about ira-ricarda
Thanks
to Gayla and Steve for this report.
Gayla
and Steve are sailing the Pacific Ocean on Ariel.
IRA-RICARDA
ISLANDER 36 CUSTOM BUILT SLOOP
|
Year: |
Completed in 1990 |
|
Designer/Builder |
Islander Yachts / Stephen Reinken |
|
Hull Material: |
Fiberglass |
|
Engine/Fuel Type |
Single Diesel |
|
Engine |
Volvo MD11C 25 HP |
|
Dimensions |
LOA 36’ LWL 28’ Draft 6 ½’ Beam 11’2” |
|
Displacement |
13,500 |
|
Ballast |
5,450 lbs |
|
Tankage: |
Fuel 80 Gallons Water 40 Gallons |
SYNOPSIS
IRA-RICARDA’S hull was purchased from
Islander Yachts in 1984 but
not completed until 1990. She was built by the former owner/builder
Stephen Reinken, a mechanical and electrical engineer with over 30 years
experience in cruising and ocean going sailing. Her first home was
at
Miami Merril Stevens Yacht Yard in Coconut Grove where constructions was
first started on her interior. At that time she was christened
unofficially as “La Huevo” (“The Egg” in Spanish) because that is what she
looked like. An egg, all white on the outside and hollow on the
inside. Before her first launching she was officially documented and
christened as “Chiquita”.("The Little One" in Spanish)
During her construction she was moved four
times in total. Her
second and third home was Sierra Nautico and then behind the New Hickory
Bar BQ both in Miami. She was finished and ultimately launched from a
private marina on S. River Drive north of Jones Boat yard in Miami
Florida. The owners of that yard are now cruising the Caribbean on S/V
Liza and just worked as line handlers for the original owner Steve Reinken,
transit his fourth boat, Ariel, through the Panama Canal.
Ira-ricarda’s first cruise was to the
Bahamas Islands and the
Caribbean, as far south as the Grenadines and as far north as Camden
Maine. Later she sailed as far east as Scandinavia and Russia.
In May
1990 she sailed a marathon 14,000 miles in 7 months starting in Miami
thence to Bermuda, Azores, Isle of Wight, through the Kiel Canal and on to
Stockholm Sweden. The reason for the mad dash across the Atlantic was to
make it to a Mid Summer party in Stockholm June 20, 1990. From Stockholm
she sailed on to Finland, Russia, back through the Kiel Canal to Holland
then back to England for the London Boat Show. In Falmouth Harbor England
final preparations were made to cross the Bay of Bisque making land fall in
La Caruna Spain after sailing through two gales. She sailed around
Finesterre to Vigo in northern Spain. The final voyage she set off from
Lisbon Portugal to the Canary Islands, back across the Atlantic to Antigua
and the British Virgin Islands. After a short stay in the BVI’s she
made
a passage back to Florida where she was put up in storage above ground
with her keel in a hole at Cape Canaveral Florida where she remained for 9
years.
She has been completely Awlgripped,
topsides, decks, cabin, cockpit
and deck lockers. Her brightwork including hand tiller has been done with
the new Bristol varnish. She is fitted with custom designed cockpit and
locker cushions. The 55 foot mast is Mediterranean blue which
matches the
custom built Dodger and sail cover. Her cockpit is appointed with a
removable teak table and teak cockpit grating. The rub rails are fitted
below the sheer strake to port and starboard .
Her sailing system is designed for
single handing which includes the
French Hank system for ease of changing. There are three steering
systems. An Aires Windvane, Alpha Spectra AutoPilot and Autohelm
2000. A custom built rudder stop is built into the
tiller steering. There is a solid self supporting boom vang.
Below decks, her teak parquet flooring
includes a removable grate for
ease of cleaning in the galley and head. The spacious main salon
with
6’2” headroom has full length settees on both sides with a drop down, fold
out teak table and built in space for a sewing machine. This is stored in
one of the special designed compartments below the settees which are also
used for food and storage. The entire areas behind the settees are
also
used for storage as well as above the settees where varnished wood
continual sliding panels add additional convenient space.
The walk through head and shower includes a
propane instant water
heater. Sink vanity above and below have ample storage.
Her master
stateroom in the forepeak is spacious and well ventilated with overhead
hatch and windscoop as well as screened ports throughout. Two
hanging
lockers on either side with three under bed drawers and storage area add
ease of convenience. There is customized shelving above the entire
length
of the oversize double bed.
An extra wide quarter-berth has it’s
own port for ventilation and full
length shelving. It also doubles as a seat for the navigation
station
with is directly across from the U-shaped galley at the base of the
companionway. There is an extra large chart table with flush
mounted
custom built electronics panel.
Her galley is appointed with a gimbaled,
propane two burner stove
with oven and grill. The two 20 lb. propane tanks are located in
the
lazarette. There is a double stainless sink, and the engine run
mechanical
refrigeration has one freezer and one refrigeration box with custom boxes
and hold over plates. Three sliding panels enclose built in plate
and cup
racks.
Behind the companionway and accessible from
three sides is the Volvo
engine with an oversized heat exchanger and custom Japsco raw water
pump. There is also a timed auto shut off system.