English
The Sweden Yachts 390 must lie high on any list of the most beautiful production yachts ever built. Her stunning looks, outstanding build quality and delightful sailing characteristics put her in a class above most other yachts of her size. Egret is a particularly fine example. She has been lovingly cared for and comes with a comprehensive inventory. Her electronics have been kept up to date with the latest technology and her mechanical systems have been replaced or re-furbished as required, for example the sail drive seal was replaced the winter before last. The teak decking still looks smart and the rig and sails are in good shape. The hull topsides are shiny with very few blemishes and the bottom, including the keel and rudder, is smooth and sound. Inside the cabin, the joinery work looks amazing, the settees and bunks are upholstered with top quality fabric and the cooker has recently been renewed.
Egret is currently UK registered with British VAT paid status. In addition, because tax was originally paid in Sweden and she was located within the EU during the Brexit transition period, she is also eligible to claim EU tax paid status. She is located at Hayling Island, Hampshire.
Egret is very well equipped for cruising or racing. The SY390’s cockpit and rig is specifically designed for short-handed sailing, for example the primary winches are within reach of the helmsman, yet still works well with extra crew on board. She has well organised sail control systems, with all halyards, reefing lines and control lines led back to the cockpit. Six additional clutches were fitted to allow this facility. She sports twin spinnaker poles, twin spinnaker halyards and proper, racing quality, sheets and guys. For cruising, she benefits from large fuel and water tanks, a wind generator, twin alternators and an ample battery bank. A rare feature is her Single-Side-Band radio, an essential communication aid for ocean crossings.
Sweden Yachts’ hulls and decks are very stiff and well insulated against both cold and heat. They have a very easy motion at sea and are a delight to steer. The helmsman’s seat either side of the wheel, leaning against the padded backrests, must certainly be a contender for the most comfortable of any yacht. She is also very manoeuvrable under power, both ahead and astern, with the added bonus, on this particular boat, of a bow thruster. Her Volvo 2040 engine has proved to be extremely reliable, starting on the button and running very sweetly. It has the great advantage over more modern engines in that it uses simple technology with readily obtained spares, so can be fixed almost anywhere.
Egret’s present owners have improved and maintained her carefully, and replaced equipment as necessary in order to to keep her in a smart and seaworthy condition. A Raymarine Axiom plotter and Quantum radar scanner were installed in 2018, the sail-drive main seal was replaced in December 2022, and a new motor and controllers were fitted to the windlass in 2024. Other improvements over the last few years include the replacement of seacocks and through-hull fittings, a new automatic bilge pump, complete replacement of the standing rigging, a new rigid vang, autopilot drive unit and stack-pack. The mainsail and genoa are in very good shape and the teak decking still looks good, with plenty of thickness remaining.
Egret has never knowingly suffered any major collisions or groundings, apart from the loss of her rudder as a result of a collision with semi-submerged debris or a whale. (This snapped off at the designed “weak point” below the bottom bearing.) A new rudder and bearings were supplied by Sweden Yachts. The hull is epoxied and Copper-coated to provide long-lasting protection and antifouling properties. In the spring of 2024 this was over-coated with International micron 350 self-polishing paint to provide additional resistance against the severe fouling conditions experienced locally.
Egret has the preferred saloon layout featuring a larger table. There are two double and one single sleeping cabins, and a bright and spacious heads compartment. The mahogany (type) joinery is in excellent condition, and the cabin sole has been re-varnished. The berth and settee cushions are covered in a high-quality, predominately blue, fabric (not original), and those in the saloon have the option of protective, brighter blue-and-white striped, removable over-covers. The curtains and loose cushion covers have recently been replaced in a toning red fabric. A much admired feature is the Stelton satin-polished stainless-steel oil lamp, created by a leading Danish designer, hanging in the saloon. The galley is well laid out with twin sinks, Corian worktops and an Eno cooker, new in 2017. The large fridge is very efficient, having the benefit of a keel cooler. There is a recently made cockpit enclosure and spray-hood, with new hide coverings to its frame and also the steering wheel.
