Getting afloat Late McGruer minter

We called our February issue cover yacht, the 1968-built Rinamara, the

‘last McGruer’, referring to the long career of her designer, James McGruer. Luckily, the tradition of designing and building commodious, fast wooden seagoing yachts passed straight to son George, who drew the 55ft (16.8m) bermudan ketch Cuilaun in 1970 for a repeat customer based in Dublin Bay. Two near-sisterships followed in the early 70s – Ceresio (now Talisker Mhor) and Glory B IV, now known as Border

Legend. Cuilaun appeared on our cover in the July issue.

“Since Cuilaun was launched at Gareloch in 1970, her original Irish owners have cared for her every need, and in return she has carried them and their friends speedily, comfortably, safely and elegantly over deep and blue water so often that they might be excused forgetting how many times they’ve crossed the Atlantic,” says the broker. She won the 1979 transatlantic race from New York to Cork, was awarded the coveted John Parkinson Trophy of the Cruising Club of America in 1988 (where she is a¤ectionately known as the ‘varnished two-sticker’), won her class at Antigua Classic Week in 2004, and was overall winner at the British Classic Yacht Club’s Panerai Classics Week in 2017.

“For a yacht to look so stunning – like new – after so much use doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes passionate owners and an occasionally deep pocket. Cuilaun demands it, deserves it, and pays it back and more. She is quite simply one of the most special yachts ever conceived at this size. After 50 years of first ownership, it’s time for a very lucky second custodian to guide her into her second half century,” says the broker.

Build is carvel teak planking, silicone bronze fastened to laminated afromosia frames, with a lead keel, teak on ply deck, and teak superstructure and cockpit.

Her condition throughout looks to be exemplary, and the specs show a constant programme of renewal, meaning in all likelihood that nothing on Cuilaun is old, worn or broken. The engine is a Yanmar 4JH4THE rebuilt in 2020. Luxurious touches include an ice-maker and Eberspacher heating.