Sparkman & Stephens 61
Basic data
| Category: | Sailboat |
| Year of construction: | 1972 |
| Length: | 1860 cm |
| width: | 495 cm |
| Depth: | 280 cm |
| Material: | Aluminium |
| Motorization: | Perkins |
| Berth: |
Enkhuizen, Netherlands
|
Specifications
Iconic Sparkman & Stephens 61 Tenacious
Anyone who dreams of a classic ocean-going sailing yacht with a story will soon end up with Sparkman & Stephens. The 1972 Sparkman & Stephens 61 Tenacious is one of those yachts you don’t just look at—you almost automatically start imagining: long offshore legs, a taut helm in the cockpit, and that characteristic S-shaped hull form that makes her lines timeless. She is built in aluminium, measures 18.60 metres in length and 4.95 metres in beam, with a draft of 2.80 metres. With an approximate displacement of 21,000 kg, she feels like a serious ocean sailor—designed to hold her course and keep moving when the sea shows its rough side.
Tenacious is offered via Boatauction as a project with substantial content and strong potential. Her current condition is fair, which is exactly what makes her interesting for the buyer who wants to complete a classic Sparkman & Stephens sailing yacht to their own vision—respecting the original design while having the freedom to choose finishes and equipment.
Sparkman & Stephens 61 now in the online auction. Everyone can bid up to and including 18 May 2026.
What makes Tenacious so special?
She is a Sparkman & Stephens 61—an internationally renowned design known for balance, speed, and seaworthy proportions. The combination of slender hull lines, S-shaped hull form, and a single rudder gives the yacht a character that classic performance-yacht enthusiasts recognize immediately. Tenacious also has an exceptional racing history. Among others, Ted Turner sailed her to notable results, including victory in the 1979 Fastnet Race—an edition that became legendary due to the conditions. Later, under the name War Baby with Warren Bruin, she sailed not only regattas but also expeditions to regions such as Spitsbergen, Antarctica, Greenland, and Easter Island. That past gives her not only prestige but also a clear identity: this is an aluminium sailing yacht built for the open sea, for spirited sailing, and for long passages.
What is the current status of the restoration?
Since 2005, Tenacious has been ashore, where she has undergone an extensive restoration with a clear goal: returning her to her original condition so she can be made ready again for the world’s oceans. Essential structural elements have been addressed, including hull plating, frames, stringers, and floors. Support has come from renowned specialists and involved parties such as Sparkman & Stephens, Kees Kaptein, and Ben Korner yacht architects. Part of the interior has been renewed using high-quality materials while retaining the authentic look. At the same time, space has deliberately been left for the future owner to complete the finishing to their own wishes. Anyone looking for a classic sailing-yacht restoration project with a lot of work already done will find a foundation here that invites you to take it further.
What is included, and where is it stored?
This lot includes more than just the hull. Quite a few original parts have been carefully removed and stored in shipping containers. Think deck hardware such as blocks, tracks, and cleats, as well as sails and interior components. A large portion of the original interior is also stored. This is valuable for anyone who wants to bring the yacht back close to her original appearance—or use parts as a starting point for a custom layout. In addition, documentation is available, including drawings and documents, some of which are original. For buyers looking to complete a Sparkman & Stephens 61, this kind of background material is often just as important as the yacht itself.
What about the engine, rigging, and sail plan?
Tenacious is sold with a separate Perkins 4.236 diesel engine with Velvet Drive gearbox, propeller shaft, and a 3-blade feathering propeller. This is a configuration that suits a yacht of this size and class, intended to allow controlled manoeuvring under power as well. She has a single mast in aluminium. Most of the standing rigging was replaced in 2004 by Southern Spars, which is a relevant reference point for anyone assessing the rigging plan. The sails are stored separately in the shipping containers, together with various deck fittings. This provides a clear basis to rebuild the sailing yacht into a complete vessel again—step by step and with oversight.
Who is this Sparkman Stephens sailing yacht interesting for?
This Sparkman & Stephens 61 is especially attractive to lovers of classic ocean-going yachts, to sailors looking for an aluminium sailing yacht with history, and to buyers who are not deterred by a restoration project but see it as an opportunity. Tenacious offers the chance to bring an iconic design back to life, with room for personal choices in interior finishing, systems, and equipment. Anyone searching terms such as “Sparkman & Stephens 61 for sale,” “classic aluminium sailing yacht,” “ocean sailing yacht project,” or “S-shaped hull sailing yacht” will find exactly this type of vessel: a big name, a big story, and a big canvas to complete.
Tenacious is waiting for someone who wants to see her sailing again—not as a project on the hard. She has earned her stripes at sea and in competition, and with the parts on hand, the documentation, and the structural work already completed, an invitation is ready to write her next chapter.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- We advise making use of the viewing day.
- The boat is on the shore.
- This boat is sold without a trailer.
- This boat is sold under general auction conditions.
