ADVENTURESS

My partner and I stumbled across a 1955 Philip Rhodes R27 which was in great shape but needed the dreaded deadwood and keel replaced. There was some concern regarding her keelboard too which meant that the previous owner was very keen to get rid of her. So, despite the advice from our superb surveyor to run for the hills, we bought her and have spent 2 years getting her a little more ship shape than she was. Firstly we dropped the keel and deadwood and discovered that her keelboard was in good condition. We did find evidence of some previous work in some sistering of ribs and new boards but by virtue of being out of the water for 7 years, she needed some tlc. We have had her mast spliced and redone as it was starting to come apart, however we still have all wood spars including a spinnaker pole! Her teak deck had been replaced 10 years ago and little used, also the interior has been replaced with Mahogany which makes her dark below decks, although the layout seems very similar to the original plans we got from A and R.

We know that she was originally owned by a Mr Harvey Picker of X-Ray fame. He commissioned her, originally named BRANTA, from Abeking & Rasmussen in Germany in 1954. I believe his foundation have a picture of him actually sailing her but I have not been able to contact anyone regarding this. She then was sold in the ’60s, her name changed to Adventuress, and lived on the West Coast for some years until the previous owner bought her back to the East Coast and her original home at Mattapoisett, MA.

We are intending to sail her back to Europe, I am British and live with my partner mainly in Spain. She is now a British registered vessel and we love sailing her around Buzzards Bay with the Red Ensign flying proudly behind.