“Ramage”, originally named “Varuna”, was built in Argentina in 1957 to a custom design of Jorge Ithurbide, a well known designer at the time, working out of La Plata and one of the group of designers based around German Frers senior.

She measures 52 ft overall, 14 ft beam with a 6ft draft, her design is of traditional long keel with a cutaway forefoot, the hull shape making for a  seaworthy, comfortable yet speedy yacht with canoe stern and spacious deckhouse for extended cruising as well as local racing. She is Ketch rigged with inner baby stay and double forestays in a short bowsprit.

“Ramage” is a wooden carvel construction of high standard: planking, frames and most structural parts are of Purple Heart, her backbone a green heart variant and decks, superstructure and most interior construction is of a South American teak equivalent. Planking is fastened with copper rivets to the frames and most other through fastenings were of iron or steel, now widely replaced with silicone bronze. Her eight ton keel is made of cast iron and steel fastened, all keel bolts are now replaced with galvanized steel.  All spars are Douglas fir or spruce glued construction, present rigging is of galvanized wire, last replaced in 2000.

Ramage’s original interior included two cabins with heads, a galley and the decks saloon as well as a crew quarters underneath the aft deck. An additional deckhouse was added over this sometime later, providing for a spacious aft cabin and storage area forward.

After being built and sailed in Argentina for a number of years, the boat was sold off to the east coast of the United States and shortly after purchased by the Naval Historian Dudley Pope. Pope needed a bigger boat for a growing family and had just made himself a name with the publication of the first “Ramage” Novel, a series that was to include some thirteen volumes, all conceived and written on board.

The Popes delivered the yacht to the Caribbean where she remained in their hands until, twenty years later, the yacht was sold twice in short succession.

Under her last owners she underwent an extensive refit in St. Maarten with a view to chartering the boat in the growing crewed charter market.

In September 1995 Hurricane Luis managed to destroy 95% of over a thousand yachts sheltering in the St. Maarten Lagoon and left Ramage afloat, but badly damaged. She was sold as a shattered dream and I purchased her afloat but derelict two years later.

A boat builder by trade, I rebuild Ramage completely in the following years, first during a ten month haul out in Venezuela to rebuild hull and framing, then one year later on another four month haul to fit new floors throughout and refasten the Keel and install the current engine.

Most original steel fastenings were replaced using bronze and copper, her spars were reglued and rerigged and the interior altered for the needs of my now growing family.

In between and in the years following these phases, we sailed Ramage up and down the Caribbean Island chain where the boat is well remembered from her previous days under Dudley Pope.

We eventually settled in Antigua and proceeded on a different path of live, sailing less and less and eventually moving ashore. I must admit in all honesty to neglecting the boat during this last phase which is the main reason I have now decided to put her seriously for sale. Ramage is a unique yacht and will be irreplaceable for me. Due to her solid construction and the use of hardwoods throughout she posed far less maintenance needs on us than similar sized wooden boats usually do. She is comfortable and safe to sail, yet fast and exiting in heavier weather.

An honest assessment of her condition is difficult to make and personal inspection is unavoidable for the prospective buyer.

We last hauled Ramage three years ago when we successfully splined her topsides and recaulked her bottom.

She now needs extensive work on the decks, carlings and superstructure, where freshwater has been allowed to cause rot and general deterioration. The original teak decks have always been glassed over, a job that should now be done again entirely.

Her spars are in good shape but need some regluing, the galvanized rigging is from 2000 and needs some attention. Sails are old but serviceable, I always hoped to purchase a new set, but would now prioritize on more important matters. Her 100 HP Volvo Penta MD32A was running when I left in May but might since have sustained damage due to high bilge water, I cannot give more detailed information at this stage. Electrical systems are operational, but the entire wiring should be changed to restore safety and order on board.

Ramages Interior was always adapted to our needs and could use some finishing touches now.

Basically, in her present state, Ramage calls for yet another major refit, something I cannot go through myself for another time. She comes with a large assortment of classic and modern fittings, many not yet installed, such as a 22” maxprop.

Her new owners would need to be prepared to undertake the refit on the vessel, either themselves or through outside contractors, but would end up with a classic and sturdy cruising yacht of optimum dimensions and layout.

In order to complete a sale this winter I have reduced the asking price to US$ 30000, 15000 pounds sterling.

Viewing will be possible from December 2007 onwards, the boat can be lived on while visiting Antigua for viewing purposes.

For further information, please contact me direct on: trojetuck@yahoo.com