Description

 How do I describe a legend? Beautifully built in 1980 by Minneford in New York, Brava was the first of a series of race winning boats for Pasquale Landolfi. From an exciting era of design and construction, Brava stands out. Great looking, with a functional but immaculately finished raceboat interior. The best everything available at the time. Through Sardinia and Admiral's Cups and a host of other races, a Fastnet win in 1983 perhaps stands out. Helmed by legendary sailors like John Marshall, Tom Blackaller and Gary Weisman. The Vallicelli design team raced on her and stayed involved, drawing her new keel and rudder.


I sold her to Swedish owner Sven Hjelte in 1984, and we are selling her now for his family following Sven's death at 89 years old. He cherished the boat, renamed Hero, and kept her in superb condition. She spent many years ashore in one of his company sheds. Sven sold her twice, but quickly bought her back both times when he felt she was not being properly cared for! The new photos we have just taken show she needs some minor cosmetic attention.


Please note that some photos are historic. Photos 8-13 are from 5 years ago, 1,15,16 & 17 from 2021 and 18-31 were taken in the shed late March 2022.


Equipment is in part "of her era", but all in tiptop shape. A fuller inventory was added on 6th April 2022.


So many people have deep emotions about this boat so, with Sven's family, we are committed to making sure she can look forward to a happy future. Consideration will be given to projects which see the boat being actively used, perhaps giving young or disadvantaged people opportunities to learn in a sport which has given us such wonderful experiences.




Inventory



MECHANICAL

Perkins 40hp diesel engine 1980 with hydraulic drive to 2 blade feathering Maxprop.


RIG AND SAILS

3 spreader Sparcraft masthead rig with white painted aluminium mast, boom and spinnaker pole. Spare mast tube for 4 spreader setup. Rod standing rigging. Comprehensive running rigging. Navtec hydraulics for backstay, babystay, vang and outhaul.
4 x mainsail, 1982 x 2, 1986 & 1987.
6 x genoa #1, 1983, 1986 x 3, 1987 & 1990.
4 x genoa #2, 1982 x 2, 1984 & 1986.
1 x genoa #3, 1987.
1 x genoa #4.
1 x reacher.
2 x staysail.
10 x spinnaker, 1981-1987.
1 x blooper, 1982.
(Sail inventory needs to be checked. Although old, many sails are in very good condition).


DECK

13 Barient winches, of which 8 self tailing. 7 headsail tracks each side. S/S bow pulpit, stern pulpits, stanchions and guardwires. Wheel steering with leather covered wheel and emergency tiller. Canvas covers for wheel and compass. Deck layout has helm cockpit aft with sliding access hatch over nav station with transparent panel and 2 opening portlights, mid cockpit with 4 opening portlights and liferaft locker. 8 person liferaft (age and service status unknown). Sliding hatch with plexi washboard for access below.


INSTRUMENTS

Compass centrally mounted between cockpits. Brookes & Gatehouse Hercules 390 racing instruments with 5 digital and 4 analogue displays, plus digital displays at nav station below. Garmin 190 GPS at nav station. Icom M59Euro VHF radio. Raymarine autopilot (relatively recent). Stereo.


ACCOMMODATION

Open plan racing interior. Slatted overhead and side linings aft of mast. 8 tilting pipecots. Galley with foot pumped cold water to sink, coolbox and 2 burner gas cooker with oven. Marine wc centrally mounted in front of mast. 2 fresh water tanks. Eberspächer diesel fired cabin heating.


CRADLE

Custom trailer mounted cradle.



Features




- Spinnaker pole

- Storm jib

- Battened mainsail

- Heating

- Radio

- Manual bilge pump

- Marine head

- Spinnaker

- Compass

- Gps

- Autopilot

- Log speedometer

- Depthsounder

- Steering wheel

- Wind speed and direction

- Genoa

- Vhf

- Oven



Contact Information



Sunbird International Yacht Sales are a dynamic & growing team. At their own marina on the Clyde, Sunbird are Britain's longest serving Bénéteau dealer and also offer Bénéteau export sales and service through their offices in Palma, Mallorca, and Gocek /Marmaris, Turkey. Brokerage services are offered by our French offices in Saint Malo and Hyères.


At St Malo we are available every day, so do not hesitate to call or email. +33 777 287995, colin.sinclair@sunbirdyachts .eu .Here at Sunbird we really do work as a team, so of course you can directly contact our French, English & German speaking Broker in St Malo, who has been involved with Brava / Hero for decades, but feel equally free to contact your local Sunbird office or a member of the Sunbird team you have dealt with before. We will all be very happy to help!

Specifications