Sparkman and Stephens designed the 48’ auxiliary cutter ALEMBIC to give her maximum windward ability (design #1479). Built by Chapman and Kalayjian, in Costa Mesa, CA, she was launched at Newport Beach in 1960, for the original owner, Dr. Gordon Alles.
Construction is mahogany, strip planked, over white oak frames. The box-beam mast is Sitka spruce and the boom Douglas Fir. Original trim is Honduras mahogany, much of which has been replaced with Sapele. She is bronze fastened and has bronze floors atop the deadwood. Decks are fiberglass covered ⅝” plywood. Below deck, ALEMBIC has been repowered with a Westerbeke 62 hp diesel and she carries 60 gallons of fuel and 140 gallons of water in monel tanks. Pulpit, pushpit and stanchions are all monel on bronze bases.
She has accommodations for seven, with two in the owner’s stateroom forward, and full berths for five guests. In the galley, which is situated aft on the portside, there is a propane stove with an oven, and an ice box. The light build, simple interior and expansive sail lockers are indicative of the owner’s focus on ocean racing. Dr. Alles, a research chemist, named the vessel for the ancient tools of alchemists called Alembics. These were used to derive the essences of perfumes from flowers or spirits from wines. Similarly, ALEMBIC will serve to distill the essence of sailing for all those aboard.