Description

“Niki” is a 1970 S&S30 / Aqua 30, as an IOR and RORC Half-Tonner. She is smaller sister of the legendary S&S34 (former Prime Minister Ted Heath won the 1969 Sydney Hobart and Admirals Cup) and yacht featured in 2022 film “True Spirit”. S&S designs dominated the 1970s in all yacht racing and the S&S30 is part of that lineage. She benefitted from S&S’ constant design development with a faster and more stable downwind hull-shape (often a criticism of early IOR designs).

Built to Lloyds certification in the UK by Aquafibre of Rackheath as a RORC Half-Tonner for IOR offshore and inshore racing. She is incredibly strongly built and cossets the crew in rough weather, with a sea-kindly hull shape and easily managed and scaleable sail plan. In light airs, and the correct set-up she ghosts along on all points of sail. This is incredibly confidence-instilling. Equipped with a reliable engine she is economical and efficient, and easily driven with a folding 2-blade propeller.

Under current ownership since 2010 and employed as a successful family cruiser and club racer under both IRC and Classic JCH ratings. She has also had 2 x surveys undertaken in the last 12 years (for insurance purposes). In 2022 she won the South West 3 Peaks Yacht Race (2 x 1st places and 1 x 2nd place), competed in the Classic Channel Regatta and was first Classic Yacht at the Dartmouth Regatta. For 2023 she was entered to the single-handed AZAB race but plans have changed.

During this period she has had a number of years ashore (2008-2010, 2012-2013 and 2019/2020). This spring (2023) she has had her chain-plates renewed, interior re-varnished and topsides repainted.

Useful links:
1. "#2014 - Aqua 30" featuring Niki https://sparkmanstephens.org/news/2014-aqua-30
2. “Pocket Cruisers & Racers” article http://sparkmanstephens.info/doc/5702458zUBmMLGktd9U2RAC4CT7yqTe9.pdf - search design #2014

Specifications

Accommodation

Stainless and teak stairwell with hanging wet locker behind. To starboard a relatively large and functional galley with plenty of stowage. Full-size chart table with VHF, AIS, Icom DSC radio and fuse-box. Aft is the berth bunk. The saloon features seating for 6 around a fold out (and removable) varnished saloon table atop the engine box, located amidships (for mass centralisation) and convenience of maintenance. The saloon converts to 2 x settee berths and 2 x pilot berths, each with lee-cloths (2022). Behind the settees are storage lockers. Beneath the saloon seating are 2 x flexible 100 litre Plastimo water tanks (2022) Forward to port is a hanging locker and to starboard is drinks cabinet and storage. Forward is a Lavac vacuum heads to port and washbasin with under sink stowage, warmed by the engine exhaust system. In the forepeak is sail storage with an option to install a further pipe cot.

Construction

GRP construction to Lloyds certification, with moderate tumblehome. More modern, flared aft sections provide greater downwind stability than earlier IOR half-tonners.

Pre-lift Apr 22

Boarding ladder and decals

Topsides repainted

Topsides repainted

JOG Week Jun 18

JOG Week Jun 18

Dartmouth Regatta Aug 18

Dartmouth Classics 2017

Dartmouth Regatta Aug 22

Dartmouth Classics Jul 17

South West 3 Peaks Yacht Race Jun 22

Round The Island Race Jun 18

Dartmouth Regatta Jun 22

Cruising trim

Cruising trim

Cruising to Guernsey

Swift passage making

An anchor - Herm

At anchor - Les Ecrehous

Cockpit & ST2000+

Navman, NASA Speed & Depth, TackTick Race Compass

NASA Wind

GPS - interfaced with DSC Icom VHF

Vesper AIS Class B Transponder via splitter - Jun 21

Galley & Flavel gas oven, hob & grill. Woodwork being revarnished

Chart table, ICOM VHF, charts, pilots & flow charts (various) - being revarnished

