Nautor Swan 43, JJ BABU

Broker’s Comments

With her hydraulic powered in mast furling and her electric winches, JJ BABU is an easily handled performance cruiser. Her optional shallow draft keel with 1.7m draft allows access to the smaller harbours. The accommodation provides two good double cabins, each with an en-suite head/shower and typical Swan quality throughout.

JJ BABU has clearly been well kept and appears in very good order for her age. She was sold to the current owner in 2004. The yacht was then in Mallorca, having been shipped back from the Caribbean to be sold. The new and current owner sailed the yacht back to the UK and has since based her on the west coast of Scotland. He has kept her well, with a number of updates including new rod rigging in 2010. Since moving north, the yacht has spent winters ashore in a shed or under winter covers with heater/dehumidifier operating.

JJ BABU is British registered and has VAT paid status.

JJ Babu was designed by Ron Holland and built by Nautor Swan in Jakobstad, Finland and launched in 1987. She is one of only 28 produced between 1985 and 1990 and is one of a handful that were fitted with a Scheil keel and Reckmann in-mast furling.

History

The first, Finnish, owner took delivery of the yacht at the factory in the summer of 1987. After only two summers’ light use, sailing in the northern Baltic Sea, FIESTA (as she was then called) was sold to her second, German owner in September 1988.

In 1988-89 upgrades were made – including changing the primary sheet winches to electric, the addition of navigation equipment and the addition of the teak rubbing strake. For the following years, the boat was used for family cruising and was based in north Germany. Each winter the yacht was laid up ashore. She was always well cared for by a professional boatman.

In 1997-8 the yacht was sailed to Holland and then shipped to Mallorca. From that time, until December 2000, the yacht was based in Mallorca and used lightly for summer cruises – each winter she was stored ashore.

In December 2000, the yacht was sold to a British owner who changed the name to JJ BABU. After launching in the spring of 2001, the yacht was sailed to southern France and based in Villefranche where she was looked after and serviced by the Swan Service Centre. Some new equipment was added and approx. £10,000 invested. In Autumn 2001 the yacht was sailed to the Canary Isles, where she was located until November 2002. Then she crossed the Atlantic with her owner and wife and cruised the Caribbean. March 2003 ashore in Guadeloupe for a Spring service, antifoul etc. The owner then shipped the boat back to Palma, where she arrived on the 1st of July 2003 was stored ashore pending sale.

She was sold in April 2004 to the current owner. During summer 2004 the yacht was sailed back to the UK. Since then, she has been based on the west coast of Scotland and enjoyed for family sailing. Each winter the yacht has been ashore under cover in a shed or winter cover.

Owner’s Comments

We sailed JJ BABU back from Palma and based her at Tighnabruich on the Clyde for a few years then moved her up to Loch Linnhe, where we enjoyed exploring the Inner and Outer Hebrides with family and friends.

We have never raced her, just enjoyed cruising. She is easy to handle with a small crew, even single handed.

Adventures with her have provided us with some great memories, but sadly due to health reasons, it is time for a new owner to enjoy our classic Swan.