Design: Hedley Nichol Voyager Trimaran
Year: 1968
Length: 50 Ft
Width: 24 Ft
A RICH HISTORY IN HAWAII AND BEYOND
Trimaran Free Spirit, came to Hawaii in 1973 via the Caribbean and South Pacific. When she was built on the beach behind a house in San Diego in 1968, she was the biggest trimaran in the world. She operated as a sailing club in Hawaii for two decades. By creating community and ocean education opportunities, she has touched countless people's lives. She embodies the spirit of Aloha. We want to continue this tradition.
THE FULL STORY
In 1961 Brian Edelstein was a young man who had never sailed. At that time he was married with 3 young children. One day he found himself aboard Arthur Piver’s NIMBLE (a 30’ sailing trimaran design) on San Francisco Bay, towing water-skiers behind in excess of 20 knots. Brian was hooked. Shortly thereafter he decided to build his first tri, a Piver NIMBLE, hull #8. He completed the project in 1963 and set out to become an accomplished tri sailor.
By 1965 Brian decided to move up, purchasing plans to build a 35’ Piver LODESTAR, which he completed in early 1967. Later that year Brian heard about possible charter opportunities in the Caribbean, so he took a trip to explore the possibilities. He decided to return to Southern California, where supplies were plentiful, and build a larger tri for charter. He selected the plans of Australian designer Hedley Nicol for his 45’ VOYAGER design. Brian then set out to find a residence where he could live and build his boat and still have access to the ocean upon completion. He found just such a home with a 1 year lease in Imperial Beach and planned to begin construction in the back yard that summer of 1968.
Brian modified the design stretching it to 48’ primarily by redesigning the bow shear of the three hulls from a short, blunt “Duckbill” configuration to the present long and narrow shears that so beautifullypeal the spray in thin layers as she cuts the sea. He completed construction and was painting the rudder as the magnificent tri was being towed from the driveway exactly one year later. That day she was christened “Water Gypsy”. The family moved aboard and began the task of commissioning her with all of the necessary standing and running rigging, sails, and hundreds of miscellaneous deck fittings. Altogether, Brian worked 16 hour days for 18 months to complete the project.
They left for the Caribbean in December ’69 and by summer had cruised to the Virgin Island via Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. Charter opportunities looked good, so they decided to stay temporarily. For 3 years they chartered day-sails, week cruises and summer camps while their children were home schooled through 7th grade.
In 1972, they decided to return to California by way of the Galapagos Islands in a 37-day, non-stop cruise. After 2 years in California they again set sail, this time for French Polynesia to explore the Marquesas and Tahiti. One year later they dropped anchor in Hilo Bay. There Brian got a degree in Geography from U.H. Hilo. In ’74 they sailed to Oahu and entered the charter business.
In June 1982 “Water Gypsy” was purchased by Frank Wandell, renamed “Free Spirit”, and put into service as the primary club boat for a new venture, the Free Spirit Sailing Systems, an adventure cruising club. In 1992 she was purchased by her current owner, Captain Gordie Morris, who operated the Club for another 10 years logging over 50,000 nautical miles providing inter-island adventure cruises, day-sailing, and advanced sail training for over 400 members. Additionally, Captain Morris founded the Captain’s Club to provide sailing and ocean opportunity to Foster Children. During this period Free Spirit underwent a complete rebirth including major hull renewal, painting, new standing and running rigging, new sails, major engine overhaul, a new keel and rudder design, re-wiring and all new electronics.
When Captain Mike bought the boat in 2025, her knew he wanted to continue the rich tradition.
CONSTRUCTION
Free Spirit is constructed of Pacific Northwest Red Spruce. The long wood fibers of spruce provide high strength and flexibility at a relatively light weight, a fact that led the Wright Brothers to build the first effectual aircraft out of spruce wood; spruce is still used to make gliders. Trimarans are not designed to be heavy displacement boats like monohulls. Moreover, they are designed to be light and glide over thesea rather than struggle forward by displacing the water. The light weight and buoyancy of this wood is also the primary reason that it is difficult to sink when flooded or even overturned. Her method of construction is “cold molded”, a process of laying multiple strips of thin plywood over the structural frames. Free Spirits plywood hulls were bonded together with Urac glue and bronze fastenings. The amas are double, diagonally laid, 4” strips of ¼” ply while the main hull is 3 layers of 3/16” ply (double diagonally laid with a
horizontal layer sandwiched between. Her outer hulls and decks are covered with a double skin of 6 oz. cloth and resin with 3 layers below the waterline.
