Well the rumours were true and we are truly excited to be able to add Spirit to our brokerage fleet. While most Gozzards are pretty nice, this one has a special pedigree. Not only is she a MK2, she has the B interior (with the island queen berth forward) and she is also one of only two ketch rigged G44s ever made. And to top all that (as if it wasn’t enough) she was originally also one of the very few true Gozzard demo project boats. This boat was built specifically from day 1 to be one of Ted’s personal projects, a platform where we could show case and test all our latest thinking. Some of the ideas on this boat are only now working their way onto our production boats… she was that far ahead of her time.
The main reason we undertook this project in the first place was to test aspects of the ketch rig on our current hull designs. While Ted had a number of ketch designs in his portfolio, this rig was to be the forerunner to rig designed for the Gozzard 50. It features swept back spreaders and some very special structural engineering – her mizzen mast is deck stepped without a compression post. This feature allows for a full aft cabin under the cockpit unencumbered by the post – a ketch rig without ruining the aft cabin. Of course the ketch rig is simply magical to sail… with both headsails and the main and mizzen in-mast furling, sailing this rig is akin to driving a car with an automatic transmission, shifting gears is seamless and you can adjust the rig effortlessly to any wind condition, speed or direction. And she is easily the fastest and most manageable G44 afloat. Seriously, the only reason you would not want a ketch rig is the cost.
As most of you know this is the first B interior G44 to become available on the used Gozzard market and the B features a full master stateroom forward. With a large and very workable galley all the way aft to starboard, the boat also has the largest cockpit lockers we ever made and this is the only boat to have the front load removable panel in the cockpit to allow for storage of items too large to normally fit in a the standard top load opening.
Fully awlgripped including decks the boat literally glows. New canvass and continually upgraded and maintained, she is in very nice condition. Her list of option include thruster, electric winches, genset, air conditioning and on and on.
This is easily the finest used Gozzard (sailboat) ever made to be made available. For the real scope on what this spectacular boat has to offer contact Mike at 519-524-2120 or email [email protected]
Fall 2013 – Sold