Owners’ Comments
We set our heart on buying a Sweden Yachts 390 because of their stunning looks and outstanding reputation. Victory, as she was then named, was by far the best of the three that we viewed. The vendor had owned her since almost new, sailing her in Scandinavian waters during their short summers and storing her in a heated shed every winter. (The very first owner had only kept her for a year or so before ordering a larger Sweden Yacht!) The yacht was equipped with most of the optional extras from new and had been exhibited by the builder at several boat-shows.
We sailed her home from Sweden in the summer of 2007, and re-named her Egret because we felt that her original name might not go down well when sailing in the waters around Portsmouth! We have cruised extensively across northern Europe and undertaken a four year circumnavigation following the classic trade-winds route. We occasionally took part in club racing, and won the Sweden Yachts regatta at Cowes in 2010. We saw no evidence that the wing-keel version performs any less well than the deep fin version, and of course the former has the great advantage of significantly shallower draft when cruising. Most of our sailing, whether racing or crossing oceans, has been done double-handed. Every winter she has been stored ashore under a framed tarpaulin tent.
Egret has proved to be the perfect boat for our purposes, but now, after nearly eighteen happy years, we have decided the time has come to seek out new owners to appreciate her. We will be looking for a smaller sailing yacht before we get too old to enjoy the change!
Inventory
Built by: Sweden Yachts, Stenungsund, Sweden.
Year built: 1995
Hull number: SE-SWY390 1227 0695
Lloyds Register: Built under LR certification GOT 450906
Tax Status: EU tax paid originally in Sweden, registered and based in UK since 2007.
Located in Sweden on 31st December 2020 (“Brexit Day”)
Port of registry: Portsmouth, UK. Official Number: 914433
Sail number: GBR 1390L
Radio call sign: MVRG3
Hull
Keel: Lead/antimony casting, shallow draft fin with winglets
Rudder: Spade type, with solid s/s steel shaft. Complete rudder and shaft new 2012
Rudder bearings: 2x internal ball-races (renewed 2012) and 1x external bronze bearing (re-bushed)
Bottom coating: Epoxy primer with 4-coat “Coppercoat” system,
overcoated with International Micron 350 self-polishing antifouling paint
Below water through-hull fittings: Bronze (including elbows etc) all renewed 2017
Sea-cocks: DZR all renewed 2017
Lifting eye: Factory-fitted to keel-bolts, with shackle (Not recently certified)
Rig
Mast: Selden, twin spreader, with removable baby stay and inner fore-stay
Gooseneck: (Re-bushed and re-fastened 2013)
Vang bracket: Replaced with new: 2014
Boom: Selden, with internal single line reefing system
Vang: Selden rod-kicker with gas strut. New complete unit: 2017
Spinnaker pole 1: Selden alloy, 1995
Spinnaker pole 2: Selden carbon-fibre, 2011
Standing rigging: S/S wire & bronze rigging screws etc, upsized D1s. All renewed 2017
Running backstays: Dyneeema. Renewed 2017
Jib furler: Furlex (Refurbished 2017)
Backstay adjuster: Navtec hydraulic (Refurbished 2017)
Running rigging
Halyards: 2x mainsail, 1x genoa, 1x staysail, 2x spinnaker (Dyneema)
Sheets: 1x mainsail, 2x genoa, 2x staysail, 2x spinnaker (polyester)
Guys: 2x Spinnaker (Dyneema), 1x headsail (for when poled out downwind) (polyester)
Control lines: Headsail sheet car (Dyneema), pole up-haul & down-haul: (polyester)
Boom out-haul, vang, mainsheet traveller lines x 2: (polyester)
Reefing: 1st & 2nd: single line, 3rd: twin line (polyester)
Boom preventers: Pair rigged permanently for use downwind on either tack (polyester)
Note 1: All halyards, reefing and control lines are led back to clutches or cleats at the cockpit.
Note 2: Ropes have been renewed as necessary. Some halyards have local anti-chafe sleeves.
Sails
Mainsail: Sanders Vectron, fully battened, 3 reefing points (~35 m2) 2015.
Washed and overhauled spring 2024.
Stack-pack: Kemp, with lazy-jacks, separate mast hood, 2018
Genoa: Sanders, Vectron, 132% overlap (~48 m2) 2014.
Washed and overhauled spring 2024.
