1991 David Thomas Challange 67

ECOVER OF SKAGENThomas Custom 67 | David Thomas Design | Built 1991, Rebuilt 2009Ecover of Skagen began life in 1991 as Group 4, Mike Golding's winning entry in the Challenge round-the-world race. Built by Devonport Management Ltd to David Thomas's design, she was constructed to withstand sustained offshore punishment - a fact her high tensile steel hull and robust engineering still reflect. In 2009 she underwent a complete rebuild at Danish Yacht in Skagen, Denmark, emerging as a thoroughgoing luxury cruising yacht. The Challenge interior was stripped and replaced with classical joinery in bird's eye maple with a teak sole; the decks were hand-laid in teak with black caulking; all electrical, hydraulic and plumbing systems were renewed; and a Nordic Mast carbon spar was fitted. The result bears no resemblance to her racing origins save the structural integrity that makes her genuinely capable offshore.She has since cruised extensively, including a transatlantic passage in 2017 as part of the ARC, with time in St Lucia, Antigua, Martinique and Grenada. She has been maintained since returning to the UK in 2021, and the current owner has invested consistently in keeping her ready for sea.Key Features & Recent RefitLOA 67ft / 20.42m; Beam 17ft 3in; Draft 10ft 2in; Displacement 50,000kgSteel hull; cast iron keel; full depth skeg and steel rudderNew Steyr SE236E40 230hp engine (2023); approximately 15 hours at January 2026Maxpower 24v 10kW bow thruster; new motor and solenoid 2023All battery banks replaced throughout 2023Fisher Panda P25i 24kVA generator; fully refurbished 2023Rod rigging 5-year service completed 2024; all running rigging replaced 2024Reckmann hydraulic genoa furler; Halmatro hydraulic vang, backstay rams and outhaulNorth Sails furling genoa (2020); full sail inventory including trysail and storm staysailFuruno electronics suite: MaxSea, NavNet II, Class A AIS, radar, GPS, Navtex, VHF; Simrad AP50 autopilot8 berths in 4 cabins; all en-suite; owner's full-beam aft double; two guest cabins; crew forepeakCentral plant reversible air conditioning throughout; Webasto serviced 2023Sea Recovery watermaker; 1,378 litres fuel; 650 litres fresh waterBroker's SummaryEcover of Skagen represents a rare convergence of proven structural integrity and quality finish. Her steel hull and Challenge-built backbone give a blue-water buyer genuine reassurance; her 2009 refit and the systematic maintenance of recent years mean there is little left to do before departure. The new engine alone represents a material reduction in the uncertainty a purchaser normally accepts when buying a yacht of this age and size. At the asking price, she offers capability, comfort and ocean-ready condition that would cost considerably more to assemble from scratch.Additional informationFew yachts offered for sale carry a history as clear and well-documented as Ecover of Skagen. She was built in 1991 by Devonport Management Ltd as one of the original Challenge 67 fleet, and competed as Group 4 under Mike Golding, winning her class in the round-the-world race against prevailing winds and currents. That pedigree is not merely decorative: it tells you that the underlying structure of this yacht was designed and built to sustain the most demanding offshore conditions a yacht can encounter.In 2009 she was taken to Danish Yacht in Skagen, Denmark, for a rebuild of thoroughgoing ambition. The Challenge interior and deck arrangement were stripped entirely. She emerged with a classical cruising layout finished in bird's eye maple with a teak sole, hand-laid teak decks with black caulking throughout, a carbon spar from Nordic Mast, and a complete replacement of all electrical, hydraulic and plumbing systems. The result is a vessel that reads and presents as a purpose-built luxury cruising yacht. Her racing origins are evident only in her hull form, her structural robustness and the exceptional quality of her winch and hydraulic arrangements.The current owners purchased her in France in 2014 and have sailed her extensively, including a transatlantic passage in 2017 as part of the ARC, followed by extended cruising in St Lucia, Antigua, Martinique and Grenada. She returned to the UK in 2021 via the Azores.Maintenance during the current ownership has been systematic and well-documented. In 2023 a new Steyr SE236E40 230hp engine was fitted, giving her barely 15 hours at the time of listing. The hot water system was refurbished, all batteries replaced throughout, rudder bearings renewed, bilge pumps and windlass serviced, and hydraulic hoses replaced. In 2024 the rod rigging received its full five-year service and all halyards were replaced, navigation lights were renewed, and