Stunning custom pilothouse Baltic from Judel Vrolijk & R&J Designs. Maintained regardless of cost and extensively updated/refitted in recent seasons.
FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:
Designed for a European who wanted a pilothouse yacht, AURORA (built as CANICA and later renamed BRAMORA and NEURATH before being sold by Grabau International to her current owner and renamed AURORA) had to perform well under sail and at the same time be a very good load carrier – the sort of challenge Baltic Yachts relishes!
Through careful design and precise weight calculations combined with the use of high-tech composites Baltic were able to achieve a ballast ratio of about 40 per cent which meant the yacht had plenty of stability and achieved her aim of having an abundance of stowage space.
At 73ft AURORA is a powerful, very long-legged cruising yacht and demonstrates Baltic’s ability to build not just for performance, but specifically for efficient, fast passage-making.
Throughout all her ownerships, AURORA has benefitted from ‘open cheque-book’ maintenance and upgrade programmes, professionally maintained and well looked after. Is she the best Baltic Yachts ever built?
AURORA’s specification highlights include:-
• Up to 10 berths in master twin cabin, two aft guest cabins with double and single berths and saloon settee berthing. Further crew berth(s) in forepeak.
• Vacuum-infused Epoxy Aramid/Glass laminate construction
• Carbon reinforced deck structures
• Pilot house windows made of hardened glass
• 3.30m stainless steel fin keel with lead ballast bulb
• Caterpillar 3116TA 6-cylinder 205hp diesel engine with shaft drive and Brunton feathering propeller
• Lewmar 25hp hydraulic retractable ‘swing’ bowthruster
• Twin steering pedestals
• Newly installed Victron power management system with LiFePO4 service batteries and combination battery charger/inverter
• Northern Lights 25kw 220vAC 50 Hz diesel generator
• Marinco Aquamarine 300 watermaker
• 2,300 litre fuel capacity
• 1,080 litre freshwater capacity
• Black and grey water holding tanks
• Recently installed B&G navigation instruments with Zeus chart plotters, AIS and radar
• Full galley with Inox gas stove, microwave, dishwasher, coffee maker, icemaker, and extensive fridge/freezer options
• Sealand electric heads
• Sauna
• Laundry with Miele washing machine
• Marine Air 220vAC reverse-cycle air-conditioning system
• Smart TVs and LG cinema system
• Bulkheads and interior panels made out of Vacuum Carbon laminates on foam sandwich with teak veneers
• Omohundro (Southern Spars) carbon fibre mast and Park Avenue boom
• Stainless steel rod standing rigging – replaced 2022
• Reckmann hydraulic furling unit for headstay
• Reckmann furler for cutter stay
• Carbon fibre bowsprit pole for gennaker
• Lewmar Commander hydraulic power pack with 12 functions
• Hydraulic system for mainsheet traveller
• Lewmar hydraulic winch package with captive winch for mainsail
• Newly supply Millennium Sails ARXE Ocean membrane sails
• Carbonfibre passarelle
• Geniuss 3.65m inflatable tender with Suzuki DF20 outboard engine
MANUFACTURER’S COMMENTS:
The main goal with this project was to develop a high quality comfortable Pilot House cruising Yacht but with a higher level of performance than normally found in this category of sailing yachts. The only way to achieve the performance was to build the yacht lighter then traditionally expected from a Pilot House type boat. The only way to achieve the weight saving without compromising on the cruising comfort and equipment was to utilize High Technology materials and methods in the design and building process of the yacht.
Hull and deck plus main bulkheads were built in Epoxy / Carbon / Vacuum bagged laminates resulting in a substantial weight saving compared to conventional materials and methods.
In order to reach a high stability with moderate draft and with moderate ballast weight a welded keel fin was opted for with a lead bulb. The welded keel fin allowed for a much lighter fin and this allowed for higher bulb weight all resulting in a low ballast CG.
The interior layout had to offer very comfortable cruising facilities for the owner and his family plus for occasional guests. However Bulkheads and main panelling was made in sandwich construction for weight saving reason.
Spring 1999 the yacht was launched and have crossed the Atlantic plus cruising sailed in Mediterranean waters.
THE GENESIS OF THE BALTIC 73 PH:
The 47.5 years that Baltic Yachts has existed, include many memories and experiences. And although life also occasionally and inevitable includes negative and problematic situations, I can clearly state that, in hindsight, the positive outweigh the negative.
