Description and Specification, April, 2009.

Anna M is a custom built wooden staysail schooner, designed by John Illingworth and built by Chantier La Seyne, Toulon, France in 1969. An ocean cruising sailboat, she shows a raked bow, hollow sheer, flush foredeck, high topsides, trunk cabin aft of the main mast, aft cockpit, counter transom, full keel with external cast iron ballast bolted to the keelson and keel hung rudder. She is currently registered at Cork, Ireland, off.no. 403316, and licensed there to carry 7 passengers.

Her principal dimensions are 14m(46’) l.o.a., (waterline length 34’), 3.8m(12’4”) beam, 2.14m(7’) draft with 14.5 ton displacement, 19.1 gross tonnage, 14.77 registered tonnage. She is powered by a 50hp Beta MarineBV2203 diesel engine, installed new in 2006.

The vessel’s carvel-built hull is planked with Acajou mahogany fastened with bronze rivets to the 50x40mm frames on 200mm centres. The frames are mostly of oak, except for those replaced with new laminated ones prior to the vessel’s last trip to Venezuela and the Caribbean in 2004. The rudder was also unshipped and rebuilt, with a new stainless steel shaft, at that time.

The vessel’s deck was rebuilt professionally in 2007, with 2 layers of14mm marine ply coated with epoxy reinforced with woven cloth. New deck beams were incorporated and the transom was rebuilt. In short, no expense has been spared to maintain this vessel at the very high level of sea-worthiness that she is capable of, that is required to pass her biannual survey for her passenger licence, and that she has demonstrated in her annual spring and autumn migrations between Ireland and Iberia!

Rig: The two anodized gold finish extruded aluminium masts are mounted on the deck each with their compression post below to the keelson. Each has two sets of spreaders and is supported by stainless steel rigging.

The mainsail was fitted new in Spring 2008. There is also a strong and serviceable trysail. Between the masts, the staysail was renewed in 2004, and there is a serviceable flying staysail and also a four-cornered fisherman that goes up the fore-mast track to set above the staysail and is a very effective reaching sail. A fair-weather gollywobbler that set on the full length of the fore-mast track and was very useful in the doldrums, is unfortunately no longer serviceable.

The following sails may be set forward:- working jib (new 2004), No. 1 Yankee jib (new 2007), No.2 Yankee, spinnaker and storm jib all from previous ownership but still serviceable. A new spinnaker pole (2008) is stowed in deck cradles.

The fore-sheets are controlled by 2 Gibb 10CR two-gear winches, and the other sails by 4 Gibb 9CR two-gear winches. There are 3 Lewmar winches on each of the masts, plus one slung under the boom for hauling down the 3 slab reefs in the mainsail. A Hydrovaneself-steering gear was fitted new in 2001.

It might sound complicated, but it all amounts to a very effective and powerful rig, and while it calls for an active crew, it is all very manageable, and the present owner has on occasion handled it single-handed (not recommended though), and has had a great deal of fun out of it! It is very much within the capability of a fit couple.

Other deck fittings: main anchor, a 20kg Bruce that either stows over the double bow roller, or in a deck cradle. There are approx 70m.of 10mm galvanised chain (new 2007) that are hauled by an Avon bronze electric windless into the open chain locker in the forepeak. Either side of the fore-mast are Dorade ventilators. There is a Danforth kedge set in its cradle to stand beside the foremast shrouds to starboard. It’s rode of some 100m of nylon rope with 2m of chain stows in the ventilated deck box between the masts, along with 2 gas cylinders and solenoid shut-off for same (controlled by switch from galley below), also a small electricity generator plus petrol for same, and a 27m heavy-duty power lead for plugging into shore power. There is a 2m wooden boat-hook, a grapple-iron and a complete set of fenders

There is also a third anchor with more chain under the starboard cockpit seat. The copious lockers also house spare jars of diesel and water, various warps, hoses along with a gusher pump that was fitted by surveyor’s requirement for fire-fighting but is mostly used for cleaning fish. There are two rod-holders on the push-pit and a charcoal grill.

The lazarette aft contains a Para-Tech sea parachute that I am ashamed to say has never been taken out of its bag, but is intended to be deployed from the kedge rode foreward with a bridle to one of the main sheet winches. However Anna M has survived some heavy weather without ever quite feeling it was worth the effort of deploying it. Also in the lazarette is an Ebsbacher diesel-fired heater that blows hot air via ducts to the saloon and main cabin.

