An article in this months Cruising World (page 62) titled “Simply Indispensible” by John & Wendy Clarke reviews what they deem as indispensible sailboat options. This blue water cruiser Helmsman 47 cruising yacht listed by International Yacht Brokers Boatshed Newport has 8.5 out of the 10 options featured in this article.

She has a Wind Generator, an AMP Air unit. She has Solar Panels.
She has a Single Sideband Radio, Modem & Skymate Sat Weather/Email, etc.
She has Harken sailhandling equipment.
She has a four-stroke outboard engine.
She has a rigid bottom inflatable dinghy.
She has a Watermaker.
She has an EPRIB system.
She has a Windvane Self-steering system.
She has a portable generator hookup for a Honda 1000; just add generator. What she does not have is a fuel polishing system; no big deal there.

This Helmsman was bought new at the Newport Boat Show in 1988 and has been with the second owner/licensed captain since 2004. With only two owners she reflects pride of ownership and top care. Manufactured in Denmark, she is rare to the US market and quite a find for the serious sailor. She has made trips up and down the Atlantic seacoast to Florida and the Carolinas.

She is a true offshore blue water racer/cruiser with a rating of 85 spinnaker and 95 non spinnaker. She has been raced in the Offshore One Sixty (single-handed) every year and the Solo-Twin also yearly. With winds at 15 knots or better she usually leads the fleet. With winds below 15 knots the smaller lighter sailboats leave her behind.

In 2008 her current owner took her down to the glass and added three coats of barrier paint. Since then he has applied Micron every year resulting in a very clean and fast bottom.

Her original 33 horsepower Buke (German) engine has been replaced with a 42 hp Yanmar with a ratio of 2.8 to 1. She cruises at 2400 RPS and does a nice easy 6.5 to 7 knots. When pushed she will run at 8 knots.

For a complete list of specifications, 60 plus photos and two videos, please visit our website at

Happy sails to you from Boatshed Newport!