One of many good memories takes me back to year 1994. In the spring of 1994, we were to deliver a Baltic 52 to a Scandinavian client. The yacht was planned to be launched at the yard and sailed away.
Unfortunately, that year the spring was late, and the ice situation did not allow the intended delivery time. It was decided, with the client, that we would transport the yacht, by truck, to a town further south. We also agreed that we would send people down to rig and tune the boat and in addition we would sail the yacht to the west coast of Sweden where the client would take over.
So, in early spring of 1994 we launched and rigged the yacht in the town of Kaskö. Mikki Kasslin and I from Baltic Yachts, together with two persons from the owner’s side sailed away. Beautiful weather with sunshine but cold and lucky for us very little wind. Most part of the trip was motoring, due to lack of wind, but enough sailing that the trip was enjoyable.
Down south we passed between the Swedish island, Öland, and the mainland and sailed under the well know Öland bridge.
[…] The client was in the marina to meet us and the yacht was delivered. I remember when we were flying back to Finland, knowing that work had piled up in our office, we wondered if we had spent our time with the right priorities in doing this trip but at least it seemed like we had a satisfied client and that was the aim.
A couple of years later the client contacted us and showed some interest in having a 70+ pilot house yacht built. We did some preliminary calculations and layouts. An after a while he showed confidence in us and gave us the order. Judel/Vrolijk was selected as naval architect and our “in-house team”, R&J Design did the interior styling.
Some years later we were again contacted by the client, now looking for a 140+ pilot house type of construction. Again, preliminary work was done by us and Judel/Vrolijk. We were, to put it mildly, very happy to receive the order.
One thing that I have learned during my years in yachting business is that the decision process of purchasing a yacht and from which yard is complex and consists of many ingredients hence it is always difficult to know reasons why you sometimes succeed, and other times fail. […]
Pg Johansson From Baltic Yachts Tell Tales: Time Well Spent 20 April 2021
SPECIFICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
RCD Status:
• RCD Status: The yacht conforms with the essential safety requirements of Directive 94/25EC (Recreational Craft Directive) and is categorised A – “Ocean” (or Cat B – whichever is appropriate)
Hull Construction:
• Hull built in Epoxy Aramid/Glass laminates cured under vacuum in room temperature and post cured at 50 C for 20 Hours.
• End Grain Balsa CK57 sandwich.
• Hull repainted 2009/2010 – original white colour
• Cove stripe recessed into hull repainted 2009/2010
• Waterlines re-painted 2009/2010
• Antifouling paint on bottom new every year.
• Hull zero sanded and new International antifouling – 2025
• Hull windows port and starboard flush mounted in hull
Deck & Superstructure Construction:
• Deck built in Epoxy Carbon laminates cured under vacuum in room temperature and post cured at 50 C for 20 Hours.
• End Grain Balsa CK57 and foam sandwich.
• Chainplates showed here are also in Carbon laminate construction
• Unidirectional Carbon is carried down along both sides of the main structural bulkhead. This way the Chainplates, bulkhead, hull and deck becomes one piece eliminating flexing, leaks and "weak points".
• Deck surfaces re-painted 2009/2010 – original white colour
• Teak decks including cockpit and coamings – caulking serviced 2019
• Pilot house windows are fixed and made of hardened glass securely attached and sealed off to the deck.
• Teak toerail, varnished
• Varnished teak nosing around deckhouse
• Swim platform in transom with opening hatch to accept 3.4m tender
Keel & Rudder:
• Fin keel (welded stainless steel) with lead ballast bulb
• The keel fin is a hollow welded construction enabling a substantial weight reduction in the fin hence allowing a heavier lead bulb. This results in a much lower Center of Gravity hence influencing the yachts sailing stability and handling characteristics positively.
• A large bilge sump is incorporated in the welded keel fin.
• The keel fin has a large top plate recessed into the hull. This top plate is spreading the keel loads over a larger area into the hull construction making the keel-hull connection extremely strong.
