71' Abeking & Rasmussen Motorsailer Yacht (1950) - LITTLE VIGILANT

Built in 1950 by Abeking & Rasmussen at their Bremershaven yard. Designed with classic New England lines for Drayton Cochran of New York by the Eldridge & McInnis firm of Boston in the style of a Maine sardine carrier, but with appointments of a dedicated ocean capable yacht. Little Vigilant was cruised by Cochran throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, and northern Africa. The Ketch rig of Little Vigilant was designed to allow its masts to step down to deck level, accommodating transit of fixed bridges throughout its then cruising grounds.

Sold in 1961 Little Vigilant was lost to indoor storage in the UK for forty years before being found by its next dedicated steward. Between 2005 and 2019 that owner passionately restored, refit, and personally utilized Little Vigilant. Upgrades like air conditioning made comfortable cruising in the Caribbean for this classic yacht and opening the galley gave the layout below decks a more modern feel. Repowered, the addition of a bow thruster, and modern ground tackle controls for the original hydraulic windlass creates an ocean capable vessel that is a knack to handle in coastal waters and marinas.