Staysail (cutter jib): North, polyester (~17 m2), for hanking to removable stay. Pre 2007
Storm jib: Sanders Orange polyester (~10 m2), with hanks for cutter stay, 2011
Spinnaker: Gran Segel, with North launching bag. Pre 2007
Cruising chute: (Swedish?). Including snuffer and sock. Pre 2007
Sail ties: 4 nr.
Deck Hardware
Primary winches: 2nr. Lewmar 58 self-tailing 2-speed (Upgrade on original spec.)
Secondary winches: 4nr. Lewmar 44 self-tailing 2-speed
Clutches: 19nr Spinlock (Upgrade on original spec.) 1995 & 2008
Headsail tracks: Lewmar. Replaced with new: 2014
Headsail cars: Lewmar, 2nr. with torlon balls, 4nr. with slide rods
Steering pedestal: Edson, with Suunto compass (Wheel re-covered with hide 2017)
Davit: Novalift single arm (for outboard motor etc.) 2008
Bathing ladder: Folding, at stern
Guardrail gates: One each side and one at stern
Guardrail wires: (Not plastic covered, to avoid hidden corrosion). Renewed 2017
Rubbing strake: Alloy strip outside toe-rail each side
Sprayhood: Acrylic canvas, original stainless steel frame with recent hide grip. 2018
Outboard mounts: Teak, on pushpit, with alternative position in lazarette
Cockpit lazerette lockers: Gas struts for lids replaced 2024
Gas locker: Dedicated vented and drained locker, regulator and bubble detector
Ground Tackle, Warps & Fenders
Anchor windlass: Lofrans, new 2011, with chain/rope gypsy. New motor, bearings and seals 2024
Windlass controllers: Hand-held remote at foredeck, up/down switch at cockpit, both new 2024
Twin bow rollers: (Upgrade on original spec.)
Main anchor: Manson Supreme, 20kg, 2011
Anchor chain: 60m x 9.5mm, 2011
Pressure-washer: Inside anchor locker, with loose sea-intake hose, 2012
Kedge anchor: Bruce, 15kg
Kedge anchor warp: 50m x 18mm nylon 3-strand
Mooring warps: 8nr. 16mm or 18mm nylon 3-strand
Fenders: 8nr. with socks
Safety Equipment and Navigation Lights
Liferaft: Viking 4UKSL new 2008. (Next service due April 2025)
Jackstays: Webbing strap each side deck (for attaching personal harness lines) 2008
Radar reflector: Tri-lens (attached to mast) 2008
Mast-head light: Lopolight LED tricolour with anchor light 2010
Bow navigation light: Aquasignal LED bicolour 2024
Steaming light: (Conventional bulb fitting)
Stern light: (Conventional bulb fitting)
Deck light: LED “tractor” type, lamp renewed 2023
Bilge pump 1: Swedish make, fully plumbed in, hand operated from cockpit
Bilge pump 2: Whale, hand operated from inside aft cabin (loose hoses), 2011
Bilge pump 3: Whale “supersub” electric with switch to manual or automatic, 2017
Fire extinquishers: 2 nr. (Unwarranted)
Gas Alarm: New sensor fitted 2024
Engine and Power Systems
Propulsion: Volvo M2040B diesel (40 HP), serviced regularly
Saildrive: 120SD sail-drive, overhauled, including main seal replaced, 2023
Exhaust: Checked and overhauled with new water-lock / muffler in 2023
Propellor: Flex-o-fold 3-bladed folding with rope cutter, 2010
Bow thruster: QL BP 500B (by Volvo)
Fuel tank: 150 litres, stainless steel. Gauge at chart table
Alternator 1: Balmar model 712-110 110 amps
Alternator 2: Balmar model 9400 115 amps
Battery, starting: Optima Red Top Battery RTS 4.2 AGM, 2023
Batteries, domestic: 4nr. Lifeline GPL-24T AGM deep cycle, 80 amp-hour, 2012
Volt meters: One for each battery bank (Note: the Wema meter under-reads by approx. 0.5 volt)
Amp/Amp-hour meter: Ample Power Batmon (Note: the volt display doesn’t function)
Regulator 1: Balmar max charge multi stage regulator MC612
Regulator 2: Ample Technology “next-step” 12P
Inverter/charger: Victron “Atlas Combi 12/1100/40”
Wind generator: Air-breeze (new bearings & blades 2019), 2010
Solar charge controller: Steka (Note: Wiring is in place, but no panels are included)
Main Switch Panel: Switched circuit breakers for each circuit. (Note that some indicator lights do not work.)
