Zemphira has been nominated by Classic Boat Magazine for their Restored Vessel Over 40-Feet award!
A favorite in the classic yacht racing world, the 76-foot wood/composite sloop was called Goshawk when built by Brooklin Boat Yard and Rockport Marine. The design brief from Bob Stephens and Paul Waring called for an ocean racer with a long, narrow hull and classic overhangs, a deep fin keel with bulb and a spade rudder. The stiletto-like sailboat was sleek and easy to maneuver, with speed and power to spare.
When purchased by her current owner in October 2020, Stephens Waring Yacht Design and Lyman-Morse were brought in to collaborate on a major refit, one that that would become a 3-year undertaking, touching on both the cosmetics of this beautiful yacht and her performance.
Year 1
Much was accomplished over the first winter of 2021. A below-deck hydraulic jib-roller furling system was designed and installed; the anchor roller and stem were modified; a carbon-fiber side-boarding platform and an enclosable dodger/bimini system were designed and built; new stern rails with owners’ seats of teak veneer over composite material added; a makeover of the salon to be more traditional included building a new port settee, folding dining table, new cabin sole, refinishing the interior wood trim, and painting the coach roof. Lyman-Morse also undertook systems revisions, including a larger generator, a full hydraulic system to provide push-button sailing, new lithium batteries, and a full paint job in black. Plans for a low-resistance carbon-fiber keel were put on hold to finish in time for the 2021 summer sailing and racing season.
Year 2
However, shortly after she was launched in 2021, Zemphira went back into the shed half-way through the summer to continue with the refit. Not only would the next phase involve a new keel that would add a great deal of performance to this already speedy boat, but also would included additional safety measures. With the understanding that Zemphira, with a near 11’ deep keel, would be primarily sailing along New England’s rocky coastline, the team wanted to ensure that the new keel would not damage the cold-molded hull in the event of a grounding. This philosophy resulted in a innovative keel socket that would allow the keel to partially “break away” into a “crush zone”, to minimize the potential damage.
The new carbon keel socket called for the old and heavy bronze grid work to be removed and replaced with a carbon fiber grid work bonded to a new carbon fiber skin/socket and socketed keel. Mars Metal of Ontario, Canada, fabricated the new keel, a steel structural strut cast in place on a lead lower fin and large bulb. The new keel is the same draft as the original — 10’- 9”— but narrower longitudinally and skinnier thickness, with a bigger bulb and about 1,000 pounds less overall weight.
A good amount of interior was removed, including the floor/sole system and cabinetry, to install the new keel system. If the boat runs aground, the socket has a crush box aft, and the keel will pivot on bolts but won’t break away and cause damage, thanks to two sacrificial bolts up forward. If the boat hits a rock, it tilts and keeps doing its job of keeping the boat upright. It’s a unique option to have the classic lines above the waterline with the performance element below.
The wood and bronze structure was very traditional, whereas the carbon structure is a modern element. Another example of the fusion of traditional and modern is the owner’s bench on the stern. It’s a carbon fiber seat with teak veneer over it. It’s a stunning piece of work that marries both the modern and traditional.
Year 3
The spring of 2023 saw the last pieces of the multi-year refit come together, as Zemphira received a new Offshore Spars rig and a full set of sails which were optimized to perform well in 4-7 knot vespers commonly encountered in New England while also offering reliability in the 20+ knot sea breezes of Newport. She was launched in May and quickly began racking up several impressive finishes in the New England classic yacht racing circuit, including a 1st place finish in the Newport Classics Regatta.
And that’s just the big stuff! It’s been an honor to help bring life to such a classic sailing yacht. Cast your vote today!