Philip Rhodes

Designed by one of the most accomplished American naval architects
and built by the acknowledged, world leading German shipyard,
the provenance of FAIR WINDS is irrefutable.
Rhodes' unmistakably elegant sheer lines and overhangs are matched by his reputation for engineering perfection, designing strong, effective, fast and beautiful yachts. FAIR WINDS is a prime example of the synergy between a legendary designers and one of the greatest boat yards of the 20th Century. She remains much loved by her current owners, who have made continual upgrades, and improvements over their 23 year custodianship. She is ready and waiting, to race in Classic Yacht regattas, perform leisurely, safe coastal passages or cross the words oceans.
HISTORY
FAIR WINDS is one of seven vessels drawn to Rhodes design number 633 (5 were built, 3 extant). Following World War II, Rhodes was at the height of his powers and could choose any yard in the world to bring his design to life. In FAIR WINDS case, he chose the German yard of Abeking & Rassmussen, builders of wooden yachts with a reputation of the highest quality and durability. She was built from mahogany and oak, with bronze metalwork throughout, alongside the famous Concordia's and shipped across the Atlantic to her first owner on the West coast of America.
In the year of her launch she was written about in the two most popular magazines of the time "Yachting World" in Europe and "The Rudder" in the USA. (see images below)
Her first owner was a Olympic Star Class racing sailor, who only owned her a few years before passing her onto a Mr Rockwell who owned her for about three decades, crossing the Atlantic four times, (transiting the Panama Canal) and eventually sailing across the Pacific to New Zealand where he sold her in the 1990's. The current owners bought her just after the turn of the Century, in Auckland and sailed her back to her new home port of Melbourne in 10 days, crossing the Tasman, transiting Bass Strait, learning to love her as they went.
During the current 23 year custodianship there have been two major restorations. She received a new teak deck and engine in 2005, and a new Kauri glassed hull in 2015, replacing the tiring french carvel mahogany, that had begun to leak. Over the past 23 years she has crossed the Tasman three times; circumnavigated Tasmania four times; crossed Bass Strait on about fifteen occasions; sailed to the South Pacific; and raced in Classic Yacht events in four Australian States and three different countries.
SPECIFICATION
FAIR WINDS // PHILIP L RHODES 43 FT BERMUDAN SLOOP 1956
Designer: Philip L Rhodes
Builder: Abeking & Rassmussen, Lemwerder Germany
Date: 1956
Length Overall: 43ft 1in
Length Waterline: 29ft
Beam: 11ft 3in
Draft: 4ft 7in / 6ft 9in
Displacement: 12 Tonnes
Construction: Kauri Planking (glassed) on Oak Frames with bronze ring frames.
Engine: Volvo D2-55
Location: Pittwater, New South Wales, Australia
Price: $148,000 AUD
CONSTRUCTION
Kauri Strip planked and glassed hull (new 2015)
White Oak Frames and three substantial solid bronze ring frames.
Teak Deck, (new 2005)
Bronze centre board and trunk casing
Conventional long keel displacement hull form with a lead ballast keel
Rudder hung to the full depth of the vessel
RIG, SPARS SAILS AND CANVAS
Sloop rig with inner forestay optional
Aluminium mast, boom and spinnaker pole
Standing rigging SS wire new 2016
Check stays for when using staysail
Spinnaker pole stowed on deck starboard side fwd
New 3 reef Dacron Doyle Mainsail 2023
Hooper Dacron Furling Genoa 2016
Hanked-on Staysail 2017
Heavyweight spinnaker
Dodger/Spray hood (New clears 2024)
Mainsail Cover (2019)
Battened Sun awning (2017)
Full Boat Covers (2016)
Fitted Canvas Covers for all three varnished hatches
DECK LAYOUT, EQUIPMENT AND GROUND TACKLE
From Aft
Hydrovane Self steering (New 2023, removable in water)
Chromed fairleads aft
Life Raft stowage tie downs
HF Ariel outlet
All mooring cleats have stainless rub stripes set on the toe rail
Hatch to lazerette with chromed dorade vent.
Tiller steering hinged to clear cockpit when not in use
Gas locker to port vented overboard.
Original solid teak boarding ladder
Deep lockers on port side
2 x Barient secondary sheet winches on pedestals outboard each side
2 x Barient primary sheet winches on pedestals outboard each side
Engine controls
Winch handles
Bridge deck with main sheet traveller.
Main sheet winch below bridge deck
Downhaul and furling lines led aft to cockpit starboard side
Compass and B&G read out on port cabin bulkhead
Centreboard winch mechanism on port cabin bulkhead
Sliding hatch with 2 wash boards. Access off centreline to starboard
Galley vent above stove
Hand rails each side of coach roof running forward
Large skylight hatch over saloon
2 x chromed Dorade vents on boxes each side of cabin
White painted Aluminium Mast with 4 halyard winches
Skylight hatch in coach roof over forecabin
Bronze electric anchor windlass fwd (new 2018)
Chromed mooring cleats each side of foredeck
Chromed fairleads on toe rail
35 lb galvanised CQR anchor on bow roller. (removable for racing)
ProFurl jib furler (new 2016)
ACCOMMODATION AND DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
From aft
Entry by sliding hatch in the raised doghouse section of the main cabin
Companionway steps down over the engine casing
Galley to port with gimballed 2 burner force 10 stove and oven
Fresh and sea water to SS sink
Large dump locker and 3 cupboards
Large fridge to starboard; its top surface doubling as the chart table
Quarter berth under starboard cockpit seating
House and engine batteries under quarter berth
Nav instruments and electrical panel above chart table
Half bulkheads seperate galley/chart table from saloon
Gimballed mahogany table with fold up leafs and seating each side.
Water tanks under seats
Pilot berth to port above seats, storage to starboard.
Forward starboard in saloon chest of draws with cupboard above
Enclosed manual head to port with sink and holding tank (plumbing to be connected)
Wet weather hanging locker to starboard
Large V berth forward with chest of draws and hanging locker.
Sail storage and extra water tank under
Nine opening chromed portholes throughout cabin
Chain locker and windlass motor in bow
MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL AND TANKAGE
Volvo D2-55 (new 2005)
Seawater cooling pump (new 2024)
12v Cranking Engine Battery
12 v 300AH House Battery (new 2023)
Alternator (new 2020)
Stainless steel fuel tank with level gauge 180ltr
2 x SS water tanks 380ltrs
1 x welded plastic water tank 100ltr
2 x7kg aluminium certified (non rusting) gas bottles
NAVIGATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS
B&G Vulcan 9 GPS/Chartplotter (New 2018)
B&G Triton² Speed/Depth/Wind Pack (New 2018)
ICOM AIS Compatible VHF Radio
ICOM HF Radio with tuner
Hydrovane self steering unit (new 2023)
House and Engine battery monitor
Small solar panel for battery maintenance when boat not in use
SAFETY
6 person life raft
Removable Jack Stays
EPIRB in date
Fire Extinguishers x 3 in date
2 x Electric Bilge Pump (one automatic)
2 x Manual Bilge Pump
TENDER
FAIR WINDS comes with a bespoke timber dinghy, designed to modified Rhodes plans to fit on the cabin roof under the boom. She was hand made in 2016 by a long term crew member. The dingy comes with a 2.3 hp Short Shaft 4 stroke Honda (new 2020)


See attached youtube video below.