One Man's Boat: 1989 Adams 40

If there is a really fair dinkum test for a solid cruising yacht, it would be hard to beat a double-handed circumnavigation of the Apple Isle.

That is what Hobart cafe owner Jose Navarro and his wife did in 2009 in their steel Adams 40 cutter, Odyssey III. The trip took them 27 days and, according to Jose, they never had a moment's worry.

"She weighs 12 tonnes with nearly empty tanks and she is built out of 5mm steel, so there is not much that can worry her," Jose told BoatPoint, "She might not be the fastest yacht in the water but she must be one of the safest."

Jose bought the cutter-rigged sloop eight years ago from a couple who were only the second owners of the vessel. Odyssey III was professionally built in Newcastle, NSW, in 1989, and the workmanship on the hull and decks is so good that most people seeing her for the first time think she is built from fibreglass rather than steel.

Just before his Tasmanian circumnavigation Jose had the distinctive solid dodger built to protect the helmsman and anyone else in the cockpit. Constructed from 90mm marine ply coated with fibreglass, the hardtop gives well over 180cm in headroom and can be fitted with detachable clears at the sides to make things really cosy in winter.

"It is terrific for kids and it makes an ideal place the stick out a rod and do some fishing when at anchor," Jose said.

Since he arrived in Australia from Spain 33 years ago, Jose says he has always been drawn to the water and Odyssey III was his dream boat. "We spent all our spare time cruising out from Hobart and exploring the wonderful waterways nearby," he said.

But last year tragedy struck when his daughter-in-law contracted cancer. The close-knit family put all their energy and resources into helping her fight the disease and happy weekends sailing were put on hold.

With the fight continuing, Jose has reluctantly put the big sloop on the market, asking for offers around $105,000. He says all offers will be considered.

Fitted with a 50hp Perkins diesel, the yacht can carry 500 litres of fuel in three tanks, giving her more than adequate range for coastal cruising,

All the stainless steel standing rigging was replaced in 2009 and full survey for insurance in 2010 found the hull and deck to be in perfect condition. There are folding steps fitted all the way up the mast for emergency access and the five winches handling the sheets and halyards were rebuilt last year. There are three anchors with 100 metres of chain and a hydraulic anchor winch.

The vessel carries 350 litres of fresh water and has an 80 litre holding tank for black water.

The galley is fitted with a double stainless steel sink, a two burner gas stove and oven. There is a large Eutectic fridge-freezer and a 40 litre hot water system that can be heated electrically or from the engine.

As you would expect from on a boat that has circled Tassie, the instrumentation is extensive -- JRD 24 mile radar, HF and VHF radios, weather fax, Autohelm autopilot with gyro-compass, B&G GPS plotter and wind and depth gauges.

There are two heads, one in the large aft cabin.

Odyssey III was recently on the slip having the hull sanded and refinished and re-antifouled.