31ft HOLMAN BERMUDIAN SLOOP – CRUISER RACER – BRIGHT MORNING
DESCRIPTION:
A classic 31ft Kim Holman design yacht, built in 1962 by Tucker Brown Yacht Builders (Burnham on Crouch, Essex), 9ft beam, 6.15ft draft.
“Bright Morning” was designed by Kim Holman for his friend Mr. Richard (Dickie) Bird as a 21st birthday present for his son John. Richard Bird was a very keen and wealthy yachtsman, as well as Commodore of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham on Crouch. This superb yacht was purpose built for cruising and racing.
Bright Morning remained in the ownership of John Bird for 45 years, before passing into the ownership of Howard and Robert Bryson in 2007 and to the current owners in 2012. Built of mahogany on steam bent oak frames and copper fastenings she is “a true classic blue water sailing yacht”.
She is a well maintained boat in near original condition with some modern equipment to facilitate safe handling, navigation and comfortable cruising. Now lying at Shotley Marina, Suffolk.Viewing highly recommended.
ACCOMMODATION:
Four berths; double berth in the forward cabin and two saloon births. The original portside pilot berth, currently used as stowage and chart table, could be reinstated if required.
Domestic Equipment
Her galley has a Plastimo Neptune 2000 gas cooker with two burners and grill, gas bottle is located in the cockpit, stainless steel sink with foot pumped fresh water supply from twin flexible 30 litre water tanks located under saloon berths. Good galley stowage arrangements and electric cool box. There is a new Jabsco marine toilet with holding tank in separate heads. There is locker space behind saloon berths with stowage above. Saloon table and separate stowable cockpit table.
Navigation and Electrical Equipment
NASA Clipper echo sounder, NASA Clipper log. Clock and barometer.
Magnetic compass and GPS with additional spare handheld GPS, large selection of charts and cruising guides for UK waters.
Fixed and handheld VHF.
Octahedral radar reflector, masthead tri-colour light, stern light on transom, deck flood lights.
Professionally installed brand new Raymarine Evolution autohelm system with EV-1 sensor, p70s pilot controller, ACU100 (actuator control unit) and Raymarine tiller drive.
Shore power system, Rutland wind generator and mains battery charger, two 12v batteries.
Safety Gear
Life jackets.
Fire extinguisher, manual and automatic bilge pump.
Inflatable tender.
Deck Gear
Stainless steel pushpit, pulpit and guardwires, stainless steel stanchions and plastic coated guardwires, spray-hood, boom crutch, opening forward hatch, sampson post, silver anodised spinnaker pole by Sailspar, wooden varnished whisker pole, two large H & M sheet winches, two secondary bronze sheet winches, three halyard winches (bottom action) on mast, manual windlass, plough main anchor with 50m new SS chain, Danforth kedge anchor, various mooring warps and fenders.
Full bespoke fitted winter cover in very good condition.
CONSTRUCTION:
Built in 1962. Carvel wooden construction of mahogany planking on oak frames. Transom stern, long keel with ballast keel through bolted and keel hung rudder, self draining aft cockpit with tiller steering, masthead Bermudan sloop rig and 4/5 berth internal layout in two cabins with around 5’10” maximum headroom.
Considerable works commensurate with a boat of this age undertaken by previous owners including: New welsh rock elm floors amidships replacing original galvanised steel straps, also beneath pillars supporting deck-mounted mast step integrated into bulkheads. Some new steamed oak frames and fastenings forward of the mast starboard side and new hanging knees and repairs to deck beam and deck immediately aft of forehatch. New keel bolts. New drive shaft, propeller and deep sea gland, new seacocks.
Sails and Rigging
Slab reefing mainsail (new 2005) with new mainsail cover. No. 1 Genoa, 150%, on Sailspar roller furling gear (new 2006). Working jib, tri-radial spinnaker. All sails by Gowen of West Mersea. Gold anodised alloy mast by Proctor. Gold anodised boom by Sailspar. Stainless steel standing rigging (new 2019).
Engine
Yanmar twin cylinder 2GM20 18HP inboard diesel engine, started first time after winter layup. Professionally serviced 2022. Alternator charging two 12 volt batteries. Shaft drive to fixed propeller. 45 litre fuel-tank. All of her engine mounts were replaced 2022.
REMARKS:
“Bright Morning” was the first Holman 31 following on from the design of the Stella, but larger and followed closely by the Twister and the North Sea 24. She has obviously been a much-loved boat and remains cosmetically in superb order. She has been a successful club racer and cruising boat and has won several West Mersea regattas. She is an extremely attractive design and her current owner has copies of the original design drawings. She is reluctantly on the market as the current owner is no longer able to make best use of her and wishes her to find a new home where she will receive the care and appreciation she deserves.
LYING: East Coast
VIEWING: Through CLASSIC YACHT BROKERAGE
DISCLAIMER: Classic Yacht Brokerage offer the details and photographs of this vessel in good faith as a guide but cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information or images, or warrant the condition of the vessel, machinery or rig. Buyers should instruct their representative, agents or their surveyors to investigate such details as the buyer requires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice
