36' Al Mason Vitesse 36

PROMISE is an Al Mason designed wooden sloop, built in 1971 by Nelson Whitesell of Largo, Florida. In 2018, she received an extensive refit for bluewater sailing, and has since sailed over 11,000 miles and completed two singlehanded Atlantic crossings, including a 4600nm nonstop passage from Portugal to Maine via the tradewinds. She is a fast and able vessel, ready for another owner to continue the adventure.

Design: While working at Sparkman & Stephens, Al Mason drew the hull lines for one of the better known and successful CCA-era keel centerboarders, Carleton Mitchells FINISTERRE. Later, working under his own shingle, Mason produced two versions of this design, graced with his inimitable sheer line and sense of proportion: the Mason 34, a sloop, and the Vitesse 36, a yawl. PROMISE is the latter of these, without the mizzen. Despite, or perhaps because of this modification, she is perfectly balanced, and will steer herself upwind in 12-15 with the vane disengaged. Fast, too: during her second transatlantic, she averaged 5.56kts over 34 days. Draft is under 4 with the board up, and closer to 7 with it down.

Construction: PROMISE is ruggedly built of strip-planked cypress over double sawn frames of longleaf yellow pine. She is fastened with monel edge nails and bronze screws. The deck and cabin top are fiberglass over plywood. The interior is plainly, but nicely, finished, with a teak sole and trim. In 2018, she was refastened under the waterline with bronze screws, during which the bottom was stripped, barrier coated and refaired.

Sail inventory includes;
2 mainsails (2018 Pope, and older spare)
100% working jib with reef (2018 Pope)
150% Genoa
Storm jib
Storm trysail, with independent track on mast
2 spinnakers, both rigged with snuffers
Most standing rigging & terminals replaced in 2018

Equipment:

Fleming windvane self steering with spare vanes
Westerbeke diesel, 4 cylinder, 30hp. New wet exhaust, 20gal poly fuel tank, and fuel delivery lines. Propellor replaced 2018
100w solar panel with MPPT charge controller (2018)
200ah wet cell house bank & 100ah starter battery, charged separately or in parallel (2018)
Standard Horizon Matrix VHF with AIS alarm
Xantrex 600w inverter
EPIRB (GME Accusat)
Edson wheel steering, emergency tiller. Rudder strengthened with G10 strapping in 2021
SL Hyspeed manual windlass, 33lb Bruce and fisherman anchors
LED cabin and navigation lights (2018)
>100gal freshwater capacity, in two stainless tanks under settees. Tanks tested and repaired, valves and hoses replaced in 2018
Luke Heritage 2-burner propane stove and oven. Two propane tanks in sealed, drained locker with remote solenoid.
Navtec hydraulic ram with cockpit hand pump for raising and lowering centerboard.
Custom hard spray hood over companionway
Plywood storm shutters for doghouse ports
6 opening ports, two cabintop hatches, and dorade boxes excellent ventilation below
Manual and electric bilge pumps
Dyneema lifelines (2018)

PROMISE is specific boat for a specific kind of person. Shes not flashy, but shes beautiful, and stands out in distant anchorages among the usual steel, aluminum and fiberglass bluewater fleet. Shes been pared down to the simplest amenities and systems in the name of reliability. Things rarely break aboard PROMISE, and when they do, Ive always been able to make repairs with tools and materials carried aboard. Most of the work currently needed is cosmetic; shes in the water and cruising now.