Orianda's owner has been involved with vintage yachts for over decade now. Between 1999 and 2005 he completely restored S.Y.Delfino, a 17 metre, 1939 Ketch designed by John Alden www.delfino1939.com.
For the subsequent three years after this important refit, he sailed Delfino across the Mediterranean participating in Classic Yacht regattas but also exploring maritime heavens scattered across marenostrum.
It was at this pointIt that he decided that it was time to give other vintage yacht enthusiasts a chance to enjoy Delfino whilst he would look for a larger vintage vessel in order offer to a greater number of friends the opportunity to taste the great experience of sailing on a wooden vessel oozing history and charm. The only way to achieve this was naturally going to be through the charter market.
After a year spent searching for a substitute for Delfino, the owner found Orianda lying in Spain. Having quickly made contact with the owners after only a few days, the owner was on board inspecting her beauty whislt falling in love with her. It only took a few weeks of negotiations before Orianda changed hands.
Orianda was sailed for four months between June and October by her owner and crew in order to determine all the areas of the vessel that would need to be looked at during the scheduled winter refit it was planned to undergo.They sailed from Spain to France first and then from France to Italy. From Italy they carried on toward Greece where they sailed around the Pelopponese before finally reaching after four months on the go, Fiumicino in Italy at the end of October. Her well deserved refit was to commence.
The works carried out by Fiumicino s Yard, Tecnomar included bringing Orianda 300HP Cummins engine to zero hours, replacing the air conditioning system as well as all the wiring, adding a 3rd Head as well as replacing all the sea cocks. The masts were restored,the sails brought back to life, satellite and WI-FI were put on board.... All the works commissioned by the owner focussed in giving Orianda all the needful security features, as well as the elegance and decor of vintage yachts therefore combining vintage beauty with modern technology, safety and comfort.Whislt her refit was being carried out, the owner was able to reconstruct the boats history. This was done through research at the Register of Lloyds as well as research to Yacht Clubs.
Oriandas history has now been recovered and is viewable on www.orianda1937.com . The generosity of former owners was unparalleled, each providing anecdotes and picture which are posted on the website.Orianda is expected to sail again at the end of June and thus once again allowing all those on board to enjoy such a beautiful yacht and its sailing characteristics. Sailing Yachts are there to be sailed.
The owner is proud to know that it takes approximately 15 minutes to hoist Oriandas sails a rare feature on vintage yachts......
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