Well described as a ‘Pocket Maxi Yacht’, WINDIGO benefits from full carbon fibre construction and a retractable keel for rocket-like performance and great practicality in fast day/weekend cruiser to be sailed by the family, but with the ability to be raced with a full crew.
FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:
Originally launched in 2002 as an offshore capable racing and cruising yacht for a hugely experienced owner, WINDIGO (ex ‘EL TORO II’) is a custom design project from Bakewell-White Yacht Design with structural engineering by High Modulus (NZ) Ltd and construction by A.J. Ruiterman in New Zealand. All of the structural elements of the boat were designed in composites and steel to exceed the requirements of the ABS standards.
Sold to her current owner soon after build, renamed WINDIGO and relocated to Italian waters, with CE Category A (Ocean) certification, she has been used in recent years as a fast cruising yacht for summer sailing. With a deck layout allowing for short-handed control, and her hydraulic lifting keel reducing draft to just 2.80m, WINDIGO can operate safely as a (fast) family cruiser, as well as being a very competitive fully-crewed racing yacht in the various Mini Maxi events around the Med’ and further afield.
WINDIGO boasts many specification highlights including:-
• CE Category A – Ocean certification allowing use for offshore cruising as well as racing
• Carbon fibre, Kevlar and E-Glass sandwich construction
• Hydraulic retractable keel with 2.80m-4.50m variance
• Retractable bowsprit
• Lewmar Racing winch package with coffee-grinders
• High modulus carbon fibre mast and boom
• Stackpack and lazyjacks
• Harken genoa furler with inboard and outboard genoa tracks
• Diamonds Sails Design filmless Spectra double taffeta mainsail and genoa
• Furling Code 0
• Cummin 150hp diesel engine with shaft drive and 3-bladed Gori propeller
• Hydraulic anchor windlass operating via PTO from engine (also driving the keel mechanism)
• Recently replaced service batteries
• Katadyn PowerSurvivor 40E 12vDC reverse osmosis watermaker
• Recently fitted B&G Zeus multi-function chart plotters at helms and chart table
• B&G 20/20 mast displays
• Furuno radar
• B&G VHF with DSC
• Simarine battery monitoring system
• Full galley with gas stove, sink and multiple fridges
• Three cabin, two heads interior layout with owner’s cabin forward
• Tender and outboard
DESIGNER’S COMMENTS:
This yacht was developed as a fast day/weekend cruiser to be sailed by the family, but with the ability to be raced in coastal races with a full crew. The deck layout reflects this with major sail controls located within easy distance of the helm position and grinder pedestals providing plenty of centralised horsepower for sheeting. An electric winch is provided for hoisting the mainsail. A retractable bow sprit allows easy downwind sailing with asymmetric spinnakers. The hydraulic lifting keel, anchor capstan and all engine controls are operated from the helm position. The carbon rig is built with similar dimensions to a Volvo 60 race yacht allowing the use of second-hand testing sails from syndicate inventories.
The structure has been engineered by High Modulus (NZ) Ltd. in excess of the requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping Guide for Building and Classing Offshore Racing Yachts 1994 and whilst the design brief called for a daysailer this yacht is fully offshore capable.
PRESS REVIEW:
“Outside of an AC boat she is currently the fastest boat in New Zealand," says Bakewell-White. "She was built in carbon foam, by her ambitious owner Dutch immigrant, Tony Ruiterman. I think she's the 25th boat he has built. Tony's a dairy farmer, but he enjoys building boats and then he just sells them. He doesn’t do it for money. I think the longest he has owned a boat for is three years." El Toro has a lifting keel, a carbon rig, retracting bowsprit, and is based on the dimensions of a V60 rig.
From The Dailysail.com
SPECIFICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
RCD Status:
• Our understanding is the vessel complies with CE Boat Category A-ocean, with CE Mod. G for a single model with RINA the Notified Body.
Hull, Deck and Superstructure Construction:
• Structural engineer by High Modulus (NZ) Ltd
• Hull constructed with composite materials including carbon, Kevlar and E-glass with core sandwich
• Hull spray painted Awlgrip grey
• Deck spray painted light grey and antiskid
Keel & Rudder:
• Retractable lead bulb keel lifting vertically offering 2.80m shoal or 4.50m full draft.
• Steel keel blade and head manufactured by Service Engineers in Auckland, NZ.
• The blade is manufactured from Bisalloy 80 Steel and the head from 316 Stainless steel.
• The lead bulb was cast by Mike Rees Castings in Auckland.
• The assembly and composite fairing was completed by the boatbuilder.
• Keel operated via electro-hydraulic pump system
• Balanced carbon rudder
• Hydraulic operated autopilot ram
Hydraulics:
• Hydraulic operated via PTO from the engine operating keel and anchor windlass
MACHINERY
Engine & gearbox:
• Cummins Engine 4BT3.9-M, four strokes, 4 cylinders, 3.9 litres, turbocharged direct injection, producing 150hp @ 2,800 RPM
• Shaft drive gearbox and shaft drive
• Freshwater cooled engine.
• Single lever engine control
Service & Maintenance:
• Engine hours – approx. 85 at the time of the listing.
• Date of last engine service – engine have been overruled in 2024. Engine hours from overruling.
Propulsion & Steering:
• 3-bladed Gori folding propeller with overdrive
• Twin wheel steering with carbon wheels and custom carbon helm pedestals
• Emergency tiller connection on the deck.
ELECTRIAL SYSTEMS
Voltage systems:
• 12vDC primary domestic system with 12vDC starting circuit and 220v AC via shorepower.
