Classic Marconi 13.5m Bermudan Cutter

Historic Bermudan cutter from the pen of Mario Tarabocchia. Completely restored between 2002 and 2005 in La Spezia and a regular to the podium of the Mediterranean classic yacht regattas.

 

FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:

 

From the pen of Mario Tarabocchia (who later went on to work at Sparkman & Stephens) and launched in May 1935 at the Pietro Tarabocchia shipyard in to Croatian town of Mali Lošinj, MANTA was originally constructed with a view to trans-Oceanic adventures, but later became a regular winner on the Mediterranean regatta circuit. Remaining in one single ownership for over 30 years which included placing her through a complete and sympathetic rebuild/restoration in La Spezia to return her to her full original glory, MANTA has benefitted from plenty of upgrade and attention in recent times. A hugely competitive boat in classic regattas, MANTA is now ready for her next custodian.

 

DESIGNER’S OVERVIEW:

 

The island of Lošinj, in the north of the Adriatic, not far from the Dalmatian coasts, has always been and despite its geopolitical past, a place of great nautical passions: fishermen and sailors but also shipowners and builders.

 

One above all is represented by the shipyard of the  Martinolich family which with Nicola and subsequently Marco , between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, represented the excellence of steam navigation and more, creating more than 9,000 tons of ships for the Austrian navy. (Among these we remember the EMPRESS ELISABETTA  - SISSI , of 2500 tons).

 

But also yachts that for elegance and rationality made Mali Lošinj, the island of shipyards, a center of excellence for many decades. Among the designers we find  Piero Tarabocchia, director of the shipyard until the 40s, author of boats such as the AMRITA  of the Duke of Aosta, the CROCE DEL SUD , the LYNX  and the DORELLO who became, with the name of MORNING STAR, the  holder of a speed record on the Los Angeles-Honolulu distance .

 

Mario Tarabocchia is formed at this school of elegance and functionality, Piero's son who after completing his training at the Nautical of Lošinj begins to actively collaborate on his father's shipyard. At the age of twenty he designed two yachts: a 17-meter schooner the MARIA LUCREZIA and a 12-meter cutter the OMBRETTA, both of which will be launched in 1939.

 

The collaboration with Niccolò Costanzi , a naval engineer expert in passenger ships, at the joined Cantieri dell'Adriatico  in Monfalcone , will also complete his training thanks to which, having moved to the USA in 1956, he will soon become (1960) an appreciated yacht designer for the Sparkman & Stephens studio in Madison avenue active since 1929, with which he will collaborate for over twenty years, proving to be a true world authority in the design of 12 meters SI, among which the CONSTELLATION, the INTREPID, the VALIANT, the CORRAGEOUS, and the FREEDOM.

 

His school will train appreciated designers such as Mull, Kaufman, Frers and many others, to whom he will transfer his great ability to creatively face the necessary rigor imposed by the great challenges that the sea forces, especially when competing at the highest levels. like the America's Cup.

 

Fabrizio Fattori – Nautica Report

 

A BRIEF OF THE BOAT HISTORY:

 

MANTA, formerly TOOSA , was built for the Milanese industrialist Dante Ceschina and represented one of Mario Tarabocchia's first design experiences in the field of naval architecture. Launched on May 1st 1935, she was configured specifically with a view to crossing the Atlantic, which explains the design of her deckhouse, with its low profile and flush deck designed to offer less resistance to the ocean waves.

 

During the war years, MANTA remained ashore in the port of Rimini, after which she passed through a variety of owners and was renamed PAITAN and later ODILIA.

 

After a period of relative anonymity (although she was believed to have been owned by a group of Alitalia pilots who enjoyed champagne cruising with their mostly female crew), during the 1980’s was found abandoned in a Fiumicino shipyard and in 1984 MANTA was bought by the lawyer Ernesto Irace. From 1985 onwards, Ernesto competed in vintage regattas across the Mediterranean with numerous victories in Porto Cervo, Palma, Cannes , Naples and La Spezia.

 

Following his purchase in 1984, MANTA benefitted from a huge amount of care and attention from her passionate owner as well as a complete and careful restoration (during which the interiors were completely redone, bringing them back to the original design) in La Spezia supervised by Franco Giorgetti and Luigi Lang from November 2002 to March 2005 when she was launched again at the Lotti port of La Spezia during a festive ceremony attended by over 120 people.

