English
Hull No.17 of 22, extended reverse-transom German Frers designed Nautor Swan 55 with 3-cabin ‘family cruiser’ layout. Fully equipped for comfortable bluewater adventures and benefitting from comprehensive 2020 refit.
FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:
Originally commissioned and launched in 1995 for Nautor Swan’s luxury Caribbean charter fleet, ASTRA (ex LUCIE) is hull number 17 of 22 Nautor Swan 55/57’s built between 1988 and 1997. Configured with the more modern ‘Family Cruiser’ interior layout, she benefits from a fantastic aft owner’s statement, fully usable at sea thanks to an offset double berth to starboard and further single to port, VIP double cabin forward and guest bunk cabin amidships. Two large heads compartments complete with separate shower cubicles add to the comfort.
On deck, ASTRA’s graceful German Frers hull lines are further accentuated by her factory extended reverse transom profile which further add to a relative sense of modernity on top of a classic Frers hull shape, unmistakable by her low freeboard and slippery underwater profile.
Purchased directly from Nautor Swan by her current owners in 2006, she has remained in this second UK-based private ownership ever since. Following many seasons of extensive cruising, ASTRA returned to the UK for a comprehensive refit in 2019/2020 which included the removal of her aging teak decks and professionally fill, fair and Awlgrip painting to create a zero-maintenance finish well-suited to many more years of world-cruising adventures. Returning back to European waters prior to the end of 2020 to preserve her European VAT paid status, ASTRA has since enjoyed cruising the West Coast of Scotland and Outer Hebrides before heading back to the S.Coast and then across Biscay and into the Mediterranean arriving in Preveza, Greece during the summer of 2022.
Her specification highlights include:-
• Versatile 3-cabin, 2-heads interior layout with usable sea-berths.
• Extended reverse transom hull profile.
• Standard 2.60m draft keel.
• Original white gelcoat hull.
• Perkins M135 naturally-aspirated 6-cylinder 120hp engine.
• Recently replaced Navtec rod standing rigging.
• Recent Kemp mainsail and genoa.
• Conventional battened mainsail system with low-friction Harken battencar system.
• Reckman genoa furler plus further inner forestay for hank-on staysail.
• Symmetrical spinnaker.
• Lewmar self-tailing winch package.
• Westerbeke 9.4kw generator.
• Recently replaced service battery bank.
• Mastervolt battery charger and 1,500w inverter.
• Sea Recovery 236lph reverse osmosis watermaker.
• Preparation for air-conditioning and heating system
• 24vDC ventilation fans throughout.
• Updated 24vDC fridge and freezer compressors (replacing original 220vAC/engine driven compressors).
• Icemaker.
• Microwave oven.
• Freshwater vacuum heads.
• Recently installed full Raymarine navigation instrument package with radar, plotters, pilot and AIS
• Iridium satellite phone system with external antenna.
• Icom SSB transceiver with backstay antenna (requires new tuner).
• Tender & outboard
Note:- It is our understanding that ASTRA can be sold as either a EU VAT paid or UK VAT paid vessel. To retain her UK VAT paid status, she would need to be repatriated to UK waters via professional delivery or transport to the cost of the buyer. Please contact us for further information.
2020 REFIT HIGHLIGHTS:
• Removal of teak side decks and fill, fair before painting with Awlgrip and non-slip finish.
• Complete Raymarine navigation instrument installation including radar, plotters, primary instruments, autopilot and AIS.
• Replacement of Navtec stainless steel rod standing rigging.
• Replacement of running rigging.
• New rigging screws for babystay and inner forestay..
• Servicing of Reckman genoa furler.
• Replacement of under deck stainless steel mast tie rods.
• Clean and paint mast step area.
• Overhaul Navtec hydraulics for vang and backstay.
• Service spreaders and rig.
• New Harken System B mainsail track with low-friction battencars.
• Fabrication of teak-laid swimming platform.
• Fitment of outboard lift davit.
• Overhaul and service Perkins engine.
• Overhaul and service Westerbeke generator.
• Replacement service and generator batteries.
• New PSS shaft seal and cutlass bearing.
• Overhaul Blakes bronze seacocks.
• Removal of fuel and water tanks, cleaning and refitment.
• Clean and paint all metalwork in bilge areas.
• Supply of new 100m 12mm anchor chain.
• Overhaul of Lofrans anchor windlass.
• New Frigoboat 24vDC compressor systems for fridge and freezers.
• New icemaker
• New LED navigation and exterior lighting.
