SKYE 51
ARBELLA
We’re not really people that believe in fate, but the perfect boat we didn’t know existed seemingly fell right into our lap. We were looking for a boat from the late 70’s to 80’s with an elongated fin keel, skeg hung rudder, options for different sail plans and something that was trending towards the performance end of the cruising boat spectrum. Through a chance conversation, that almost wasn’t even initiated, we were turned onto a sailboat that satisfied all of these criteria and more.
She was sitting on the hard as far DownEast as you can get in Eastport, ME. After one look we knew she was the one: as rugged as can be, but also with undeniably gorgeous lines. She felt like a caged whale, the hull shape just begged for open ocean!
The Skye 51 was designed by Kaufman and Ladd and built under the supervision of Alden Yachts at the Mao Ta Shipyard in Taiwan. They were built as performance cruisers that were able to be sailed shorthanded, and billed as a slightly more affordable version of a Swan or Hinkley. Only 18 were built beginning in 1980, which explains why I had never heard of the boat before, with the best known being “Boston Light” owned by Patience Whales, the late editor of Sail Magazine.
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"She felt like a caged whale, the hull shape just begged for open ocean!"
The only other Kaufman and Ladd design I am very familiar with is the Kaufman 47, which is John Kretschmer’s choice for a bluewater voyager. I think we are in good company! One look below the waterline reveals how suited the Skye is to ocean sailing. There is a very fine entry forward with a deep v-shape in the forefoot which discourages slamming, even in the most brutal upwind conditions. This leads back to a very long fin keel with a shallow forward angle which will handle a grounding with ease. The 7ft draft is a perfect compromise allowing access to shallower cruising grounds while reducing leeway to a minimum. To complete the perfect offshore hull form we have a skeg-protected rudder all the way aft for maximum steering efficiency.
"She is as rugged as they come and built to withstand the relentless pounding of an ocean gale, but she will also look good doing it!"
On deck the Skye 51 is characterized by a jaunty sheer and low-freeboard which translates to less windage, and less leeway in rough conditions. She is a wedge deck, almost flush, and presents few hard angles for a boarding wave to wreak havoc on. Wide side-decks and granny bars allow safe movement on deck and at the mast, and the ketch rig of Arbella splits the sail area, making it much more manageable than a sloop of similar size. This also allows for a myriad of sail plans and options for different weather conditions, as well as a level of redundancy in the rig. It always pays to have a “belt and suspenders” approach offshore!
Below decks the U-shaped galley is to port with the navigation station opposite to starboard. This opens into a saloon with a U-shaped settee to starboard and a fore-and-aft settee to port with pilot berth outboard. Going forward are the crew quarters with bunks to port and starboard. A crew head is just forward of this, with the forepeak used as combination storage and anchor locker. The captain’s cabin is aft of the companionway with an ensuite head. Belowdecks, the aft 10 feet of the boat is all lazarette allowing for adequate storage space for an offshore voyaging vessel.
If it's not apparent, we think very highly of our Arbella. She is as rugged as they come and built to withstand the relentless pounding of an ocean gale, but she will also look good doing it! They say “Life is too short to own an ugly boat” and we sure don’t have to worry about that! She is our quintessential bluewater cruising vessel and the perfect platform to experience the ocean in all her glory. When you come aboard for a passage and feel the teak decks swaying beneath your feet you will know what we mean!