• Simarine battery monitoring system
Battery Banks:
• 4x 12vDC 95Ah AGM batteries for services – 2025
• 1x 12vDC engine battery start
Charging / Inverter:
• Quick SBC 500 NRG+ battery charger
Alternators:
• 1x 12vDC 120Amp engine mounted alternator
Other Electrical:
• USB and 220vDC sockets in every cabin
PLUMBING & GAS SYSTEMS
Fresh Water:
• The hot freshwater circuit is led into a well-insulated hot water tank, heated by engine or 230v AC immersion heater element
• 12vDC pressure pumps
Watermaker:
• Katadyn PowerSurvivor 40E 12vDC reverse osmosis watermaker producing approx. 5.7 litres per hour
Bilge Pumps:
• 1x 12vDC electric bilge pump
• 1x manual bilge pump
• 1x 12vDC moveable electric bilge pump with hose
Other Plumbing:
• 2x 12vDC shower electric discharge pumps
TANKAGE
Fuel:
• 85 litres fuel capacity in 1x AISI 316 stainless steel tank.
Fresh Water:
• Approx 300 litres fresh water capacity
NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
In Cockpit:
• 2x B&G Zeus S 9’’ chartplotter on the steering columns – 2024
• 4x B&G 20X20 display at the mast - 2024
At Chart Table:
• Furuno Radar with closed array scanner on carbon fibre transom pole
• B&G Zeus S 7’’ chartplotter at the chart table – 2024
Communications Equipment:
• B&G VHF V60 – B with DSC - 2024
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
Galley:
• Technimpex 3-burner gimballed gas stove with oven and grill – 2024
• 1x top opening stainless steel fridge/freezer
• 1x front opening stainless steel fridge
• Stainless steel inset sink with hot & cold pressurised fresh water supply
Heads:
• 2x Tecma 12vDC electric fresh water heads - 2024
Entertainment:
• Sony stereo system with internal speakers
ACCOMMODATION
Summary of Accommodation:
• Up to 8 berths in forward master cabin aft cabins and aft crew. 2 guest heads plus further crew heads.
Accommodation Finish:
• All interior woodwork in white painted composite panelling or light wood
• Light wood flooring
• Main bulkhead, hull innings and heads finished in light grey paint
• Red cloth upholstery
• Extensive use of diffused lighting
• Skyscreens for deckhead hatches
Accommodation layout from Forward:
Forward sails locker:
• Forward sails locker with access from the owner’s cabin
• Textile door in between the locker and the cabin
Owner’s Cabin:
• Double berth offset to port
• Hanging lockers
• Hatche with skyscreen
• Led lights battery operated with remote control
Owner’s Cabin Ensuite Heads:
• Electric fresh water head
• Shower and sink
• Hanging lockers
Saloon:
• Centre keel structures
• Portside table with L-shape sofa
• Starboard side sofa with lockers and fridges aft
• Portside linear galley with gimballed oven
• LED lights
Aft heads:
• Electric fresh water head
• Shower and sink
• Hanging lockers
Aft starboard side guest cabin:
• Double bed cabin
• Lockers
• Led lights
Aft technical room:
• Portside entrance to the aft room
• Back facing chart table
• Three bunks beds for crew
DECK EQUIPMENT
Rig:
• Matrix Masts (now Hall spars) autoclaved carbon fibre mast – painted red
• Keel-stepped, fractionally-rigged with 4-sets of swept-back spreaders
• Matrix Masts carbon fibre boom – painted red
• Stainless steel rod standing rigging
• Carbon fibre backstay with hydraulic adjustment
• Textile running backstays
• Low friction battencar system for mainsail
• Navtec rod vang with hydraulic adjustment
• Lewmar Racing adjustable mainsheet track aft of helm
• Harken MkII genoa furler
• Lewmar Racing inboard and outboard foresail tracks
• Code Zero Halyard
• 2x Spinnaker halyards
• 2:1 main halyard
• 2x jib halyards
• 1x staysail halyard
• Sails area upwind 205.55 sq
Winches:
• 2x Lewmar Racing 80 self-tailing 3-speed primary winches operated from carbon fibre Lewmar forward coffee grinder.
• 1x Lewmar Racing 80 self-tailing 3-speed dedicated mainsheet winch operated from carbon fibre Lewmar aft coffee grinder.
• 2x Lewmar Racing 66ST self-tailing 2-speed aft winches for runners.
• 2x Lewmar Racing 48ST self-tailing 2 speed mainsail traveller winches (one powered)
• 2x Lewmar Racing 55ST self-tailing 2 speed halyard winches on coachroof.
Sails:
• Diamonds Sails Design full batten Filmless Spectra double taffeta main – 2017
• Diamonds Sails Design Filmless Spectra double taffeta furling jib – 2017
• North Sails gennaker
• Furling Code 0
• 3x Racing jibs
• Various other sails
General:
• Black anodised pulpit, pushpit and twin line guardwire stanchions.
• Cockpit table
• Folding passarelle
Anchoring & Mooring:
• Hydraulic windlass positioned forward of the mast
• 45kgs Delta anchor with 12mm chain
• Warps and fenders
Covers, Cushions & Canvas:
• Sprayhood
• Sun awning
• Stackpack for mainsail
• Winch and hatch covers
• Halyard bags
Tender & Outboard:
• Eurovinil 200 inflatable tender
• 2.5hp Suzuki outboard engine
SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
General note on safety equipment: Any safety equipment such as liferafts, Epirbs, fire extinguishers and flares etc. are usually personal to the current owner(s) and if being left on-board as part of the sale of a used vessel may require routine servicing, replacement, or changing to meet a new owners specific needs.
Life saving:
• Liferaft
• Flares
• Fire extinguishers