In its cradle on top of the coach-roof is an 8-man RFD Surviva SOLAS liferaft, last serviced in October 2008. Abaft the foremast are the chocks for the tender, a 9’6”GRP Emsworth Lugger, in excellent condition with gunter sailing rig. Mast, sail and oars stow in the fore-peak.

Within the last 18 months, a new spray-hood/cock-pit awning has been fitted, that cunningly provides either shade from hot sun or protection from wind and rain, with detachable sections that enable the cockpit to be completely enclosed. There is a complete set of fitted foam cock-pit cushions. A folding stainless-steel ladder is attached to the transom.

On going below decks through the main companion-way, the chart-table is immediately to starboard. The following electronic equipment is fitted:- Furuno16mile marine radar, model 1622, fitted 2002; JRC J-Nav 500 GPS navigator; Seafarer 701 Echo Sounder with repeater visible from cockpit; Icom IC-M421VHF; Icom IC-M710 MF/HF marine transceiver. An Acer Aspire 1350 laptop computer is wired to the ship’s electrics, has its own GPS and is loaded with Maxsea charts. Beneath the chart table is a SkyTronic M009 dc to ac inverter, new 2008, ideal for charging computers, mobile phones etc at sea, and a Sterling battery charger that cuts in to keep the ship’s batteries in trim whenever she is plugged into mains power, as do power points in the saloon and main cabin.

To port is a large insulated top-opening locker that can both chill and freeze, thanks to the Isotherm Compact Magnum refrigeration unit under the adjacent seat. This is part of the C-shaped seat around the handsome drop-leaf table, designed to become a second double bunk, though it never quite made it. The foam and upholstery for this and the berth to starboard were renewed in 2006. A 2-speed electric fan is fitted overhead.

The main battery compartment is under the floor of this saloon, at the foot of the companion-way steps, housing 4 6-volt Trojan T-105 deep cycle batteries new 2006; forward of this the floor lifts out in two sections for access to the engine. The Beta Marine BV2203 drives through a Borg-Warner Velvet Drive A53-71R gear box, 2.1:1 reduction, and a stainless steel shaft to a bronze 3 bladed propeller, which can be braked when not in use by the Skipper’s own patent system. Diesel fuel is stored in twin 100litre tanks either side of the engine. The Jabsco Hydro-Air switch on the aft side of the hatch controls a Jabsco Single Diaphragm filter-less bilge pump for which a service kit is carried. A new hand-operated bilge pump is to be fitted shortly.

Continuing forward, one drops two steps past the compression post for the main-mast, to find the galley to port and the main heads to starboard, which contains a largestainless steel basin, a shower with GRP shower tray, and an Orvea marine toilet. Shower, basin and the galley stainless steel sink drain into a sump tank under the galley floor, which is vacated by 12v electric pump or hand pump in locker under heads’ basin. Water pressure to faucet in galley sink and shower is provided by Par-Max 4 Jabsco pump in locker out-board to port of sink. Forward of this locker on the port side is the gimballed cooker, Plastimo Neptune 2000, fitted 2006.

Next forward, through a door, is the main cabin, with a large double bunk to port, a hanging locker and very ample lockerage. On the bulkhead to starboard is a Cointra Godesia gas instant water heater, fitted 2008, for shower and sink. Overhead is an opening but fully water-proof skylight. Under the bunk and covered with insulation is the 80 gallon stainless steel water tank. Through another door one comes to the large fore-peak, with a second Orvea marine toilet beside it to starboard, more lockers and a rack for sheets etc, while to port there is a full length berth and a pipe and canvas sail shelf, while right forward is the afore-mentioned chain locker.

Other equipment includes the Danforth Constellation Binnacle Compass, a Weems and Plath marine barometer, a Magellan battery GPS, GMDSS emergency power supply, GME epirb, full range of navigation lights, a deck light on foremast (all working), fire extinguishers (in need of servicing) and flares (which are mostly due for replacement). The vessel carries an emergency tiller of galvanised steel, a bagged heaving line, an aerosol horn, first aid kits, flashlights, binoculars, sailing harnesses, a throw ring with line, a hand-bearing compass, a bag of bungs. There is a full complement of regulation life-jackets, as well as 7 Crewsaver self-inflating life-jackets and harnesses.

The Anna M is licenced under the Maritime Safety Directorate for 7 passengers, Licence No 859, Class P6.