OWNER’S COMMENTS:
We purchased ASTRA in January 2006 with the intention to sail around the world. We spent a lot of time and effort choosing the boat we wanted as it would be out home for three years. We wanted a safe, well built, solid and seakindly vessel with cruising esssentials such as watermaker and generator since daily showers were important as well as an icemaker for the sundowners.
We spent 2006 getting to know ASTRA by cruising the west coast of Italy down as far as Naples and Capri before competing in the Swan Worlds in Porto Cervo that September.
After an extensive refit and upgrade to prepare for our three year adventure, we departed Villfranche on 10th August 2007, and headed towards Gibraltar via the Balearic Islands and then to Las Palma Gran Canaria via Madeira for the start of the 2007 ARC. We arrived in St Lucia in early December and then enjoyed cruising the Caribbean, also participating in the Swan Rendezvous BVI in March 2008.
Following the Swan Rendezvous, our circumnavigation truly began, transiting the Panama Canal in April 2008 and then sailing to the Galapagos, Marquesas and on to French Polynesia where we spent three months exploring the islands before leaving Bora Bora in September bound for the Cook Islands, Palmerston, Nuie and Tonga. After Tonga we headed for Opua, New Zealand arriving in November of 2008.
From New Zealand, we headed for Australia where we wandered up the Great Barrier Reef, visiting the Whitsundays on the way up to Cairns, before heading for Darwin. After Darwin we spent three months cruising Indonesia, before heading to Singapore and then on the west coast of Malaysia, towards Langkawi where we participated in the Royal Langkawi Regatta and prepared for the trip across the Indian Ocean.
We departed from Langkawi in January 2010 then headed for Sri Lanka, Cochin and Salalah in Oman, stopping at each to give us time to explore. From Salalah we joined a number of other boats to sail in convoy to Aden, Yemen before heading up the Red Sea towards Egypt, passing through the Suez Canal on onwards to Antalya. We then spent a month cruising Turkish waters before heading back to Villefranche via Rhodes, Crete, Sicily, Sardinia to complete our full circumnavigation arriving in June 2010 to be greeted by the whole Nautor Villefranche team.
Following our epic adventure we sailed ASTRA back to the United Kingdom, where we were able to use her near our home base of Cowes for the next few years. After several enjoyable local seasons, it was then time for another extensive refit in 2019/20 to prepare ASTRA for our next adventures.
With the refit completed in September 2020, we sailed ASTRA across he English Channel so she was back inside French territorial waters at the end of the Brexit transition period, before returning to Cowes at the beginning of 2021. Having sold our Cowes home in the spring of 2021, we lived aboard ASTRA through the summer of that year, enjoying local cruising to the West Coast of Scotland including the Outer Hebrides before heading back to Cowes via Southern Ireland and the Scilly Isles.
During 2022, we enjoyed another full summer aboard ASTRA, sailing her from Cowes down to Falmouth and then across Biscay and into the Mediterranean, arriving in Preveza, Greece that summer. After spending the rest of the summer enjoying the cruising grounds of the Ionian and the Aegean, we hauled ASTRA ashore in Preveza in October 2022 for the winter months.
ASTRA has been a much loved and thoroughly dependable part of our family for many years, and we have been privileged to be able to enjoy our experiences on such an amazing yacht. Now that we have retired, we would like to concentrate on more land-based adventures in the future, hence our decision to sell although we shall continue to enjoy her use, cruising the Mediterranean until a loving new custodian is found.
SPECIFICATION
CONSTRUCTION
Construction Category:
• Our understanding is that the yacht is exempt from the EU Recreational Craft Directive as she was first placed into use within EEA waters prior to June 1998.
Hull Construction:
• Extended reverse transom option, giving a LOA of 17.49m.
• The hull is built of glass fibre-reinforced polyester by the hand laying-up method, using alternative layers of mat and roving.
• Stiffeners are laid up over foam cores and reinforced with unidirectional glass.
• Structural bulkheads are of marine grade water-proof plywood laminated to hull and deck.
• Engine beds are of GRP with steel inserts.
• Hull colour, gel coat NGA 2000, white. Boot top, cove stripe and coming stripes painted with gel coat NGA 7007, blue.
• Teak-laid swimming platform - 2020
Deck & Superstructure Construction:
• The deck is made in foam-cored GRP sandwich construction.
• Single laminate with aluminium back-up plates under deck fttings.
• Original teak side decks removed during 2020 refit in favour of low future maintenance and wear/tear and side decks professionally filled, faired and then painted with Awlgrip non-slip finish.
• Teak laid coachroof top and cockpit.
• Anchor well locker forward.
• Lazarette and deck stowage in coaming aft.
Keel & Rudder:
• Standard draft 2.60m keel.
• The lead ballast fin keel is bolted on with cast-in acid resistant stainless steel bolts.