• Cantilevered semi-elliptical balanced spade rudder
• Rudderstock is made of high strength, S-glass - Epoxy construction using "Vacu-Press" manufacturing system
• Rudder bearings replaced – 2016
MACHINERY
Engine & gearbox:
• Caterpillar 3116TA 6-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine producing 205hp @ 2400rpm
• Twin Disc 5050A reduction gearbox
• Double sea water intakes for main engine. Engine can run on one or the other.
• Mannesmann Rexroth electronic engine controls
• Engine instrument panel to be easily accessible from helm station. Buttons instead of ignition key.
• Freshwater engine cooling
• Engine oil sump of stainless steel
• Permanently mounted engine and generator lube oil tanks 80 liters/tank with electric pump for oil changes.
Maintenance & Performance:
• Engine hours: Approx 5,843 at the time to the listing
• Engine service – 2025
Propulsion & Steering:
• Lewmar 300SA 25hp hydraulic retractable ‘swing’ bowthruster
• Air compressor to dry the bowthruster compartment after use - 2024
• Brunton feathering propeller - 2016
• Spurs rope cutter
• Pneumatic shaft break
• Twin steering pedestals with two 1,100mm diameter ‘Speedwave’ steering wheels in carbon fibre with teak rim
• Custom made composite white painted steering pedestals.
Hydraulic system:
• Generator powered PTO for bowthruster – serviced 2023.
• Battery powered power pack for winches, anchor windlass, main sail traveller, captive winch and halyard.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Voltage systems:
• 24vDC domestic systems with 220vAC via shore-power, inverter or generator.
• New custom touch screen monitoring system to control 220vDC power line, engine, generator, fresh water pumps, bilge pumps, hydraulic control unit temperature and operation alarms via PLC alarms – 2025
• Victron Cerbo GX Touch-screen monitoring Victron Quattro system, Lithium battery pack, shore power and generator.
• Victron alarm monitoring system - 2025.
• 2x Victron Lynx Smart 500A BMS Battery Monitoring System – 2025
• 1x Victron Smart Battery Protect – 2025
Battery Banks:
• 6x 25,6V/200Ah Victron LiFePO4 Lithium Ion batteries for service batteries bank with 1,200Ah capacity @ 24vDC – 2025
• 1x 25,6V/200Ah Victron LiFePO4 Lithium Ion battery for instruments – 2025
• 2x 108Ah 12vDC engine start batteries – 2022 and 2024
• Magnetronic battery control system
Charging:
• Victron Energy Quattro 24vDC/8000/200 battery charger with integral 220vAC inverter – 2025
• Mastervolt 100Amp battery chargers for service batteries with current control systems – as a spare
• Victron Orion TR smart DC/DC charger - 2025
Generator:
• Northern Lights ML984 25kw 220vAC 50 Hz Diesel generator
• Generator hours:- approx. 7,000 at the time of the listing
• Date of last generator service – 2025
Inverter:
• Integrated inverter from Victron battery charger - 2025
• Inverter from the Mastervolt battery charger – as a spare
Alternators:
• 24vDC 240Amp engine-mounted alternator
• 12vDC 150Amp engine-mounted alternator
Other Electrical:
• 220vAC 50Hz Shore power
• All new electric cables – 2025
PLUMBING & GAS SYSTEMS
Fresh Water:
• Water heater. Heater capacity is 80 L. Heated with 220vDC.
• 2x Gianneschi pumps - serviced 2025
• Water pressure system with outlets in heads, galley and crewcabin.
• Telephone type shower, water faucet for cold and hot pressurized water.
• Outlet for freshwater deckwash hose in anchor locker
• Hot-cold shower in transom door.
Watermaker:
• Marinco Aquamarine 300 watermaker - approx 290 litre per hour output
• Watermaker completely overhauled 2016 & 2022 with new membranes and updated high pressure pump, low pressure pump and pressure gauges
Bilge Pumps:
• Engine driven bilge pump 200lt/h. Manual clutch. Main bilge pump
• Pump Gianneschi (impeller pump) CP25/1, 70 lt/h. Main bilge pump - 2025
• Sealand T-Pump series (diaphragm pump). Main bilge pump.
• 2x Whale Gusher manual bilge central pumps
• Diaphragm pump, lazzarette bilge pump.
• New sensors and alarms for water detection, level and plc automation of pumps.
Other Plumbing:
• Seacocks replaced 2010-12
TANKAGE
Fuel:
• 2,300 litre fuel capacity in 4x stainless steel tanks plus further day tank – cleaned yearly.
