Our Sailboat

Lucipara 2

 

 
 

A sailboat is probably the most sustainable transportation option to travel around the world.  To make optimal use of wind energy we time our travels according to the wind patterns. Since Lucipara² was built in 1965, the renovation has significantly lengthened her total life cycle. We believe she’s fit for purpose for at least another 50 years!

Stats

  • Name: Lucipara²
  • Home: Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Type: Buchanan 47 ketch
  • Design: Alan Buchanan
  • Construction: J. van der Molen & Zonen, Zaandam (Netherlands), 1965
  • Length: 14.20 m
  • Width: 3.66 m
  • Draft: 2.1 m
  • Weight: 24 tons
  • Vertical clearance: 18 m
  • Water tank: 800 liters
  • Diesel tank: 350 liters
  • Masts: 2
  • Sails: De Vries Enkhuizen, mainsail (43m2), mizzen (16m2), genoa (35m2), jib (20m2), cutter jib (11m2), gennaker (100m2)
  • Engine: Daewoo 90 hp, 4 cylinders (2006)
  • Propeller: Maxprop 3-blade
  • Cruising speed: 7 knots
  • Max. speed measured: 10.2 knots
  • Energy: wind generator (350 W), solar panel (150 W)
  • Heating: Dickinson Newport wood stove, Kabola central heating
  • Batteries: Super-B lithium-Ion starter pack (2 x 45 Ah) and service pack (2 x 160 Ah)
Lucipara 2 by Earik Wiersma for Zeilen Magazine

Renovations

When Ivar bought Lucipara² in 2004, he thought he’d renovate his new found love in five years. It proved to be wishful thinking: timing and budgeting-wise the whole project could be compared to the NoordZuidlijn in Amsterdam… In the end, only the hull and masts were left unaltered. We added comfort, space, light. 

During the renovations, we paid special attention to energy efficiency and renewable energy. The whole interior has improved insulation (Rockwool 6 cm), and a modern diesel engine and central heating system were installed. We aim to minimize the use of diesel and are looking into the use of biofuels. A wood stove further reduces the diesel we need for heating. Most of our electricity is generated by the wind generator (350W) and solar panels (150W). They also power our watermaker.

Here are some impressions (before, during and after pictures).

Name

We are often asked where the name “Lucipara” comes from. Its origin lies in the Banda Sea, Indonesia. The Lucipara islands form part of the Moluccas (Maluku) archipelago and it is where the Dutch steamer “Willem I” shipwrecked in 1837. On board was the governor of the Moluccas, Mr de Stuers with his pregnant wife and children. All 140 passengers and crew found refuge on the tiny Lucipara islands. They had to wait 37 days to be rescued, during which they had to overcome a lack of drinking water, food, and shelter. Everyone survived and shortly after being rescued, Mrs de Stuers gave birth to a daughter, Cornelia Govertha Elisa Lucipara de Stuers.

Cornelia and her descendants continued to use the name Lucipara in the names of their children. The first owner of our boat named the boat Lucipara after his aunt Lucipara, who made the purchase possible.

Although we are not proud of our nation’s colonial history, we maintained the original name of the boat. It is tradition not to change the name of a (classic) boat and we believe the story behind its name is worth remembering. Perhaps more importantly, we wish to demonstrate a different use of sailboats. Instead of sailing the world to seek profit, often gained through violent oppression, we sail the world to discover solutions for the common good. We make these sustainable solutions accessible for everyone to use, share and learn. With this “open source” approach we aim to move away from colonial-era monopolies.

The story behind the name was relayed to us by the son of the first owner of Lucipara² and confirmed by a website on names. Mr de Stuers’ heroic leadership, which was instrumental in the survival of the castaways, was recounted in a booklet and features on Wikipedia (in Dutch).