• Spade rudder in GRP reinforced polyester with foam core and marine grade stainless steel rudder post. – Rudder removed and overhauled 2009
• Rudder supported with two roller bearings.
• Emergency steering.
MACHINERY
Engine & gearbox:
• Perkins 4M135 6-cylinder naturally aspirated diesel engine producing 120hp @ 2,800rpm
• Indirect freshwater cooling system via raw water intake and heat exchanger.
• Hurth HSW 630-2.5 hydraulic reverse gearbox with 2.52:1 reduction and single lever throttle control at the helm position.
• Wet exhaust system.
• 24vDC engine space extraction- fan replaced 2024
Maintenance & Performance:
• Engine hours: Approximately 7,000 as of Autumn 2024
• Engine Servicing – Date of last engine service – August 2024
• Engine comprehensively overhauled during 2020 refit including replacement seals on injection pump, new injectors and new seawater pump
• Cruising speed – approx. 8 knots
• Maximum speed – approx. 9 knots
• Range at cruising speed – approx. 450Nm
Propulsion & Steering:
• MaxProp 3-bladed propeller - 2024
• Shaft drive with bronze p-backet with stainless steel shaft.
• Cutlass bearing replaced 2020
• PSS dripless shaft seal – replaced 2020
• Chain and cable steering system with quadrant, idlers and shaves. Steering cables replaced 2009.
• Emergency steering on rudderpost by tiller.
• 24vDC electro-hydraulic pump for autopilot control with secondary unit and switchover
• Steering pedestal in GRP reinforced polyester with leather covered ‘Destroyer’ type stainless steel wheel.
• Adjustable friction brake on wheel.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Voltage systems:
• 24vDC domestic and engine start circuit with 12vDC generator start circuits and 220vAC ring main via generator, shore power or inverter
• Circuit breakers at the chart table.
• 220v electrical sockets to the interior.
• Amp & Volt meters.
Battery Banks:
• 2x 12vDC 50Ah engine start batteries joined in series
• 1x 12vDC 50Ah generator start battery – 2020
• 12x 2vDC 540Ah service batteries joined in series to supply 540Ah @ 24vDC – 2020
• DCC4000 battery monitoring system
Charging & Inverter:
• Mastervolt MASS 24/75 24vDC 75Amp automatic battery charger - 2016
• Mastervolt MASS Sine 24/1500 1,500w inverter
Generator:
• Westerbeke 9.4BFDA 9.4kw 220vAC diesel generator
• Wet exhaust system
• Generator hours: approximately 9,461 hours as of Autumn 2024
• Date of last generator service – August 2024
• Generator comprehensively overhauled during 2020 refit including new exhaust manifold, sea
• water pump, raw water pump and heat exchanger.
Alternators:
• Leece Neville 24vDC alternator on engine serving the service batteries.
• 24vDC alternator on engine serving the engine battery.
• 12vDC alternator on generator serving the generator start battery.
Shore Power:
• 220vAC shore power with 2x Hubbel 50A shore connections (one is used for air-conditioning) and 220vAC sockets throughout interior.
PLUMBING & GAS SYSTEMS
Fresh Water:
• Pressurised hot and cold water system with Jabsco Par-Max 24vDC high pressure pump (replaced 2023) with accumulator tank.
• Hot water generated by engine calorifier and via 220vAC 800w immersion heater element in Sigmar 40 litre well insulated hot water storage tank (replaced 2021)
Watermaker:
• Sea Recovery SRC 1500M 236 litre per hour 220vAC reverse osmosis watermaker
• Watermaker hours – approx. 1,559 as of August 2024
Bilge Pumps:
• Jabsco 4000 submersible electric bilge pump with float switch.
• Par 24vDC 10.8gpm electric bilge pump located in aft heads compartment.
• 2x Whale manual bilge pumps located in cockpit and under saloon sole.
Deck Wash:
• Sureflo Blaster II24vDC salt water deck wash pump (replaced 2023) under forward passageway sole with outlet on foredeck.
Seacocks:
• Blakes tapered bronze valve seacocks – overhauled during 2020 refit.
Black & Grey Water:
• Black water discharges to holding tank.
• Grey water discharges to two sump tanks and then to sea via 24vDC pumps.
• Manual back up pumps for shower trays.
Gas System:
• Gas locker on aft deck with drain and stowage for two bottles.
TANKAGE
Fuel:
• Approx 620 litres in 2x stainless steel tanks located beneath saloon sole.
• Tanks removed, cleaned and refitted - 2020
• Fuel tank gauges at helm.
• Separ primary fuel/water filters with alarms for engine and generator fuel supply.
