The 39-Foot Wisp Has Launched

The 39-foot Wisp hit the water after a compressed build time of less than a year. Alison Langley, Courtesy Stephens Waring Design

Stephens Waring Design in Belfast, Maine, has announced the launch of Wisp. It’s a 39-foot sailing yacht that combines Spirit of Tradition aesthetics with modern sailing technology.

According to the design team, the hull is reminiscent of mid-20th-century cruiser-racers, with overhangs that echo historical yacht designs from 75 years ago.

Wisp has a sophisticated, dual-purpose cockpit, with a plush, upholstered area for lounging forward and a dedicated sailing zone aft. Alison Langley, Courtesy Stephens Waring Design

On deck, Wisp has a dual-purpose cockpit: a plush, upholstered area for lounging forward, and a dedicated sailing zone aft. The helmsperson should have easy access to all sailing controls without leaving the wheel.

The builder is Artisan Boatworks in Rockport, Maine, which used a foam-cored plywood deck to enhance structural integrity and streamline construction. The process allowed the deck to be assembled separately from the hull.

Wisp is the most recent in a string of luxurious daysailer/weekenders designed by Stephens Waring Design over the last couple of decades. Alison Langley, Courtesy Stephens Waring Design

Wisp has a draft of 6 feet and a Solent rig with a working jib and a multipurpose reacher, each on fixed furlers for ease of handling. The yacht also has pushbutton sailing operations for navigating the light winds and choppy seas of Long Island Sound.

Additional features include an under-deck mainsheet trim system with a reverse-purchase hydraulic cylinder. Stephens Waring Design says this system enhances efficiency in jibes and load management. All winches are electric, providing easier control for jib and reacher sheets, and for hoisting the roller-furling mainsail.

The swing-out anchor launcher has a gas-spring assist for streamlined aesthetics and practical ease of use.

Wisp doubles as a luxury weekender, with salon seating for four and a queen-size berth forward. Alison Langley, Courtesy Stephens Waring Design

What are the other key specs for Wisp? Length overall is 39 feet, 6 inches. Length at the waterline is 30 feet, 3 inches. Beam is 11 feet even. Displacement is 14,500 pounds.

Where to learn more: go to stephenswaring.com or artisanboatworks.com

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