• Stainless steel fuel lines
• Fuel management system with alarm in cockpit. Includes fuel flow gauges for main engine.
• Extra filter with bypass on fuel line in order to change one filter under power.
• Vacuum gauges on fuel filters.
• All pipes and valves have been served and the whole system tested under pressure - 2023
Fresh Water:
• 1,080 litre fresh water capacity in stainless steel tanks
Holding Tanks:
• 2x 150 litres black water holding tanks in stainless steel
• 150 litres grey water holding tank in stainless steel
NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
• 2x B&G Zeus chartplotter S3 - 2023
• 4x B&G Triton 2 digital display 20/20 - 2025
• Robertson Autopilot with Simard AP20 control units in cockpit and at chart table, RF300 rudder angle
• sensor with tiller arm, RFC35
• Fluxgate compass, HLD2000D/RPU200 double drive cylinder including hydraulic pump
• Leica MX 400 Professional DGPS Navigator (only spare)
• AIS transceiver – 2025
• 2x Riviera steering compasses - 2018
Communications Equipment:
• B&G V90 VHF with DSC with units positioned internally and externally – 2017
• Wi-Fi network – 2023
• RR-active antenna for TV/VHF/NMT/GSM/FM/Weatherfax. Masthead
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
Galley:
• Alpes Inox stove with 4 burners and oven – overhauled 2017 - gas pipes replaced 2024
• Microwave oven – 2008
• Iceberg refrigerator (with door) and freezer (top loading) working also out of the frigoboat – new compressor 2019
• Extra thickness fridge and freezer insulation
• Separate drink-fridge in saloon, 24vDC – new compressor 2019
• Dishwasher – 2008
• Coffee maker – 2008
• Icemaker - 2019
• Garbage disposal in galley sink
• Double stainless steel sink with hot and cold pressure water and manual fresh and salt water pumps
Heads:
• Sealand 24vDC electric vacuumflush heads - 2003
• Hot & cold pressurised water supplies with shower in heads
Sauna:
• Abachi or teak seats in sauna
• Drying rack in sauna
• Sauna to have a small sink. Sauna to work as guest bathroom as well
• New air heater for dress dryer - 2024
Laundry:
• Miele washing machine
Heating & Ventilation:
• Marine Air 220vAC reverse-cycle air-conditioning with units in master cabin, saloon and galley –
• 2008
• The whole air conditioning system have been serviced in 2022 and 2025 with new pipes and
• New drying system using resistance, tangential fan and blower, installed in the sauna to spread and dry.
Lighting:
• LED dimmable lighting – 2016
Entertainment:
• Samsung LCD Smart TV in saloon - 2016
• Stereo / CD in all cabins, salon and cockpit with Bluetooth (not in the owner’s cabin)
• Philips Smart TV in master cabin - 2019
• LG home cinema system - 2019
ACCOMMODATION
Summary of Accommodation:
• Up to 8 berths in owner’s double stateroom aft, two forward twin guest cabins with 1.5 double and single berths. Further crew berth(s) in forepeak.
Accommodation Finish:
• Bulkheads and inter panels made out of Vacuum Carbon laminates on foam sandwich.
• Visible surfaces covered w. thin Teak veneer.
• Corian countertops in galley
• Cabin doors with raised and fielded panels
• Doors in front of TV, video and stereo in saloon
• Ocean Air Skyscreens for all deck hatches. Hidden in frames – replaced 2019
• Blinds for saloon windows. Adjustable with remote control
• Safe with combination lock in master cabin port inner locker
• Removable covers for saloon furniture
• Memory foam mattresses in aft cabin, and memory foam toppers on all berths throughout.
• Lee-boards instead of lee-cloths for berths
• Drawers under berths wherever possible
Accommodation Layout From Forward:
• Forepeak for sail storage
• Crew quarters with upper and lower berths to starboard, hanging locker and head with shower to port.
• On the centre line is a stall shower with doors forward and to two guest heads (one on either side).
• To both port and starboard are two equal guest cabins with upper fixed berths and lower 1.5 width berths, hanging lockers and vanities.
• U-shaped galley to port with counter space and two swivelling chairs to starboard.