Her length-over-all (LOA) is 48’ and her beam is 24’. She is strong, spacious and extremely sea-kindly underway or at anchor. She has a comfortable accommodation below decks with a main hull beam of 8’ and 4’ in the amas.
TECHNICAL SPECS
“Free Spirit” is a custom vintage, 50’ LOA, Ketch Rigged, trimaran. She is a Hedley Nicol “Voyager” design, built by Brian Edelstein, Imperial Beach, CA. in 1968. She’s a proven world-class cruiser, safe, spacious, comfortable, and with all the conveniences of a family liveaboard. She is well maintained, modernized, and fully equipped.
As a party boat, on deck she will comfortably accommodate over 30 guests (originally USCG certified for 38). Her cruising accommodation is 12, including a double V-berth w/ private head, vanity, hot shower, and ample stowage, plus 4 spacious double berths (2 per wing deck) with ample stowage, head & vanity area in the Stbd Ama and a 3rd vanity area in the Port Ama. The large main saloon seating provides dining for 6 at the teak double-drop-leaf table, 2 additional (over/under) berths, and a large open-counter galley with a Force 10, 3 burner oven/range, Isotherm 5.2 cu. ft. refer/freezer, 125-gal potable water, raw-water foot pump, and copious stowage for food and supplies. She has full 6’ 6” headroom throughout and is well ventilated by overhead deck hatches and 10 opening bronze ports. The aft cabin is a functional, fully tooled, workshop with forward access to the generous engine room, battery banks, and fuel.
HULL
The hull is composite, “Cold Molded” (fiberglass over wood), double diagonal w/ horizontal sandwich on the main hull and double diagonal on the Floats (Amas). Over the years, extensive hull renewal has been professionally implemented from keelson to 3’ above the waterline.
DIMENSIONS
Dimensions Overall: 50’ LOA, 48’ LOD, 24’ Beam, 4’6” Draft , Displacement is 22,426 lbs., gross tonnage 23 Tons
KEEL
She has an upgraded Hydrodynamic keel designed by Antrim Associates and a redesigned Spade Rudder. Combined, greatly improving steerage, point, maneuverability, and reduced leeway.
ENGINE
She is powered by a well-maintained Perkins 4-236 (85hp) Diesel with lots of spare parts. Her reduction and reverse gear is a Borg-Warner, 2-1 Ratio, hydraulic (rebuilt 3/2019). She sports a 3-blade Classic, 70mm, Sea Shield Max Prop with a recently renewed PSS Dripless Shaft Seal and Cutlass Bearing (Duramax Marine Bird, 1 1/4” X 1 3/4” X 5”). Speed, under power is 8 knots (at current adjustable prop pitch).
STEERING
Steerage is achieved by a 32” teak helm, chain to cable to quadrant, with Raymarine Type 1 linear drive Auto Pilot.
The custom teak Helm Station displays her “state-of-the-art” instrumentation (renewed 2018), including engine gauges, Multi-Function Display w/ GPS Plotter, Radar, Auto Pilot, Depth, Wind, speed a Standard Horizon GX1600 VHF, Class D DSC w/ Ram 3, Windlass toggle plus remote, and 406 EPIRB.
SAILS AND WINCHES
- Jib: 345 sq.ft. (Very Good), Harken Roller Furling, 2 Lewmar #55, 2-spd, self-tailing Winches
- Main: 337 sq.ft. (Good), 2 reef pts., stack-pack, Harken #44, 2- speed, self-tailing Winch
- Mizzen: 173 sq. ft. (Good), 2 reef pts., stack-pack Lemar #8
- Storm Jib: 122 sq.ft. (New), Jib Winches
- Main Halyard Winch, Antal #48, 2-speed, self-tailing
- Mast and Mizzen Winches: 4 ea., Lewmar #16, non-self-tailing
- Conveniently rigged to single-hand
ELECTRICAL SUPPLY 12V
- Charging: Engine Alternator, 2 ea. Natural Power 165 W Rigid Monocrystalline Solar Panes plus 2ea. 400 W, Air-X Wind Turbines
- 300 W inverter
- Batteries: House 4 ea. G/Y, DC31 Marine 180, Cranking 1 ea. RC 875 MCA, 1 ea. Windlass 1 Gel (forward)
GROUND TACKLE
- Primary: 35# CQR w/ 300’ 5/16 HT chain
- Secondary: 21# Fortress w/ 30’ 5/16” HT chain and 300’ 9/16” 3-strand nylon
- Lunch hook: 13# Danforth w/ 200’ of 3/4” 3-strand nylon
- Bow & Stern Rollers
- Lewmar Windlass, Pro-Fish 1000, Free-Fall, (Helm Station & Wireless Remote controls)
- Chain Stopper, HD