1986 Santa cruz Custom Racer in Long Beach, CA

SELLER DESCRIPTION

1986 SANTA CRUZ Custom, This boat is ideal for the short handed racer. She is fast, bulletproof, and easy to handle. This is the last Santa Cruz 50 built and was built in 1986 for Hal Roth to sail in what was then the BOC Single Handed Race Around the World. Because he was going shorthanded in the Southern Ocean, he ordered some unusual features. These included: Small opening ports rather than the standard lexan windows, no sliding hatch over the galley, a deep cockpit, low hard dodger with submarine door to interior, modern hull laminate with knit fabrics instead of woven roving, watertight bulkheads fore and aft, and tiller steering because the auto pilot was going to steer. Hal Roth sailed her in the 1986 BOC race as Sebago and wrote a great book Chasing the Long Rainbow. For the 1990 BOC he fitted 3000 pounds of water ballast and stronger chainplates. The water ballast adds about 3/4 knot upwind. He sailed her in the 1990 BOC race as American Flag. In 1999 Anna Stockel purchased her, fitted a taller mast and wheel steering and then sailed her to first to finish in the 2000 Single handed Transpac from San Francisco to Kauai. The layout is based on the later standard Santa Cruz 50 layout however there are some interesting differences. The bulkhead forward of the mast is full height and there is a double berth forward of it. The main cabin settee has been lowered. The water ballast tanks are outboard on the galley, nav, head, and after berth areas. This boat has new paint and many other recent updates. She is an ideal fast, easy to handle offshore boat. Whether your interest is racing or fast cruising, this yacht deserves a serious look. Exterior photos were taken just before the new non-skid was to be applied (which should be done shortly). New photos should be up soon!