Engine amidships below table, 2 x settee berths with seatback becoming pilot berths

Lavac heads - sink opposite (woodwork being revarnished)

Heads washbasin - head opposite (woodwork being revarnished)

Laminate sails

Equipment

Yanmar 2GM diesel engine with spares, oils & lubes, and tools (serviced annually)
Chainplates strengthened and reset (2023)
Plastimo roller furling (twin-foil)
Original anodised gold spinnaker pole and jockey pole
Lavac heads (all pipework changed and serviced in 2022)
Blakes seacocks (serviced annually)
Flavel Vanessa stove with oven, hob and 2 burner (gas hoses replaced in 2022)
2 x 4.5kg gas bottles (in dedicated outboard draining gas locker)
Stormhood (2014)
Mainsail cover (2014)
Interior lights mostly changed to LED (2022)
Battery charger (2021)
Shorepower connection and fusebox (new 2021)
2 x 110Ah batteries (1 replaced in 2022 and the engine start battery 2014)
Portable Coleman 30 litre fridge (mains power & 12v)
35lb / 16kg CQR anchor with 40 metres of 8mm chain
Danforth anchor (stern or racing) with 10 foot 8mm chain and 40 metres of multi-plait (2022)
Anchoring disc and motoring cone
Foghorn
6 x fenders, 1 x fender step, 1 x nose fender
Springs, warps, 200 foot Black Marlow shore-line
Water hose & connectors
Deck brush (& squeegee for swiping the slime off the hull!)
Engine, electrical, plumbing, sail repair and rigging spares
Flagpole, red ensign, courtesy flags (various) and pennants (various)

By arrangement:
3D Tender (Twin Air 200)
4hp Yamaha 2-stroke engine
1000W Clarkes Inverter / Generator (petrol)
2 x 25 litre jerry cans

Navigation Equipment

NASA Clipper Wind, Speed & Depth (all separate) - serviced and recalibrated by NASA Marine in 2022
Navman Tracker 5380i Chartplotter (CMap cartridges: Atlantic & Caribbean and Mediterranean) - cockpit-mounted
Furuno GP-32 (D)GPS/WAAS at the chart table
ICOM DSC VHF (interfaced with Furuno GPS)
Vesper WatchMate XB-6000 Class B AIS Transponder and splitter (2021)
Navigation lights and steaming lights (LED bulbs)
NASA LED Masthead Tricolour (2022)

By arrangement:
South Coast, Channel Islands, Scilly Islands, France pilot books, charts and tidal flow charts

Engine(s)

Raw water cooled Yanmar 2GM, serviced annually to shaft drive, via Volvo seal to a 2-blade Flexofold folding propeller. Engine access is excellent as located amidships. Morse controller and lines replaced in 2020.

Sails & Spars

Sails:

160% polyester weave laminate genoa (2014 - fair condition, currently being serviced by the sailmaker (renewed UV strip))
Polyester weave laminate mainsail with 3 reefing points (2014 - good condition)
Polyester weave laminate heavy weather jib (2014 - very good condition)
Large spinnaker (green with Commando Dagger motif) (2014 - very good condition)
Reaching / narrow shouldered spinnaker (2014(?) - very good condition)
Original spinnaker (age unknown - fair condition)
130% Dacron genoa (good condition - 2008)

Spars:
UK Spars mast and boom (2008)
Standing wire rigging (2008), professionally tuned and inspected annually
Running rigging replaced on a rolling programme
Reaching and spinnaker blocks (Barton)

Safety Equipment

Jackstays / lifelines
Horseshoe buoy and light
Throwing floating line
Flare pack (offshore) - out of date
First Aid Kit(s)

By arrangement:
3 x Kru Professional & 1 x Kru Youth automatic inflation jackets with hoods, lights and integrated harness
1 x Kru Professional automatic inflation jacket (no integrated harness)
YAK buoyancy aid

Location Map