Specification

Designer Martin Myerscough (B.Eng Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding, MRINA)

Builder Constructed by professional boatbuilders in our own yard.

Date            2001

LOA            70' / 21.33m

LWL            52' / 15.84m

Beam            12' / 3.65m

Draft            8'6" / 2.6m

Displacement            15 tons

I was singlehanding the boat that day. No problems. I take her out for day sails on my own.

The bow roller for the anchor is completely retractable. You need to lift it with the spare halyard.
Nice finish on the hull. She was inspired by Spirit Yachts - probably the boat that James Bond
should have had!

With a hull finish like a good piece of furniture, 70 foot of varnish heading for you. I'm on my own
here - dipping in and out of the moorings to that the photographer can snap.

Autopilot on - owner hanging out to leeward. No wake to speak of.

Another shot with the owner showing off! That big hydraulic kicker works a dream.
The mainsheet comes down to a single point - no track for children to get their fingers caught in - and
once you have the boom in the right position - you just wind the kicker up or down until all the
tell- tales fly on the mainsail. It's a great system and no topping lift because the kicker holds up
the boom as well.

You can see that you get confident with this boat at close quarters. Singlehanded here. Look at
the bow wave reflection in the varnishwork. Whole hull in Awlgripped.

Tacking instructions - a) make sure that once you tack you have enough room b) put the tiller
down c) wait d) resume sailing on new tack. Self tacking jib and fully battened main = very little
noise when tacking and no need to adjust anything. You don't even need to stand up.

Another good angle for Madam. Notice the absence of wake at reasonable speed. You can
really get places in this boat.

My favourite way of showing off. Sail to leeward of other boats - usually doing about twice
their speed - and sit to leeward in cockpit with one (very casual) hand on the tiller. Once
alongside just say "lovely day" and speed off.

The big main and small jib rig is so easy to deal with and gives loads of power. Don't start
thinking that she is a handful. We went round Sweden with 3 children (aged 8, 4, and 2) and with
my wife as crew (plus a babysitter to entertain / hold onto the kids). We had a lovely time - no
crises and covered hundreds of miles including lots of close quarter maneuvering.

This is the view that most yachts get of Madam as she overtakes. Look at that sheer line - we
spent hours when we were building it - we would just stand at every place in the shed and try to
see problems. Maybe not absolutely perfect but damn close.

Bliss - smooth clear water. Nice swimming and Madam looking her best.

This shot shows off the sheer line and the general sleekness of Madam. Alongside at the Opera
House in Gothenberg - attracted a lot of interest from promenaders including a group of Chinese
tourists.

Shot looking forward from the companion way. Heads to port behind the door. Galley to
starboard. Saloon behind. Give idea of general cosmetics. We wanted a very clean and
minimalist look - makes it light and airy. The varnished wood is 80 year old reclaimed Oregan
pine - beautiful stuff - all plywood bulkheads are white, upholstery is blue and the hull sides just
left varnished.

Coming down the North Sea. Setting the cruising chute. Autopilot on and Peter trimming sheets.
Cruising chute needs two people to set it but does she motor with it up. With 10 knots of wind
across the deck she will make 9 knots with the chute up and hold it with the apparent wind well
forward of the beam. Not a stressful situation.

I'm trying to look as though I know what I am doing!

This is the normal cruising mode. About 10 - 12 knots across the deck. We had light winds all
the way down the North Sea and yet managed to average 7 knots - did about 5 hours of engine
time out of 3.5 days (including charging battery time). We do sail a lot. Autopilot on - Peter and I
discussing the meaning of life the universe and everything.

Showing the general quality of the deck work and again look at the weather helm. Though I say it
myself as the designer - Madam is remarkably well balanced. Even when healing hard there is
no weight on the tiller. The fridge uses more power than the autopilot.

This is the stuff. Cruising chute up and we are off at about 10 knots - no fuss just lots of
effortless speed.

Hang off the bow and watch all that lovely varnished mahogany cream through the water.

Michael, the photographer and the 3rd crew member, didn't approve of our diet - he dubbed us
the "Biscuit Boys". Peter helming with one hand - boat speed about 12 knots.

Now this was where the fun started. Off Lowestoft in 20 knots of true wind from the quarter and 2
meter seas. Max speed 18.2 knots - burst of 15 commonplace. Great fun and very smooth. We
were still making cups of tea and food at this speed. The counter stern would just rise gracefully
to the oncoming sea (no worries about it catching the stern and throwing us round) then off we
would go - dead level - on a carpet of foam.

Again showing sheets and halyards. Very difficult for children to get fingers in high tension lines.
We can put in the first two reefs from the cockpit - need to go to the mast for the 3rd reef (never
used in anger). Self tacking jib is roller furling (from cockpit). Two further things a) the autopilot
is on but Jamie doesn't know and b) look at how much weather helm there is (force 4 and hard on
the wind).

Another quiet Swedish anchorage. Towels out because swimming off the boat. Quite happy to
sit in the dinghy and look at Madam for a few minutes. No wonder we attract so much attention
wherever we go.

At anchor south of Gothenberg. Picture shows various things: A) fully battened mainsail self
stows in lazyjacks and runs on Fredriksen cars so is very easy to drop; B) all halyards and sheets
run down mast under floor boards in the accommodation and exit to the clutches ahead of the
tiller. C) on the port side of the cockpit (just by the winch) is the controls for the autopilot (hidden
in an aft locker and working on an auxiliary tiller) and on the starboard side is the wind/depth etc
repeater. D) helmsman's seat is higher than forward area so he can see over crew E) blue
jackstays can just be seen at the sides of the cockpit so the kids are hooked on and can run
forward without needing to unclip F) very chilled owner!

This is the sort of cruising we love. Anchor off an island, climb to the top (only about 300 feet)
with the kids, sit on top and admire the view with a glimpse of Madam anchored off.

Here we are in Sweden, summer 2006, eldest son rowing and youngest in for the ride.

North of Malmo on an island. Had moved about 3 miles from the overnight anchorage.
Anchor system is secure enough to get a good night's sleep but simple enough to lift on
my own for a 3 mile hop.

My youngest son playing "shop" under the companion steps. The shop was a "general" store
selling tractors, books and shoes.

You can stand or sit at the chart table. Simple instruments behind.

Can see the general finish - blue covers and lots of varnished wood.

On a chilly night, lighting this little stove makes quite a difference.

Showing part of the saloon. Table is removed in this photo.

The owners berth in the bow of the boat - nice and quiet up here.

In the guest cabin - the root berth is stowed. Shows the quality of the hanging knees
in the way of the mast.

Detail of the chain plates - if you pull those out then you are in trouble!

Detail of the galley.

The sinks and the crockery storage behind.

The sink in the heads.

Looking forward from the galley to the main saloon. Table not in place in this photo.

The guest cabin showing nice varnished hull finish and those chainplates in the corner.

Plenty of space to work in the galley.