The Ship

The History


The Sailing Vessel Solstice started as a dream of adventure but soon became a labour of love and sacrifice for the owner, operator and builder, Allen MacKay. He laid the keel in 1965, launched the hull in '66 and the following 5 years were spent completing the rigging (mast, spars & stainless rigging) and interior.

She's an outstanding 53' gaff-rigged topsail schooner built for blue water cruising. She has beautiful lines, a great layout and fine attention to detail. She's not just beautiful but functional as well. Able to sleep 6 comfortably and fully outfitted for day cruising and long term sailing.

All the ship specifications
Her purpose:

To sail the oceans blue,
With an all-female crew.

Women of every size and sort,
A fresh crew from every port.

But...

A woman in my life I had to meet,
She proclaimed herself Admiral of my fleet.

After the process of construction,
Ended my dream by destruction.

 

The figurehead of the Canada Goose was carved by Doug Morrison.

Below Deck

Here is an overview of below deck. Select the thumbnail to see details of what's below deck.
sol_table.jpg (40624 bytes) sol_galleystove.jpg (43599 bytes) sol_interhed.jpg (30975 bytes) sol_interiorsteps.jpg (36095 bytes)

TOP SIDE
sol_deckchain.jpg (37739 bytes) sol_riggingmast.jpg (29859 bytes) sol_topside.jpg (33664 bytes) sol_drydck.jpg (48250 bytes)
sol_drydock2.jpg (23057 bytes) sol_fullsail.jpg (31713 bytes) sol_group_ondck.jpg (31322 bytes) svs_dry3.jpg (28537 bytes)
sol_silhouette400.jpg (25753 bytes) sol_undrsail2_400.jpg (24628 bytes) sol_undranchor400.jpg (29898 bytes) sol_undrsail1_400.jpg (29510 bytes)
sol_sunsetvan.jpg (25966 bytes) sol_lookingdwn.jpg (28032 bytes)
Ship Specs, Equipment and Information:
Dimensions
LOA: 53' Beam: 13'6 Displacement: 22 tons
Draft: 6'6 Ballast: 6,000 lbs. lead
Engines
4 cyl. English Ford HP: 60 Model: Interceptor
Cruising Speed: 6+ knots Max Speed: 8 knots
Tankage
Fuel: 225 gal. black iron Water: 150 gals.
Accommodations
Galley
Dickinson diesel stove with oven with nickel plated top 2 burner propane stove Holding: 10 gal. gravity feed day tank for stove
AC/DC 1.5-2 amp refrigerator double sink with gold plated faucets tiled wall behind stove
Head Corian countertops
Electronics & Navigation
Spilsbury VHF SAE Flasher depth sounder Wagner S50 autopilot
5" compass horn portable searchlight
speed indicator relative wind/windspeed indicator log
Aquameter RDF GPS
Construction Details
mahogany strip planked steam bent 2.5x2" oak frames 3.5"x1/2" teak deck planking with false grooves giving the appearance of narrower planks
plywood, fiberglass and teak house bronze fastenings
Electrical System
4 deep cycle 6V, new 1994 Professional Mariner battery charger shore power cord
12v system - run 900 amp. hrs.
Safety Equipment
four 5# halon 1211 fire extinguishers one 2.5# halon 1211 fire extinguisher one manual 7.5 GPM Whale Gusher bilge pump
one app. 600 GPM electric bilge pump 14 life jackets emergency pump signals alarm horn
alarm horn also signals high water 10 gal. day tank for stove oil aft in the lazarett
Sails & Rigging
gaff tops'l schooner rig  varnished sitka spruce masts & booms 7 dacron sail inventory: two mains; foresail; staysail; one fisherman; top sail; storm jib
stainless steel standing rigging jiffy reefing 2 speed sheet winches
running back stay "lever" belaying pin racks at the base of both masts rope on hoops keep the hoops from binding on the mast
2 Barlow 28 winches 1 Barlow 23 winch hoops replaced in '99
1 Barlow 26 winch 2 Barlow 16 winches stainless & teak boom gallows
Deck Equipment
75# Fisherman anchor 60# Danforth anchor 75# Plough anchor
app. 200' of 1/2" chain, 200' 1" nylon rope electric Tigress windlass

Web site by Andii
Copyright © 2000 SVSolstice Adventures