SABOO

 

The name is synonymous with the builder of the yacht and stands for “Sandy Alone Built One Off”.  The yacht was built by Alexander Walker and his family in Symington, Ayrshire, Scotland, construction beginning following the drawings from 1968 with completion 1975.  The yacht was specifically designed for the Walkers by Holman and Pye as a fast family cruiser of a fairly traditional type but closely following the design philosophy of the design office at the time.

 

The Holman characteristics are evident with the sweeping sheer curved edges to the deck house and is reminiscent, although not identical, to other yachts from the same stable.

 

The yacht was built under Lloyds survey and on completion achieved Lloyds 100A1, plus Lloyds machining certificate, the highest standard which could be obtained by a professional boat yard or a private individual.  Indeed it is extremely unusual for a ‘home built’ to achieve this standard. 

The yacht was put forward by the attending Lloyds surveyor for Yacht of the Year Award but the Walkers were asked if they would graciously withdraw from the competition as it would be extremely embarrassing for the British Marine Industry if a ‘home built’ yacht took the top prize. 

In Walkers words “obviously she would have won this hands down” and the above makes a better story than if she had actually won the award.

 

The yacht was meticulously built by Sandy and family and the construction, detailing and finishing of the yacht is well above what could be expected from even the professional boat yards

at the time.

​

Unfortunately Sandy Walker became ill shortly after the launch of the yacht at Troon and although he enjoyed a season, she was laid up for approximately 15 years in her building berth with a sprinkler system in case she got too hot during the Scottish summer in Symington.

In 1990 the yacht came back out of moth balls as the Walkers had decided to sell her and she was put back into Lloyds Class and sold to a Mr Piggott who took the yacht south, being a property developer in the then embryonic Canary Wharf development.

 

Shortly thereafter however the yacht was taken to Estepona in Spain where she languished under the sun receiving little attention and care before being bought by the McIlraith family in 1993 and sailed back to almost her birth place in Troon in July of that year.  She has been in the same ownership now for 28 years and has a proven pedigree on the West Coast of Scotland, Irish waters, English Channel, France and Biscay areas, including trip to Gibraltar and more recently competing in the AZAB 2-handed in 2015.  She has been cruised quite extensively for about 50000 miles.  She has won many awards racing and for concur de elegance.  She has never given a moments trouble and the structure now is as good as the date it was built.  She has in the words of the singer Prince, “the look”, once seen never forgotten and always much admired by racers and cruisers alike.

​

Round Rockall in 2016,Faroes cruise in 2017,Round Ireland in 2018,

Cape Wrath cruise 2019,Hebrideas cruises in 2020 .

Twice Blue water Trophy winner and multiple two handed successes.