all mast LED lights replaced. The life raft, lifejackets and fire extinguishers have all been serviced within the past two years. This is not a yacht requiring a list of deferred work; she is ready for her next passage.Ecover of Skagen accommodates eight in four cabins, each with its own en-suite heads and shower. The owner's cabin occupies the full beam aft, with a double berth of 150 by 210 centimetres, a two-seat sofa, dressing table and ample stowage. Two guest cabins forward of the saloon and a crew cabin in the forepeak complete the arrangement. The saloon is generous by any standard, with leather sofas, a dining table seating six, a Bose sound system and a concealed widescreen television that rises electrically from behind the seating. A separate nav station carries the full Furuno electronics suite and Simrad autopilot.On deck the layout is clean and seamanlike. The hydraulic systems manage the genoa furler, vang, backstay rams and mainsail outhaul, reducing the physical effort required of a short-handed crew. Anderson primary and secondary winches handle the sail plan efficiently, and the Reckmann hydraulic genoa furler is well suited to extended offshore passages. The teak bathing platform opens hydraulically via remote control, giving straightforward access from a tender or from the water.Specification and inventoryPrincipal DimensionsLOA: 67ft / 20.42mLWL: 55ft / 16.76mBeam: 17ft 3in / 5.26mDraft: 10ft 2in / 3.1mDisplacement: 50,000 kg / 110,231 lbHull Material: High tensile steelBuilder: Devonport Management LtdDesigner: David ThomasYear Built: 1991Year Rebuilt: 2009, Danish Yacht, Skagen, DenmarkOfficial Number: 721998Classification: MCA SCV Cat 0 (6 persons), Cat 2 (14 persons) — not currently in dateAccommodation: 8 berths in 4 cabinsConstructionHull: High tensile steel shell plating over T-bar longitudinals and angle ring framesKeel: Cast iron, by Iron Brothers LtdKeel Bolts: 16 x 30mmRudder: Steel; full depth skeg; ertalite bearings. Rudder removed, bearings replaced 2023Deck: Hand-laid teak with black caulking throughoutBathing Platform: Teak; hydraulically operated via fixed and wireless remote controlAntifouling: 2023Engine & MachineryEngine: Steyr SE236E40, 230hp (new 2023)Engine Hours: Approx. 15 hours at January 2026Gearbox: ZF63AThrottle: ZF Microcommand 91100 electric throttle (serviced 2023)Propeller: 28" Gori 3-blade folding (2009)Steering: Lewmar carbon steering wheelBow Thruster: Maxpower 24v 10kW; new motor and solenoid 2023Electrical SystemsVoltage: 24VDC and 220VACDomestic Batteries: 6 x Rolls R12-200 AGM (all new 2023)Emergency Lighting: 2 x Exide EP900 AGM 100AhGenerator Start: 1 x Optima Blue Top 50Ah / 975CCAEngine Start: 1 x Optima Blue Top 50Ah / 975CCABow Thruster / Windlass: 4 x Optima Blue Top 50Ah / 765CCAGMDSS Batteries: 2 x Exide Sonnenschein GF12 044YBattery Chargers: 2 x 100A Mastervolt (house); 1 x 30A Mastervolt (bow thruster / windlass); 1 x 10A GMDSS; 1 x 10A emergency lighting; 1 x 15A engine / genset start; 1 x 30A bow thrusterAlternator: 150A at 24VDCGenerator: Fisher Panda P25i, 24kVA, 3 x 230V 50Hz (2009; fully refurbished 2023). Approx. 1,804 hours at January 2026Shore Power: 3 x 208V or 3 x 400V through 20kVA transformer; 1 x 220VAC at 32A backup; 2,500W inverter busHydraulic Powerpack: Anderson 2 x 3kW 24VDC; Halmatro manual hydraulic panelHydraulic Hoses: All replaced 2024 (mast, furlers, transom platform)Lighting: LED throughout (new 2023)Navigation Lights: All new 2024; mast LED LOPO lights replaced 2024Plumbing & TankageFresh Water Pressure: Jabsco hydrophore system (2009; serviced 2024)Fresh Water Pumps: Jabsco Double Stack 24v, 22 lpm (new 2023); new accumulator tanksWater Heaters: 2 x water heaters; full refurbishment and new elements 2023Watermaker: Sea Recovery (2009)Bilge Pumps: Jabsco; all serviced 2023Fuel Capacity: 1,378 litres dieselFresh Water Capacity: 650 litres; tanks cleaned, new seals and senders 2023Grey / Black Water: 340 litres; grey waste sump boxes replaced 2023Tank Monitoring: Monitoring system fitted; tanks vented to mast; pipework pressure testedNavigation & ElectronicsChart Plotter / PC: Furuno MaxSea navigation and communications PC integrated with NavNet II helm display (2009)GPS: Furuno GP32 (2009)Navtex: Furuno NX300 (2009)Compass: Furuno satellite compass (2009)AIS: Furuno FA150 Class A transceiver (2009)Radar: Furuno NavNet black-box (2009)VHF / DSC: Furuno DSC VHF (2009)Autopilot: Simrad AP50Instruments: Furuno FI system with 4 displays at helm (2009)Satellite Communications: Thrane & Thrane Fleet Broadband 250 (2009)Alarm System: IP addressable fire and bilge alarm with SMS alerting (2009)Navigation Computer: Navigation / communications computer via UPSRig & SailsMast: