Judel/Vrolijk Marten 80, NIMROD

Broker’s Comments

NIMROD was designed by her original owner as a high-performance cruising yacht, and today she still lives up to her reputation by offering the best possible sailing speeds under a wide range of conditions, with a special focus on light air performance. The hull lines were also designed for easy motion at sea by integrating a fine entry bow to prevent unnecessary motion. The NIMROD transom is powerful and wide without being excessive, which keeps the boat well-balanced under all sailing conditions. The hull lines are modern without going to extremes, giving the yacht a traditional ‘yacht’ feel. Her deck layout was designed for easy handling by a small cruising crew, and the main winches are all mounted within reach of the helmsman.

NIMROD has a hull, deck, and superstructure constructed from modern performance composite materials. Her Divinycell foam core is skinned with E-glass, Kevlar, and carbon fibers for maximum impact resistance and stiffness. She also boasts the extra feature of watertight bulkheads, positioned at both the bow and stern for additional safety and strength, making her well-suited for charter duties.

Summary

• Successfully conceived as a fast-cruising yacht able to be sailed by a crew of two. Her accommodation provides luxury for six guests in three en-suite staterooms.
• Marten Yachts, New Zealand, built her to the most exacting standards in 2000 using carbon Kevlar composites. She was launched in 2001. Marten Yachts is regarded as one of, if not the leading manufacturer of these materials.
• Extensively refitted in 2011 and in 2022. Re-launched as a new yacht in August 2022 with new15 mm thick teak decks, full respray of hull and topsides and complete overhaul of mast and mechanical systems.
• New Bimini, cockpits cushions and mast to stern sun awning
• Professionally maintained since re-launch by meticulous owner. She remains today in a “new” condition.
• Interior design by Peter Sym and fit-out supervised by Nick Scantlebury. Soft furnishings updated in 2012.
• CAT A MedAire MedLink Medical Kit including oxygen and defibrillator.
• Comprehensive onboard and onshore spares. On-board spares enable long periods of independent cruising as all system-critical spares are carried.
• Complete with 300 page “manual” written by current owner to ensure ease of running and maintenance by any crew.
• Elapsed IRC certificate and wind polars by Judel/Vrolijk for occasional leisurely racing.

Note

NIMROD has a secure berth in Marina di Loano, with a reserved parking space at the rear of the vessel and a nearby single-enclosed garage containing the numerous spares. This cost-effective location makes it ideal for cruising the Med.

Sales Video

Owner’s Comments

We love NIMROD for her timeless good looks. Her design makes it impossible to guess her age, yet her modern features and sail plan make her as capable as many more recent options. Classy, comfortable, spacious, and fun to sail are the four words that sum up our affection for her. Despite being from 2001, NIMROD certainly holds her own for us.

During our ownership, NIMROD has been mainly Mediterranean-based with regular trips to Ireland. Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica are all family favorites. Her spacious interior makes her a pleasure to be aboard in warm waters. In her previous ownership, she spent her summers in the Mediterranean before crossing each winter to the Caribbean.

A comfortable wolf in sheep’s clothing? In all seriousness, NIMROD’s powerful sail plan makes her an ideal yacht for light airs. Despite her size, she ghosts along and loves these conditions as well as windier sailing conditions. She doesn’t like sailing on her ear, which makes her even more comfortable on passage or while gently cruising between anchorages. Despite being an 80-foot yacht, we can handle her sail plan two-up in confidence and safety. I have even been known to hoist the mainsail alone while on watch. Few yachts of this size can claim that it is possible to hoist their mainsail single-handed.

During our ownership, we have put NIMROD through two significant refits, and I can honestly say that she has never looked better. Our priority during refits has always been security and reliability. We have never shied away from doing the hidden maintenance that keeps NIMROD safe. We have also prioritized work that gives us reliability, as there is nothing worse than being on a cruise with a broken-down yacht in a foreign port and a long lead time for spare parts to arrive.

In terms of significant items, we have recently fully serviced the rig again. We have also checked the underwater appendages, such as the keel, keel bolts, rudder and bearings, and the propulsion system (propeller, shaft, stern gland, rudder, and rudder bearings, etc.). We have rigorously maintained the engine and generator and modernized the DC system to ensure reliability when NIMROD is off the dock. We have also renewed the hydraulic system to achieve 100% full reliability for this critical system. We have ensured she is watertight when there is water on deck, as there is nothing worse than a damp mattress. Our final attention has focused on living items such as pumps, air conditioning and fridge systems, and ancillaries. Our focus has always been to get things done to gain peace of mind whether at sea, on anchor, or in the marina.

Of course, new decks, paint, electronics, and systems have all been part of the program as well.

NIMROD has been a massive part of the Warren family since 2011. First, both my parents enjoyed extensive summer cruises with her. She was then laid up while my mother suffered ill health and subsequently passed away. We recommissioned her to give my father a renewed focus. However, my father is now 82 and slowing down. It is increasingly apparent that NIMROD is becoming too much of a challenge for him both in harbor and underway. Although we carried out the 2022 refit with the aim and ambition to take her across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and beyond, the brain rather than the heart is now saying it is time to hang up our deck shoes and let another family enjoy her and take her on her next voyage.

The 2022 refit work was performed with the aim of avoiding major works for the next 10 years, and therefore, I know that the next owner will have great fun with her, whether in the Mediterranean or further afield. We will look on jealously from the shore.