Bought from her former home in Chichester and transferred up to SYH this summer, Stella number 19 was designed by Kim Holman and built by Cardnell Bros in 1960.
Despite being previously well looked after, she was recently in the SYH workshops for extensive refit work ahead of her new owner’s racing and family cruising plans in 2019.
Her topsides were sanded, spot filled and hand painted using the ‘roll and tip’ method; whereby one person rolls the paint on to achieve coverage and a second person follows with a brush to eliminate roller markers.
The decks were sanded back ready for the application of primer and Awlgrip Griptex to create a non-slip finish. All varnish work was stripped back before layers of Awlwood (another Awlgrip product) was applied. In preparation for racing, the deck organisers were repositioned, a tiller extension was added and custom leather winch handle pockets were fitted. Onsite classic boat chandlery Classic Marine supplied traditional winches and all new Schaefer deck gear.
SYH boatyard services director Joshua Major commented: “As per the owner’s brief, our challenge was to retain the yacht’s classic features whilst optimising her for racing. We have up to ten Stellas racing and cruising out of SYH now, so we drew on experience from past restorations and proven racing refinements that we have implemented in previous Stellas.”
SYH’s onsite marine businesses were drafted in to assist with certain specialist areas. Seapower Marine Electronics fitted the wiring loom and converting the dials to a classic style, and installed period LED cabin and navigation lighting from Classic Marine. Mr Stainless made custom genoa tracks and fitting new, polished stainless window surrounds.
The cockpit arrangement was stripped out and SYH built and fitted new teak, side deck sloping helm seats. The seating will remain. unvarnished for a natural look and a non-skid finish for ease when racing. The aft cockpit locker was removed and the engine box and companionway was repositioned to optimise the space and strip out excess weight. Another SYH onsite partner, French Marine, serviced and re-installed the existing Beta BZ482 13.5hp diesel inboard engine.
Down below, all interior paintwork and varnish was stripped back and re-finished, a fridge unit installed and the galley sink and pipe work was replaced.
Joshua added: “Our classic boat building knowledge, combined with Classic Marine onsite and the ever-popular Stella class in the annual SYH Classic Regatta are creating a hub for these fantastic boats and their like-minded owners. We welcome any
Stella owners to visit the harbour, whether it be for racing, cruising or maintenance work.”
If your boat is in need of a refit, renovation or damage repair, contact SYH boat yard services director Joshua Major: joshua@syharbour.co.uk or 01473 659240.
Calling all Stella owners:
SYH is offering Stella owners a package of a swinging mooring, hard standing, lifting and launching all for £1,000 per annum.
Details below:
Swinging mooring from April 1st – October 31st
Hardstanding from November 1st – March 31st
One lift out and one launch
£1,000 ex VAT