Swallow Yachts ‘Storm 17’ ‘Carpe Heri’

This beautifully crafted Swallow Yacht “Storm 17′ is new to the market and viewing is highly recommended. The seller has spent many years sailing and modifying this pretty boat to be perfect for single handed sailing.

A write-up from the seller:

The tabernacle has been professionally created and fitted by Neil Thompson Boats.  A beam has also been mounted on the starboard rear quarter to take a conventional outboard when it was difficult to source one that would fit in the original well.

The addition of the electric motor to the rudder may seem strange but it works brilliantly.  The simple on-off and twist throttle control is situated just below the tiller enabling a sometimes welcome input of an instant bit of ‘oomph’ when needed, say, to head a bit higher to get around a moored boat or when the tide threatens to take you somewhere you’d prefer not to go. In silence.

Getting in and out of narrow waterways, or against a 3-4 knot tidal current is no problem, and it allows for a very relaxed and silent sail without the mainsail.  The boat’s performance and manoeuvrability on jib and mizzen alone, with or without the motor, is impressive and surprises many. 

The North Norfolk waters it is currently sailed in are very shallow in places and the ability to raise and lower the motor together with the rudder with just ‘a pull of a string’ helps enormously.  An ‘enhanced’ pulley system takes care of the extra weight.  The pull of another string lifts the keel without fuss. Therefore, with the motor gently in reverse, beaching in shallow water is a relative doddle.  Likewise, silently reversing off the beach when everyone else is wading and turning their boats around is a smug pleasure.  Carpe Heri floats in just 8” of water.

The addition of a small bowsprit (made from the sprit which I found to be somewhat unwieldy on occasion) which has also enabled an increase in the size of the jib – along with a slightly larger mizzen sail.  The mizzen mast has been extended by around six inches to accommodate this.  The mizzen is self-tacking and is also very helpful in holding head-to-wind for adjustments ‘up front’.

Both sails are relatively new (used just three times) and are in excellent condition as is the rest of the boat. The mainsail and spars are also in good condition.  It has never been left on a mooring in all the time I have owned her and is kept in a dry barn at home throughout the year when not in use. The only thing that is not in good health is the boat cover which has been attacked by mice whilst in separate storage. Likewise, a spray hood which I have never used has a panel that needs replacing due to similar violence. This might present the opportunity to extend this to form a tent for overnighting in the relatively large cockpit.

She has been very successfully trailed to Cornwall and the Lake District plus pottered around the Norfolk Broads enjoying its nature in near silence when just motoring or motor-sailing. The cockpit will comfortably take three people and a dog (we once briefly had six adults plus large dog onboard to get to the pub on the other side of the River Fal !) The absence of a boom helped enormously.