Electronic Equipment
Plotter: Raymarine Axiom 9 multi-function display, mounted at wheel. 2018
Plotter repeater: Special wood mount above chart table for linked i-pad or tablet (not included)
Micro SD chart: Navionics, Europe, Central and West. Last updated May 2024
Radar scanner: Raymarine Quantum, 2018
AIS: Icom MA500TR class B transponder/receiver stand-alone unit, 2011
VHF radio: Icom M505 VHF/DSC, 2008
SSB radio: Icom IC-M801E long-range MF/HF DSC transceiver, 2011
Modem: SCS PTC-II usb (connects SSB radio to computer), 2011
Navtex: McMurdo Nav 6, 2008
Cockpit displays: Autohelm ST50: speed, depth, wind, multi, compass
Autopilot: Raymarine type 2 linear drive unit. Entire unit replaced 2017
Course computer: Raymarine type 150G AST. Pre 2007
Radio/CD player: Sony (with 4 cabin speakers & 2 cockpit speakers), 2011
Domestic Systems
Water tanks: 2x 190 litres stainless steel. Gauges at chart table
Water taps: Pressurised hot and cold taps in galley and heads
Drinking water: General Ecology “Seagull” purification unit with separate tap, 2008
Foot pump 1: For fresh-water at galley sink (back-up to pressurised system)
Foot pump 2: For salt-water at galley sink
Shower 1: In heads compartment, with electric drain pump
Shower 2: Aft of cockpit, with long hose
Water heater: Thermoprodukter AB, 1000 watts, 20 litre, with heat exchanger
Toilet: Raritan, hand-operated (New pipework 2018)
Holding tank: 65 litres approx., stainless steel, gravity discharge to sea or pump-out through deck
Cabin heater: Eberspacher diesel heater, 2005 (serviced, new exhaust pipe 2017)
Gas cooker: Eno “Grand large 2”, 2x rings, oven and grill, gimballed. New 2017
Galley extractor fan: Ducted to stern of boat
Fridge/cool box: Frigoboat with keel- or fan-cooler options. Lid gas-strut re-gassed 2024
Cabin lighting: Multiple lights in all cabins, mood-lighting, locker lights, red chart table light etc.
240V mains power: 5nr 13amp 3-pin UK sockets
Furnishings etc.
Hard surfaces: Galley worktop, shower seat and shower floor in Corian
Bunks & seats: Upholstery covered with buttoned blue fabric, 2006
Loose covers: Removable over-covers for saloon seats in blue & white striped fabric, 2011
Cockpit cushions: Tailored seat cushions with blue striped fabric, piped edges, 2012
Cockpit backrests: White padded panels either side of wheel (re-covered 2017)
Curtains: Red fabric, new 2018
Navigators seat: Seat and back in vinyl fabric. New fabric 2018
Loose cushions: 2 nr. covered in same fabric as curtains. New 2018
Chart table: Large enough for folded Admiralty charts. Lid gas-strut re-gassed 2024
Mast cover: Vinyl fabric wrap around mast inside cabin. New 2018
Clock: Brass, battery operated
Barometer: Brass
Oil lamp: Stelton, stainless steel
Note: Cabin layout is as brochure except table is longer with drawers, and seats do not wrap-around end.
Loose Items
Cockpit table: Teak, folding and removable
Washboards: Plexiglass full height, with lock. Alternative half-height plywood board
Security screen: Lockable stainless steel companionway grating for hot weather, 2011
Bug screens: 4 nr fine mesh inserts for Lewmar hatches and opening windows, 2011
Ensign staff: New 2020
Boat hook: New 2018
Winch handles: 2nr.
Windlass handle: (In case electrics fail or for releasing chain clutch)
Pump handles: 2nr.
Cockpit enclosure: Acrylic canvas with stainless steel demountable frame. New 2018
Lifting strop: 10 tonne x 2.5m polyester round sling (not tested recently), 2007
Gas cylinders: Camping Gaz 2.75kg exchangeable canisters, 2nr. (not full)
Power cable: For shore power (Not certificated)
Instruction manuals: Mainly in the English language, with some extras in Swedish or other languages.