Fresh Water:
• 880 litres in 4x stainless steel tanks located beneath saloon, forward passageway and port cabin.
• Tanks removed, cleaned and refitted - 2020
• Water tank gauges at chart table.
Holding Tanks:
• Black water holding connected to heads - 2010
NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
In Cockpit:
• Raymarine eS78 7” HybridTouch WiFi GPS chartplotter/MFD display at helm – 2020
• Raymarine Quantum 2 Q24D 24Nm CHIRP radar scanner - 2020
• Raymarine i60 analogue wind display, VMG/close hauled repeater and wind transducer – 2020
• Raymarine i50 speed and depth displays with transducers – 2020
• Raymarine p70S autopilot control head – 2020
• Raymarine EV-400 autopilot course computer with EV1 sensor core and ACU-400 drive interface - 2020
• Suunto binnacle steering compass at helm pedestal.
At Chart Table:
• Raymarine Axiom Pro-S 12” radar/chartplotter display with GA150 GPS antenna – 2020
• Raymarine AIS700 Class B Transceiver - 2020
• Raymarine i50 tridata display at chart table - 2020
Communications Equipment:
• Icom M-502 VHF with DSC
• Icom M-801 SSB transceiver with insulated backstay antenna (not presently operating)
• Iridium satellite phone system with external antenna, grounding cage and GPS tracking
• Masthead VHF/TV/FM antenna
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
Galley:
• Alpes Innox stainless steel 4-burner gimballed gas stove and oven.
• Panasonic 220vAC microwave oven
• 220vAC ice maker - 2020
• Twin bowl sink with hot and cold mixer tap over.
• Manual fresh water foot pump
• 140 litre capacity front-loading refrigerator with Frigoboat W35 24vDC compressor system – 2020
• 140 litre capacity top-loading freezer with Frigoboat W50 24vDC compressor system - 2020
Heads:
• Vacuflush 24vDC electric vacuum freshwater flush heads in forward and aft heads
• Hot & cold pressurised showers in heads.
Air Conditioning & Ventilation:
• Outlets for air-conditioning system in saloon (x2), master cabin, forward cabin and port cabin (no operating air-conditioning system currently fitted)
• Hella Turbo 24vDC ventilation fans with 8x units
• Dorade ventilators at main companionway and forward of mast.
Lighting:
• Ample overhead lights and reading lights at settees and berths.
Entertainment:
• Sony LCD TV in saloon – 2006
• Sony radio/DVD player with speakers in saloon and waterproof speakers in cockpit
ACCOMMODATION
Summary of Accommodation:
• ‘Family Cruiser’ interior layout with up to 9 berths in mast double cabin aft, with additional single berth, VIP cabin forward, port bunk cabin with pullman upper berth and occasional berths in saloon. Two heads.
Accommodation Finish:
• Teak internal joinery finished with hand rubbed satin varnish and rounded corners to all edges.
• Teak veneered Nautor soleboards with access to bilge.
• Exposed internal hull sides lined with teak battening
• White vinyl headlining with removable panels for access to deckhead.
• Tables, bureau, seats, dressers, etc have rounded corners
• Upholstery replaced 2006/7 including cushions
• Mattresses replaced 2007
• Acid and impact resistant enamelled wash basin and GRP shower pan in heads.
• White GRP lining on bulkheads up to wash basin level in heads.
Description of Accommodation from Forward:
VIP Forward Cabin:
• Double berth with shelves and lockers outboard.
• Hanging locker aft on port side.
• Vanity desk with fixed stool on starboard side.
Guest Twin Cabin:
• Aft of forward cabin to port.
• Upper and lower berth (upper berth of Pullman type),
• Lockers above and bed table.
• Hanging locker forward
Forward Heads:
• Enamelled wash basin and GRP shower pan
• White GRP lining on bulkheads up to wash basin level
• Electric vacuum flush freshwater heads
• Dedicated shower cubicle with full height white GRP lining.
Main Saloon:
• L-shaped settee to port with rounded dining table with fiddles.
• Lockers behind settee backrest and bookshelf above.
• Bench settee on centreline
• Starboard side with full length settee providing occasional berth and locker above
Galley:
• Located on portside, aft of saloon and equipped with fridge, freezer, stove, twin sinks, microwave oven and icemaker.
• Garbage bin under sinks
• Chest of drawers for utensils aft of stove
• Sliding doors in lower part of upper lockers, outboard, aft of stove in galley
Navigation Station:
• Located on starboard side, aft of saloon
• Forward facing chart table with dedicated seat.
• Chart stowage under table top.
• Chest of drawers in base.