- This concerns a public auction, which means that the purchase cannot be returned based on the legal right of withdrawal.
| Brand | Sparkman & Stephens |
| Type | 61 |
| Length | 1860 |
| Width | 495 |
| Depth | 280 |
| Year of construction | 1972 |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Last antifouling treatment | - |
| Hull shape | S-shaped |
| Control | Wheel |
| Location control | Outside |
| Rudder | Single |
| Weight (kg) | 21000 |
| Number of engines | 1 |
| Brand motor | Perkins |
| Number of masts | 1 |
| Mast material | Aluminum |
Iconic Sparkman & Stephens 61 Tenacious
Anyone who dreams of a classic ocean-going sailing yacht with a story will soon end up with Sparkman & Stephens. The 1972 Sparkman & Stephens 61 Tenacious is one of those yachts you don’t just look at—you almost automatically start imagining: long offshore legs, a taut helm in the cockpit, and that characteristic S-shaped hull form that makes her lines timeless. She is built in aluminium, measures 18.60 metres in length and 4.95 metres in beam, with a draft of 2.80 metres. With an approximate displacement of 21,000 kg, she feels like a serious ocean sailor—designed to hold her course and keep moving when the sea shows its rough side.
Tenacious is offered via Boatauction as a project with substantial content and strong potential. Her current condition is fair, which is exactly what makes her interesting for the buyer who wants to complete a classic Sparkman & Stephens sailing yacht to their own vision—respecting the original design while having the freedom to choose finishes and equipment.
Sparkman & Stephens 61 now in the online auction. Everyone can bid up to and including 18 May 2026.
What makes Tenacious so special?
She is a Sparkman & Stephens 61—an internationally renowned design known for balance, speed, and seaworthy proportions. The combination of slender hull lines, S-shaped hull form, and a single rudder gives the yacht a character that classic performance-yacht enthusiasts recognize immediately. Tenacious also has an exceptional racing history. Among others, Ted Turner sailed her to notable results, including victory in the 1979 Fastnet Race—an edition that became legendary due to the conditions. Later, under the name War Baby with Warren Bruin, she sailed not only regattas but also expeditions to regions such as Spitsbergen, Antarctica, Greenland, and Easter Island. That past gives her not only prestige but also a clear identity: this is an aluminium sailing yacht built for the open sea, for spirited sailing, and for long passages.
What is the current status of the restoration?
Since 2005, Tenacious has been ashore, where she has undergone an extensive restoration with a clear goal: returning her to her original condition so she can be made ready again for the world’s oceans. Essential structural elements have been addressed, including hull plating, frames, stringers, and floors. Support has come from renowned specialists and involved parties such as Sparkman & Stephens, Kees Kaptein, and Ben Korner yacht architects. Part of the interior has been renewed using high-quality materials while retaining the authentic look. At the same time, space has deliberately been left for the future owner to complete the finishing to their own wishes. Anyone looking for a classic sailing-yacht restoration project with a lot of work already done will find a foundation here that invites you to take it further.
What is included, and where is it stored?
This lot includes more than just the hull. Quite a few original parts have been carefully removed and stored in shipping containers. Think deck hardware such as blocks, tracks, and cleats, as well as sails and interior components. A large portion of the original interior is also stored. This is valuable for anyone who wants to bring the yacht back close to her original appearance—or use parts as a starting point for a custom layout. In addition, documentation is available, including drawings and documents, some of which are original. For buyers looking to complete a Sparkman & Stephens 61, this kind of background material is often just as important as the yacht itself.
What about the engine, rigging, and sail plan?
Tenacious is sold with a separate Perkins 4.236 diesel engine with Velvet Drive gearbox, propeller shaft, and a 3-blade feathering propeller. This is a configuration that suits a yacht of this size and class, intended to allow controlled manoeuvring under power as well. She has a single mast in aluminium. Most of the standing rigging was replaced in 2004 by Southern Spars, which is a relevant reference point for anyone assessing the rigging plan. The sails are stored separately in the shipping containers, together with various deck fittings. This provides a clear basis to rebuild the sailing yacht into a complete vessel again—step by step and with oversight.
Who is this Sparkman Stephens sailing yacht interesting for?
This Sparkman & Stephens 61 is especially attractive to lovers of classic ocean-going yachts, to sailors looking for an aluminium sailing yacht with history, and to buyers who are not deterred by a restoration project but see it as an opportunity. Tenacious offers the chance to bring an iconic design back to life, with room for personal choices in interior finishing, systems, and equipment. Anyone searching terms such as “Sparkman & Stephens 61 for sale,” “classic aluminium sailing yacht,” “ocean sailing yacht project,” or “S-shaped hull sailing yacht” will find exactly this type of vessel: a big name, a big story, and a big canvas to complete.
Tenacious is waiting for someone who wants to see her sailing again—not as a project on the hard. She has earned her stripes at sea and in competition, and with the parts on hand, the documentation, and the structural work already completed, an invitation is ready to write her next chapter.
VIEWING DAY INFORMATION
- The viewing day of this Sparkman & Stephens 61 is on Saturday 16 May 2026 van 10:00 until 12:00 in Enkhuizen (NL).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- We advise making use of the viewing day.
- The boat is on the shore.
- This boat is sold without a trailer.
- This boat is sold under general auction conditions.
- This concerns a public auction, which means that the purchase cannot be returned based on the legal right of withdrawal.
| Brand | Sparkman & Stephens |
| Type | 61 |
| Length | 1860 |
| Width | 495 |
| Depth | 280 |
| Year of construction | 1972 |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Last antifouling treatment | - |
| Hull shape | S-shaped |
| Control | Wheel |
| Location control | Outside |
| Rudder | Single |
| Weight (kg) | 21000 |
| Number of engines | 1 |
| Brand motor | Perkins |
| Number of masts | 1 |
| Mast material | Aluminum |