• Pilothouse saloon with U-shaped settee and dining table to port, navigation station and bar/entertainment area to starboard, companionway at aft section of settee leads to cockpit
• Modification to the dinette to replace the two chairs of the table with a sofa with a folding back that offers greater comfort and storage - 2016
• To starboard is a full-size sauna; opposite the sauna to port is a small compartment for washer dryer and engine room access
• Large master head with separate stall shower
• Owner’s cabin with king size double berth to port, double hanging locker to port and single hanging locker aft to starboard, settee and lockers on starboard side outboard.
DECK EQUIPMENT
Rig:
• Omohundro (Southern Spars) carbon fibre mast – repainted 2008 – serviced with all new wiring 2022
• Keel-stepped mast with 4-sets of spreaders
• Omohundro (Southern Spars) carbon fibre Park Avenue style main boom with slab reefing
• Stainless steel BSI rod standing rigging – replaced 2022
• Date of last rig-out ultransonic inspection - 2016 - 2022
• Reckmann hydraulic furling unit for headstay RF 90-3 with R5 profiles - 2022
• Loadcell on headstay
• Shroud rollers for D1 and V1
• Reckman furler for cutter rod stay - 2024
• Navtec hydraulic boom vang, backstay adjuster, outhaul and genoa halyard
• Boltrope track on boom wings
• Carbon fibre bowsprit pole for gennaker - 2016
• Lewmar Commander hydraulic power pack with 12 functions
• Hydraulic mast jack
• Main Halyard, jib ropes, jib halyard replaced 2023
• All other halyard from 2016
• Runners backstays checked 2023
• Aramid running backstays with Frederiksen runner blocks
• Tylaska shackle for main halyard
• New inner forstay cutter jib 2008 with spectra halyard and roller (Code zero type)
• Rondal Silver Line and Lewmar stainless steel deck hardware
• Hydraulic system for mainsheet travellers - new Antal traveller and new piston 2023.
• Movable stoppers on traveller track
• Extra genoa sheet tracks on toerail, from middle to stern L= 6m
Winches:
• Hydraulic captive winch for mainsail
• 2x Lewmar 88 3 SHST GY CH 3-speed hydraulic primary winches
• 2x Lewmar 88 3 SHST GY CH 3-speed hydraulic secondary winches
• 2x Lewmar 66 SHST GY CH 2-speed hydraulic halyard winches at mast-base
• 1x Lewmar 66 SST GY CH 2-speed halyard winch at mast-base
Sails:
• Millennium Arxe Ocean fully-battened mainsail - 2024
• Millennium Arxe Ocean furling genoa - 2024
• Millennium Arxe Ocean furling staysail - 2024
General:
• Foredeck recess for windlass, chain and anchor
• Lifeline gates on both sides and stern
• Deck drains 40-50mm diameter with seacocks under WL
• Hatch 60 x 60 from cockpit coaming into sauna
• Stainless steel eyes for safety harnesses in cockpit
• Stainless steel mooring line chaulks with rollers
• Lifeline wire without plastic coating
• Teak false bottom in bow thruster compartment
• Low profile model deck hatches – replaced 2016
• Lighting in cockpit and deck lockers.
• 5x windshield wipers for pilothouse
• Carbonfibre passarelle with stanchions
• Removable cockpit table with stainless steel legs – revarnished 2016
• Teak folding pushpit seats - 2018
Covers & Canvas:
• Mainsail cover - 2024
• Sprayhood - 2024
• Bimini for cockpit – 2024
• Boom awning - 2024
• Canvas covers for steering wheels and pedestals - 2024
• Canvas covers for windshield - 2024
• Padded cover for saloon table - 2019
• Cockpit cushions with closed cell filling, incl. storage
• Winter cover
Anchoring & Mooring:
• Custom stainless steel steamhead fitting incorporating anchor roller and headstay chainplate
• Lewmar 3000 Windlass Hydraulic/Vertical 13 mm Gypsy/Capstan – serviced 2025
• CQR anchor 75 lbs. stainless steel with 100m chain
• Windlass with Delta 25 kg anchor in stern
• Anchor wash down with permanently mounted nozzle
Tender & Outboard:
• Geniuss 3.65m folding keel inflatable tender – 2016
• Suzuki DF20 outboard engine – 2016
• Stainless steel tender chocks for foredeck - 2017
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.
12-man liferaft with stainless steel cradle