30 sq m 5 oz canvas, hanked on the fore stay up to the mast head
- Boomed foresail 30 sq m tacked at the bow
- Multi purpose foresail 120 sq m 2 oz canvas for winds up to 12 knots
(hanked on the fore stay from bow sprit to the mast head)
Suggested configurations are for
- Light winds: mainsail 110 sq m and jib 110 sq m
- 12 to 25 knot winds: mainsail 110 sq m and jib 80 sq m
- 30 to 40 knot winds: mainsail 110 sq m reduced to 1st row of reef points and jib 80 sq m
Deck Layout, Equipment and Ground Tackle
The deck has all round high bulwarks of raw teak with varnished teak handrails. From the generous after deck with teak grated seating, the cockpit lies for’ard the chromed anti shock mainsheet horse and teak deck box containing the original worm gear direct steering and engine instruments.
The deck level cockpit with high coamings, helm wheel and original compass binnacle, has seating forward and to the sides with lifting seat hatches to access the lazarette stowage for sails, ropes, water and provisions. The teak cockpit table can seat 9. Deck features and equipment include:
- Original mooring metal springs
- Bronze Panama eye mooring fairleads to chromed cleats both sides
- 2 x 3 speed Barbarossa large winches mounted on mahogany and pitch pine plinths
- 4 separate deck fittings for jib sheet leads
- Davits port and stbd (pole for radar scanner attached to stbd for deployment when needed)
- Steel pin rack by shrouds
- Teak gas locker abaft mast before butterfly hatch
- Marinelli ship’s bell
- 3 x original bronze halyard winches at base of mast above deck level
- Raised hatchway to galley forward of mast
- Lofrans Titan 2 KW anchor windlass
- Fishermans anchor on deck and davit for deployment
- 100 m 12 mm galvanised chain 50 m warp
- Deck prism and chromed mushroom vent over foc’sle
- Teak pasarelle
- Douglas fir boarding ladder
- Stainless steel boom gallows
Mechanical Electrical and Tankage
- Volvo Penta 120CV
- Vebel electronic Marine 4 generator
- Dynamica marine genset
- 24 V, 12 V and 220 V electric power circuits
- 4 x Domestic 24 V batteries 240 AH 2010 under saloon cabin sole
- 2 x Engine 12 V start batteries 155 AH
- 1 x 12 V generator start battery 78 AH
- Steering gear by Thos, Reid and Son of Paisley; self-holding
- Pump for domestic water pressure
- Compressor pump for fridge
- Workshop
- Isolator panel
- Diesel tank for genset
- 242 gallons 1,100 litres fuel
- 450 gallons / 2,000 Litres fresh water
Navigation Communication and Electronics
- CAIM steering compass
- Koden MD-3404 Radar 10 mile (scanner kept in cabinet in aft cabin when not in use)
- Techmarine T-50-08 cartographic GPS; (8 inch screen)
- Lowrance x-60 sonar
- Yaesu VXM-100 VHF radio
- Cobra Marine MRHH 400 EU portable radio
Safety
- Equipment as current legislation including
- 8 person Plastimo life raft
- Auto immersion electric bilge pump
- Electric bilge pump operable from deckhead
- Electric pump for bilge and grey water
- Hand bilge pump
Other Equipment
ZEPHYR
