It is always great to see an older boat that has actually been taken care of, and Seika definitely fits that bill. She’s a 12.6-meter (about 41-foot) sloop designed by Sparkman & Stephens and launched back in 1975, but she looks incredibly sharp for her age. The white hull and decks are clean, and the burgundy canvas matches the bottom paint perfectly. It’s a classic retro colour.
If you know offshore sailing, you already know the S&S pedigree. Olin Stephens and Drake Sparkman started the firm back in the late 20s and basically set the benchmark for seaworthy ocean racers. Their designs won everything from the America’s Cup to the Sydney to Hobart for decades. You still see them out and about today – in a recent Solo Trans-Tasman race, an older S&S design did incredibly well in some really foul conditions. That isn’t a fluke; these boats were engineered from day one to handle heavy weather and look after their crew.
At 41 feet, Seika is right in that sweet spot for a blue-water cruiser. The 41-footers have been elegantly designed with classic lines, and reportedly they point beautifully upwind, and won’t make you nervous when the weather turns nasty. Underneath, she’s typical for her era: a moderate-to-heavy displacement hull, a deep fin keel. It’s a proven setup that tracks straight as an arrow and keeps things manageable when things get rough offshore.
The cockpit has plenty of room to move around. The helmsman can settle in for a long watch comfortably, and there’s enough space for guests to hang out without everyone getting in each other’s way. There’s a canvas bimini to keep the sun off, a solar panel mounted on top, and a clear screen you can roll down at the back to block the wind and spray. One really cool detail is the exposed raw timber across the cockpit. It’s a nice nod to her 70s heritage and shows the kind of care this boat has received.
Step down below and it immediately feels like a proper wooden boat – warm and cozy, and full of personality. Right by the companionway steps to the right is an L-shaped galley with a gimballed stove and decent storage.
Opposite that is a proper navigation desk for anyone who using paper charts. The main saloon has comfortable sofas on both sides, a fold-down table in the middle, and a slightly curved ceiling that gives the cabin a lot of character and extra headroom.
Up front, the double V-berth cabin sits behind a really nice rounded wooden door. Aft of the saloon, there are two single berths (they’re the typical 1.5 berths wide) – one tucked behind the galley and the other behind the nav desk. They make perfect sea berths for a passage. The head is separate, surprisingly fresh, and has a hot water shower.
Back on deck, the side decks are wide enough that you feel safe moving forward to handle sails. On the stern, they’ve added a small dive platform with sturdy handrails, which makes getting in and out of a dinghy easier. The sails themselves are pretty colorful.
The build quality is excellent. The hull is triple-diagonal Kauri wood sheathed in epoxy glass. For power, she has a reliable Solé diesel engine put in back in 2003 with about 1,645 hours on it. With a 220-litre fuel tank, a simple shaft drive, solar panels, and an inverter, she’s fully set up to spend weeks away from a marina without needing to plug in.
Seika is currently listed through Vining Marine Group for $84,000 NZD. If you want to check her out or ask a few questions, you can get ahold of Dan Noakes at 022 432 6007. Learn more at: https://viningmarine.co.nz/yachts/adventure-awaits-great-sparkman-and-stephens-yacht/
