Buchanan Vashti Mk3

Wooden Ships Comments on this Buchanan Vashti Mk3

A superb example of the Buchanan Vashti Mk3, also known as the Queen Class 38, which is the Vashti design built with a GRP hull and decks.  One of the first GRP yacht designs moulded by Tyler Boat Co. Ltd of Tonbridge in Kent and fitted out by R.J. Prior & Son Ltd of Burnham-on-Crouch. She is rather special and quite a rare boat, believed to be one of only five examples of the Buchanan Vashti Mk3 still in commission.  The Vashti was one of the great Alan Buchanans most notable and successful designs, originally built in wood and raced extensively in the 1960’s with great success.  Her classic lines are built for racing and she is a joy to sail.

Launched in 1967, she has a fascinating history and the plans are available in the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth. Bought by the current owners in 2016, she had been through a significant refit at Berthon Boat Company August 2013 and has been continually updated since including new spars and rigging in 2022.  Her graceful lines and counter belie a powerful, well balanced and rugged yacht with terrific sea-keeping that is simply not found in many modern yacht designs.  This is a proper yacht with performance to match her looks and a class above many GRP boats of her period.

Wintered ashore each season with an all over custom cover, she has been cruised along the south coast, cross Channel and the Scilly Isles and lightly raced through the summer season with a local yacht club (IRC 0.875).  Due to her age and design, she qualifies for the classic yacht regattas and has sailed with the Channel Classic Regatta and attended the Paimpol ‘Chant de Marine’.

Survey report from March 2022 states her “to be in structurally sound condition and to be in good cosmetic condition for her age.” Additionally, it states that “For the age of the vessel and the type of polyester resin that would have been used in her original construction the [hull moisture] readings were considered to be very acceptable and much lower than could be expected.”

With a new mast and standing rigging in 2022, and tri-radial cut sails from 2017 with a spinnaker to match, she is ready to go this season and has all the extras needed for comfortable cruising or amateur racing.

Length on Deck                           38’4″

Length Waterline                        26’6″

Beam                                              9’6″

Draft                                               6’3″

Thames Tonnage                          11TM