 

The symbol of the boat is a bear, which reflects the character of the owner. Orso is also the name of the son of Hyrax, baptized right in the prow of Manta.

 

CONSTRUCTION

 

RCD Status:

• Our understanding is that the vessel is exempt from the European Union’s Recreation Craft Directive as she was first placed into use within the EEU prior to June 1998.

 

Hull Construction:

• Oak planking on oak frames
• Transverse structures with a continuous keel from aft to bow.

 

Deck & Superstructure Construction:

• Structural deck made entirely in teak

 

Keel & Rudder:

• Long keel
• Skegged rudder

 

MACHINERY

 

Engine & gearbox:

• Lombardini LDW 2204M indirect injection with unit injector pump in the cylinder head producing 87hp @ 3,200 rpm - 2005
• Mechanical reduction gearbox
• Fresh water engine cooling via raw water intake and heat exchanger
• Single lever engine control

 

Service & Maintenance:

• Engine annually serviced

 

Propulsion & Steering:

• Wheel steering

 

ELECTRIAL SYSTEMS

 

Voltage systems:

• 12vDC domestic circuit with 12vDC starting circuit and 220vAC via shorepower.
• Electrical system refitted

 

Battery Banks:

• 12vDC engine start batteries
• 12vDC batteries

 

Charging / Inverter:

• 12vDC automatic battery charger
• 220vAC inverter

 

Alternators:

• 12vDC engine-mounted alternator for start bank charging

 

Other Electrical:

• Electrical control panel with thermal breakers
• 230vAC shore power supply with sockets throughout interior

 

PLUMBING & GAS SYSTEMS

 

Fresh Water:

• Pressurised fresh water supply via pressure pump
• The hot freshwater circuit is led into a well insulated hot water tank, heated by engine or 230v AC immersion heater element

 

Salt Water:

• Manual pump for salt water

 

Bilge Pumps:

• Manual bilge pump
• 12vDC electric bilge pump

 

TANKAGE

 

Fuel:

• Approx. 350 litres total fuel capacity

 

Fresh Water:

• Approx. 450 litres fresh water capacity

 

NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

 

In Cockpit:

• Compass

 

At Chart Table:

• Raymarine chart plotter
• B&G Hydra 2000 speed/depth display

 

DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT

 

Galley:

• 2-burner gas stove
• 12vDC fridge
• Twin stainless steel sinks with pressurised hot & cold water supply
• Manual salt water supplies

 

Head:

• Manual head in forward cabin
• Hot & cold pressurised water supplies with showers

 

ACCOMMODATION

 

Summary of Accommodation:

• Up to 7 berths in one double cabins plus saloon.

 

Accommodation Finish:

• Oak and solid wood interior joinery
• Green leather upholstery

 

Accommodation layout:

• There is one forward cabin with head.
• Saloon with settee berths and pipecot berths.
• The galley is on the port aft side of the salon. 
• Aft to starboard still in the salon is the navigation chart table area. 
• Pilot berth aft of navigation area.

 

DECK EQUIPMENT

 

Rig:

• Douglas wood mast and boom
• Keel-stepped mast with 2 set of inline spreaders and masthead rigged.
• Galvanised wire standing rigging
• Split backstay
• Cutter stay
• Spinnaker track on mast
• Running backstays

                  

Winches:

• 2x chromed manual primary winches in cockpit
• 2x chromed manual secondary winches in cockpit
• 2x chromed manual halyard winches at companionway
• 2x mast-mounted halyard winches

 

Sails:

• Mainsail
• Jib
• Staysail

 

General:

• Double guardrail and steel stanchions
• Coachroof skylight
• Wood grab rails on coachroof top

 

Anchoring & Mooring:

• Anchor windlass
• Anchor with chain
• Fenders and warps

 

Covers, Cushions & Canvas:

• Mainsail cover

 

SAFTEY EQUIPMENT:

 

General note on safety equipment: Any safety equipment such as liferafts, Epirbs, fire extinguishers and flares etc. are usually personal to the current owner(s) and if being left on-board as part of the sale of a used vessel may require routine servicing, replacement, or changing to meet a new owners specific needs.