Itchy Foot is for sale and her listing can be found here.
Itchy Foot is in excellent condition, with constant renovations, upgrades and updates. The list of very recent updates include: Lifeline AGM batteries, Yamaha outboard, anchor and chain, alternator regulator, charger/inverter, water-maker, autopilot, Highfield dinghy, AIS, dinghy davits and solar arch. In addition the standing rigging was completely replaced (including turnbuckles) in 2018 with high quality rigging from Sweden. And many more minor improvements.
Introduction
Itchy Foot is Hallberg Rassy 39 Mk II. Built in 1997 at the yard on Elllös, Sweden where 209 were built between 1991 until 2003. She is hull 111. She is around 40ft (12m) long, weighs about 10,000kg (10 tons) and draws about 1.85m (6ft) in the water. She carries about 450 litres of water and 380 litres of fuel for the 54HP diesel engine. And if you want more statistics you can read them here.
Below is a quote from Cruising World magazine, USA, November 1995 issue about the Hallberg-Rassy 39 :
“…this yacht has the proper makings of an offshore cruising yacht. Below, the mahogany interior is flawlessly joined and meticulously finished, a hallmark of Hallberg-Rassy yachts… Not readily visible are the telltale signs of Hallberg-Rassy’s above-average engineering and building methods, lurking unseen behind the fine joinery below. The builder’s reputation for excellence translates into good resale value…. My experience with Hallberg-Rassy has convinced me that sailboats can make beautiful, safe homes. If comfortable passages, solid construction, elegance and attention to detail make sense, then so does the Hallberg-Rassy 39.”
She has spent most of her life on the water around the coasts of the UK and the Belgium, only recently venturing into the tropics. Her previous owners conducted a fairly extensive refit in 2011 preparing her for their plans to sail around the Mediterranean and her major systems are in good condition. Since taking ownership in 2015 we have meticulously maintained her to high standards, and an almost complete list of renovations can be found below.
But just as important as the facts and figures above is how she feels. She is comfortable, cozy, robust and surprisingly spacious. The aft cabin, with an insert to create one ‘king-size’ bed that measures 1.80m (6ft) by 2.5m (8ft) is perfect for a couple to sleep in space and comfort.
The main saloon is perfectly proportioned, it feels open and airy enough but has things to hold onto everywhere. Inward opening portholes provide good ventilation and aft facing hatches help keep out the rain. The large table in the saloon is a perfect place to relax and a large L-shaped sofa coupled with the sofa opposite will accommodate many for dinner. There is an excellently sized chart table which is a great space for computers, navigation and not surprisingly charts. The galley is small and perfect for one person ‘jam’ themselves into, with stacks of storage space. We’re even lucky enough to have fridge and separate freezer.
Above decks, she has a cockpit in the ‘centre’ of the boat which helps gives us a little more shelter and comfort when we need it. A hard, glass and fabric combination spray-hood helps keep us sheltered and being a relatively small boat everything can be handled from the cockpit by one or two people.
On anchor she is makes a great floating home. The 500W of solar panels provides us with all our normal energy requirements, only requiring a ‘top-up’ from the generator and charger if we have a couple of days of cloud cover in a row. There is sufficient power to keep both our fridge and separate freezer running, along with the usual demands from iPads, Computers and lighting.
Underway she comes alive, with excellent performance and a stable, sea-worthy platform. She is happiest on a broad reach and comfortably ticked off 150nm days crossing the Pacific sailing conservatively. Upwind she also makes great progress and points well, with her displacement keeping her moving steadily, any unexpected waves coming down the deck are reflected by the solid windscreen and spray-hood.
She has been a perfect companion and home for our family travelling half-way around the world together and we’ve done all we can to ensure she is as safe, sea-worthy and sound as possible. We are very proud of her and we often have compliments from fellow sailors.
P.S. My thanks to John Neal from Mahina Expeditions for helping us find the perfect yacht for our adventure. John has been helping people find the right boat longer than I’ve been alive and his unparalleled experience shows. What’s more he is a nice guy. I’d recommend anyone planning on buying a yacht for long-distance cruising employ his services.
Gallery
Photos taken February 2019. Enjoy.
On the Water
On Deck
In the Cockpit
Saloon and Galley
Chart Table
Engine Room
Aft Cabin
Forward Cabin and Bathroom
Inventory
The Boat
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General
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Engine
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Electricity
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Water
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Sailing
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Navigation
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Deck Equipment
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Accommodation
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Safety Equipment
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Loose Equipment
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Tender
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Upgrades and Maintenance List
Below is a list of all the major maintenance and upgrade projects we have competed on Itchy Foot over the last three years. In addition to the below, there are obviously countless small jobs, like changing filters and anodes which are not listed.
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