Nordic Mast 3-spreader carbon, painted white (2009)Boom: Nordic Mast carbon Park Avenue, painted white (2009)Spinnaker Pole: Nordic Mast carbon, painted white (2009)Rig Dimensions: P: 22.28m | J: 7.825m | E: 7.4m | IG: 24.24mStanding Rigging: Rod rigging; 5-year service completed 2024Running Rigging: All replaced 2024Reefing: 2 reef points; single-line or traditional slab reefingGenoa Furler: Reckmann hydraulicHydraulic Systems: Anderson 2 x 3kW 24VDC powerpack; Halmatro manual hydraulic panel; Halmatro hydraulic vang, twin backstay rams and mainsail outhaulPrimary Winches: Anderson 72ST 2-speed (x2)Secondary Winches: Anderson 58ST 2-speed (x2)Halyard Winches: Anderson 58ST 2-speed (x2)Mainsheet: Anderson captive reel winchGenoa Tracks: Harken (2009)Genoa: North Sails furling genoa (2020)Mainsail: North Sails full-batten Spectra laminate with ECOVER logo (2009)Yankee: North Sails Spectra laminate with tiger stripe livery (2009)Staysail: North Sails Spectra laminate with tiger stripe livery (2009)Gennaker: North Sails nylon cruising gennaker with ECOVER logo (2009)Storm Sails: Dacron trysail and storm staysail by HoodsDeck Equipment & AnchoringCockpits: Forward guest cockpit and aft sailing cockpit with fold-away dining tableStanchions: Full stanchions and guard wires with additional handholds on cabin topWindlass: Lewmar 24VDC 2kW with 100m chain (serviced 2023)Chain: 1 x Solid Zinc G40 100m (new 2023)Cleats: Aluminium, fore and aftDeck Wash: Anchor wash and deck wash pumps; new raw water pump 2023Deck Hatches: All removed and overhauled as required 2023Cushions: Cockpit cushions suppliedAccommodationLayout: 8 berths in 4 cabins; all en-suite; bird's eye maple joinery throughout; teak soleOwner's Cabin: Full-beam aft; double berth 150 x 210cm; two-seat sofa; dressing / writing table; full-length hanging locker; hidden secure locker; LCD TV; en-suite heads and showerGuest Cabin (Starboard): Lower berth 100 x 210cm; upper berth 80 x 210cm; drawers and hanging space; en-suite heads and showerGuest Cabin (Port): Lower berth 85 x 210cm; upper berth 80 x 210cm; drawers and hanging space; en-suite heads and showerCrew Cabin: Forepeak; twin berths 210cm; drawers and hanging space; en-suite heads and shower; accessible from deck or port guest cabinSaloon: 250cm headroom; leather sofas; dining table for 6; concealed electric widescreen TV; Bose sound system; extensive stowage; wet locker to starboardGalley: Open plan, aft to starboard; bird's eye maple cabinetry; Corian worktops; ENO 4-burner gimballed gas stove with oven and grill; 2-drawer refrigerator; top-access chest freezer; Siemens microwave; extractor fan; stainless sink with mixer tapNavigation Station: Open station adjacent to companionway; full-size chart table; full AC and DC control panelsHeads: Vetus electric heads throughoutDomestic SystemsAir Conditioning: Central plant reversible system with air-handlers for all cabins; Webasto serviced 2023 with new saltwater coolant pumpEntertainment: Bose sound system in saloon; LCD TV in owner's cabin; TV in saloon (new 2023); CD / radio in crew cabinLighting: LED throughout (new 2023)Safety EquipmentLiferaft: Crewsaver 95062 Ocean ISO 8-person container, over-24hr pack (2023; serviced 2024)Lifejackets: Viking (serviced 2023)Fire Suppression: Seafire 1230 automatic unit with shutdown and monitor control (2023)Fire Extinguishers: 4 x 2kg dry powder; 1 x 4kg dry powder; 1 x 6kg dry powder (all 2023; all serviced 2024)Alarm System: IP addressable fire and bilge alarm with SMS alertingGas Certification: 2023Navigation Lights: All new 2024Summary of Recent Maintenance2023: New Steyr engine; new battery banks throughout; hot water system refurbished; fresh water pumps replaced; rudder bearings renewed; bilge pumps serviced; windlass serviced; new bow thruster motor and solenoid; hydraulic hoses replaced; grey waste sump boxes replaced; water tank seals and senders replaced; new LED lights; new navigation lights; Webasto air conditioning serviced; generator refurbished; ZF throttle serviced; deck hatches overhauled; antifouling; gas safety certification; life raft, lifejackets and fire extinguishers serviced; raw water deck wash pump replaced2024: Rod rigging 5-year service; all halyards and running rigging replaced; hydraulic hoses replaced (mast, furlers, transom platform); mast LED LOPO lights replaced; navigation lights replaced; fire extinguishers serviced; liferaft serviced; fresh water pressure system servicedDisclaimerNicolle Associates offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice. This vessel is UK/EU VAT not paid. As always photographs do not do justice so a viewing is highly recommended. This boat is lying in Lymington, UK © 2026 Nicolle Associates