Description

The Aphrodite 101 was one of the three yachts chosen by the RORC 1978 offshore one design conference to encourage one design racing which challenges the old IOR rules. Although not many were sold in the UK they were very popular in europe and over 500 have been made. They are still being produced by a yard on the banks of lake Constance in the Alps where there is a large fleet. She was designed by Kjaerulff and Paul Elvstrom without the constraint of the old IOR rule giving her a narrow hull, high ballast ratio and a tall fractional rig making her beautifully balanced. She is a light wind flyer and I use her mainly for club racing and in 2024 she won three club series races which this year she also won the these three series again. This yacht is equipped to ORC (Offshore Racing Council) Cat 3 with Liferaft making her eligible for JOG and other long distance races. She rates 0.912 but if weighed would probably rate below 0.900.
She was taken out the water by her previous owners and laid up ashore, undercover, for ten years. Before being laid up she had a new mast, rigging, and sails,
She is easy to handle as she has a self tacking jib. Despite preferring light to moderate winds in the gale force 2024 Round the Island Race she was one of the 150 yachts (out of just under a 1000) which completed the race. You can see two pictures of her in this event one of her well reefed in the Needles Channel the other going 14 knots downwind. This year she came 2nd in the Royal Escape race from Brighton to Fécamp in winds up to 10 knots, on the return trip winds are up to 35 knots she was wet but managed very well. She makes quick passage times. She sleeps in theory six people but 3/4 is comfortable. If not used for racing she would make a great family day sailor with occasional overnight accommodation.
She is a much admired beautiful yacht and is well loved by myself and my crew, however I'm in my mid/late 70s and finding reduced energy for sailing otherwise I would have kept her.

Specifications

Accommodation

She has six berths however the forepeak berth is comfortable for only one. We sleep 3/4 comfortably but the boat has limited head room due to the flush deck. There is a marine toilet between the fore cabin and the main saloon with a hanging locker opposite. There are two long berths in the saloon. There is a cooker unit with storage on the port side and a sink unit with storage to starboard. She has an Origo two burner alcohol stove which is very safe compared to gas, we found it boils a kettle quickly. There are two further long quarter berths aft.

port with storage and lee cloths

fore peak

Construction

Built by Bianca Yachts in 1979/80 of GRP with a lead keel. She has a flush deck. I have a November 2023 survey which showed very low moisture readings hard surprising as she had been out the water for nearly ten years. I have taken her out each winter.

Equipment

Stainless pulpit, pushpit stanchions and guard wires
(new 2024), Anchor main CQR with chain in self draining locker. Kedge anchor and warp. Mainsail cover and another mainsail cover attached to lazy jacks. Boon awning. Heavy winter overall cover. Boathook, deck brush, bottom scrubbing device, boarding ladder, warps and fenders. Plates cutlery etc. Numerous other equipment which comes with the boat. Two buckets. Manual and electric bilge pump, spotlight, torches.

Navigation Equipment

Fixed VHF radio
Handheld VHF radio
Plastimo steering compass
Bosun steering compass
Two deck mounted tactical compasses
Handheld compass.
Navigation lights deck level
Tricolour masthead light
Deck light

Engine(s)

The Nanni 14hp engine was installed 2007 and when bought her late 2023 she had 400 hours use but she had been stored ashore for 10 years. Despite the low hours on recommissioning we had to replace the lift pump, injector pump as well as all the filters. The injectors were also refurbished. The water drip less stern gland was replaced with a Volvo type and the cutlass bearing was replaced. We drained the diesel tank and cleaned all the debris out. New engine gauge panel.

Sails & Spars

She had a Z-spars mast and boom in 2010 which replaced an old carbon mast. The standing rigging was also replaced at the same time. Despite being 2010 the rigging has only had 3 years use due to it being stored. She has a solid kicker.
The sails were new in 2011 the same time she was laid up. They have therefore had only 2 years use by myself. They are:
Dacron main good condition Dolphin Sails
Self tacking jib Dolphin sails good condition (Dolphin sails were a previo,
Smaller symetrical spinnaker usable but rather old.
Code Zero new this year.
Storm Jib Also the Mainsail has a reef that reduces the luff by 40% in lieu of tri-sail(as per ORC regs)
There is a Carbon Spinnaker pole.
The rigging was fully inspected 2024. A new wood beam with steel reinforcement was installed under the forestay (a common OOD 101 problem). A port side U bolt was removed to check its condition.
A new replacement jib track was made the old one broke.
She has a new backstay
Also two new Dynema Running backstays ( used when going to windward the boat points much higher when properly applied, she can point almost 30 degrees to windward)

Safety Equipment

This yacht is fully equipped to ORC Cat 3 with Liferaft
In-date Flares
In-date new 2024 2Kg fire extnguishers
Fire blanket
Wire cutters
Cockpit knife
Lifebuoy with light and drogue
Throwing line
First aid kit
radar reflector
Fog horn with spare cylinder
I will include two compliant lifejackets and 2 compliant safety lines
Jackstays

Location Map