Aft Cabin:
• Double berth offset to starboard.
• Single berth to port.
• Seat between port and starboard berths.
• Lockers above berths.
• Vanity desk with stool against engine room bulkhead.
• Bookshelves aft.
• Hanging lockers forward to port and starboard.
Aft Cabin En-suite and Saloon Day Heads:
• Access from master cabin aft.
• Enamelled wash basin and GRP shower pan
• White GRP lining on bulkheads up to wash basin level
• Electric vacuum flush freshwater heads
• Dedicated shower cubicle with full height white GRP lining.
DECK EQUIPMENT
Rig:
• Nautor aluminium anodised aluminium spars.
• Oval-section keel-stepped mast, masthead rigged, with two sets of in-line spreaders.
• Mast foot set to metal frame with movable shoe for mast rake adjustment.
• Internal tie rods and laminated reinforcements on the main bulkhead for the stainless chain plates.
• Boom replaced 2007
• Navtec stainless steel rod standing rigging – replaced 2020
• Stainless steel wire inner forestay for setting hank-in staysail
• Stainless steel wire babystay
• Reckman RRS 2000/40 manual genoa furler – overhauled by Reckman 2020
• Aluminium rigging screw protectors
• Navtec hydraulic single backstay and vang with control panel in cockpit – fully serviced 2020
• Harken System B mainsail track on back of mast with low-friction ball-bearing battencars – 2020
• Aluminium anodised spinnaker pole and jockey pole – deck stowed.
• Spinnaker track on mast
• Lewmar adjustable mainsheet track and traveller system aft of cockpit
• Lewmar genoa and staysail tracks on sidedecks
• Checkstays for use with staysail
• Running rigging replaced 2020
Winches:
• 2x Lewmar 66CST 2-speed manual self-tailing genoa sheet winches
• 2x Lewmar 58CST 2-speed manual self-tailing spinnaker sheet winches
• 2x Lewmar 48CST 2-speed manual self-tailing reefing and control line winches on coachroof
• 1x Lewmar 48CST 2-speed manual self-tailing mainsheet winch in cockpit
• 1x Lewmar 44CST 2-speed manual self-tailing mainsheet traveller winch in cockpit
• 1x Lewmar 54CST 2-speed manual self-tailing halyard winch at mast
• 1x Lewmar 48CST 2-speed manual self-tailing spinnaker halyard winch at mast
• 1x Lewmar 48CST 2-speed manual self-tailing main halyard winch at mast
• 1x Lewmar 44CST 2-speed manual self-tailing staysail halyard, pole topping lift winch at mast
• 1x Lewmar 16CST manual self-tailing outhaul winch at boom
Sails:
• Kemp Sails Dacron battened mainsail – 2014
• Kemp Sails Dacron furling genoa – 2014
• Dacron hank-on staysail
• Ratsey & Lapthorn nylon symmetrical spinnaker - 2014
General:
• Stainless pulpit and pushpit and matching stanchions with double wire guard rails and midships boarding gates.
• Dorade vents with stainless steel protective pulpits
• Goiot opening deckhead hatches and portholes
• Folding teak cockpit table.
• Fold-up transom ladder - 2020
• Outboard engine bracket on pushpit with lift davit.
• Hot & cold pressurised transom shower.
• Boom light.
• Removable passarelle.
Anchoring & Mooring:
• Stainless steel stemhead fitting with twin anchor rollers
• Lofrans Falkon 1500 1,500w 24vDC electric anchor windlass with remote control at anchor locker and operation buttons in cockpit. Windlass new in 2008 and overhauled 2020.
• Fold-up rope drum rollers, chain pipe and chain box with drain pump.
• Rocna 55kgs anchor with 100m 12mm chain (chain replaced 2020).
• Fortress secondary/kedge anchor
• Warps and fenders – warps replaced 2020
Covers, Cushions & Canvas:
• Sprayhood with polished stainless steel frame - 2021
• Bimini with stainless steel frame -2009
• Sun awning – 2009
• Cockpit cushions – 2014
• Mainsail cover with lazyjacks - 2021
Tender & Outboard:
• Zodiac Cadet 300 Compact RIB tender – 2020
• Yamaha F9.9JMH 4 stroke outboard engine - 2020
SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
Navigation Lights:
• LED navigation lights – 2020
• LED spreader lights – 2020
• LED bow/steaming and foredeck floor light – 2020
• LED combination anchor/tricolour light - 2020
Life saving:
• Plastimo 8-man liferaft – last serviced April 2024
• Twin horseshoe buoys with lights
Fire Control:
• 4x fire extinguishers – 2020
• 6kgs fire extinguisher in machinery space