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Amphitrite 43

Longueur hors tout / L.O.A. = 13,03 m
Longueur à la flottaison / L.W.L. = 10,35 m
Bau maximum / Beam Max. = 4,17 m
Tirant d'eau / Draft = 1,80 m
Déplacement / Displacement = 13 T
Poids du lest profond / Deep keel ballast = 4,50 T
Capacité Gas oil / Fuel capacity = 425 L
Capacité eau / Water capacity = 600 L
Puissance moteur / Engine = 50 Cv
Surfaces de voilure / Sail area
Grand Voile / Mainsail = 32,90 m2
Génois 140% Genoa = 59 m2
Architecte Naval / Designer : Holman and Pye

liens sur d'autres photos

This letter (by the skipper of Mindelo, Amphitrite 43 owned since 2003) was written in 2007 to answer questions of sailors interested in purchasing an Amphitrite.

« We bought our Amphitrite 43 beginning of 2003. Since then, we sailed 6 seasons, which cumulated, represents roughly a year navigation including the Spanish coast, Mallorca, Minorca, Sardinia, Corsica, the French Riviera, Sicily, Greece and Turkey. We my wife, my 12-year old son, and I, could evaluate the boat in contrasting sea and wind conditions, under sail or motor. During the approximately 8000 NM we sailed, we were never disappointed by her behaviour at sea, her comfort or the exceptional level of safety she offers.

Those 8000 NM on the Mediterranean are little when compared to the distances sailed by the Amphitrite described in a « Voile et Voilier » paper published in January 1997 (can be downloaded on the site): « 90000 NM on an Amphitrite ». ANDORRA (n° 100) had been built at the same time as ours (n° 98).

The Amphitrite is a long distance cruise vessel built in a non industrial process. Nothing to do with an Oceanis, Sun Odyssey or Bavaria Yacht, which were designed for leisure and holyday and built industrially.

Her main qualities are comfort, space, solidity, and power. In a force 8 gale with 45/50 knots gusts (we met these conditions recently in the Bouches de Bonifaccio), she behaved perfectly. The 4,5 tons keel ballast, a well balanced distribution of weight, and a rather long keel, provided a surprising stability and comfort in rough seas. The central cockpit, high and covered, protected well the crew, reduced sails (half rolled genoa, mizzen or reduced mainsail) provided enough power.

In 2007, alone on board sailing between Athens and Finike (I sail alone occasionally, being retired and in rather good condition, and I manage to sail her fine), I was caught in a force 9 Meltem near Symi Island. We went on surfs more than 11 kt speed on a harsh sea without trouble, and the auto-pilot did a perfect job thanks to the excellent balance of the whole boat.

The quality of the building materials and the hand-made design have a cost and a weight, but she seems remarquably strong. All the inside in teak from Myanmar is as it was a quarter century ago, as is the internal white « contre moulage ».

Life is comfortable onboard, with her impressive back cabin (almost 12 m2 including the toilet). After an Amphitrite it is difficult to go back to a standard cabin under a cockpit. The cockpit is deep and large.

The only boats of the 80ies that may be comparable are Hallberg Rassy 42 and Maramu.

Some weak points ? Those that correspond to her strengths.

She is rather heavy and bulky, not easy to handle in harbours. She needs good wind to move. We can consider she starts to move really beyond a 10-knot wind, but best will be between 15 and 25. With all sails up, she will stand gusts well and won’t lean too much. In harbours, given the size, long keel and broad and deep rudder, it takes a while to handle her well. At starting, one wonders how he'll be able to stop in an handkerchief, but then gets used and understands the difference with a Sun Odyssey.

For long distance trips, important points are the keel included into the whole hull, the balance of weights, the quality of rigging, 800 l water, 450 l of gas oil and the protection to the crew. She is a transoceanic unit that was sold abroad in Australia as in the USA where she is well appreciated. In the Mediterranean, in periods of weak winds, the engine would better be reliable. My Amphitrite is in Turkey where, due to the Melten, sailing is great all summer. On the French Riviera, it may be slightly boring.

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I (Skipper of Ecapoe) add a few points supporting Mindelo´s comments :

A good choice for tall sailors (>190). Height is 2 m in all the central room, from the stairs to the front mast, and just 2m at the entrance of the back cabin. Berths are all also long enough. The cockpit benches are 2 m long and provide comfortable additional sleeping space.

The deep cockpit is great for young kids.

The difficulties for manoeuvring in harbours stands mainly for the Mediterranean or areas of high sailors density and limited space in harbours not in transoceanic cruises. Numerous owners in these conditions install a bow propeller.

The previous owner of my Amphitrite, Ecapoe, sold her when 79-year-old, and after 26 year sailing. He still handled her alone!

amphs

Creation date : 11/02/2009 > 11:05
Last update : 30/05/2010 > 16:22
Category : 1- Boats' types
Page read 23999 times

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