Tigerlily of Cornwall Is the Perfect Classic Yacht for Modern Sailing

Tigerlily of Cornwall, formerly operating under the name of Danielle of Hamm, is not among the best-known classic schooners that turn heads during regattas and are worth tens of millions. Discrete and exuding an understated elegance, this English beauty was enjoyed privately for many decades, away from the spotlight.

Brokers are calling it an archetypal motorsailer, which has to do not only with its timeless design but also with its heritage. Tigerlily of Cornwall was built in 1989 on the East Coast of the UK. The Cochrane shipyard dates back to the 19th century. Andrew Cochrane founded it in 1884 at Beverly. Starting in 1896, it officially became known as Cochrane & Sons. A couple of years later, it moved to Selby, where Tigerlily of Cornwall would come to life.

The shipyard closed in the early 1990s, which makes any surviving Cochrane yacht all the more special. Throughout the years, it has built military ships, research vessels, and ferries. One of its vessels from the 1950s became famous after Greenpeace turned it into its flagship, the Rainbow Warrior II.

Tigerlily of Cornwall is officially a bluewater cruising yacht boasting a majestic schooner rig and twin screw. Schooners are classic sailboats with at least two masts, where the foremast is equal to or shorter than the mainmast.

Size-wise, Tigerlily is just under 33 meters (107 feet), combining a steel hull with a steel and teak superstructure. It was designed by Oktem, with naval architecture by the legendary Laurent Giles. The Laurent Giles studio is one of the oldest names in the world of yacht design. Founded way back in 1927, it currently holds more than 1,400 designs in its portfolio. Atomic, Manutara, and Unplugged are some of the most famous luxury yachts designed by Laurent Giles. Stella Maris, one of its iconic projects, won numerous awards in 2012.

Over the past 20 years, this British schooner remained under the same ownership. These were good owners who made sure to keep beloved classic boat in great condition. The refits included cosmetic upgrades and replacing all outdated machinery and systems with modern alternatives. For this year's season, Tigerlily got a fresh paint job and a thorough revision of its water tanks.

The same owners enjoyed the classic sailboat as much as they could. The Tigerlily of Cornwall was put to good use, cruising thousands of nautical miles in both warm and cold waters. It traveled all across the Mediterranean and reached the Pacific and even the Arctic Circle. Throughout the decades, it cruised in many wonderful locations, covering up to 250,000 nautical miles (more than 400,000 km).

In terms of configuration, this classic schooner combines surprisingly large deck spaces with generous accommodation. It can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests in four staterooms, while a four-person crew caters to their needs.

The main salon is as classic as you'd expect, showing off abundant mahogany and Middle Eastern-style accents. It has enough space for comfy seating and a large table for formal dining, also doubling as a fun game table in the evening. The old vessel's original interior design was created by Robert Jankel.

Tigerlily's most unusual feature, and one of the most attractive for contemporary guests, is the mid-ship jacuzzi. Spa pools are rare onboard sailing yachts, especially those that are more than three decades old. Still, the old British sailboat got one during one of its regular upgrades. It's not too big, but it's impressive nonetheless.

Another feature elevating it to modern cruising status is the well-equipped toybox. This retro sailboat packs kayaks, water skis, wakeboards, plus scuba equipment and diving gear.

Classic and modern at the same time, the Tigerlily of Cornwall continues to cruise smoothly at a moderate speed of eight knots (9.2 mph/14.8 kph). It can't go faster than 14 knots (16 mph/26 kph), while its maximum range is approximately 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 km) at cruising speed. In addition to its majestic sails, it's powered by twin Ford Sabre diesel engines.

This classic gem was lucky to hold on to the same owners for two decades, but now it's time for a new chapter. Like most yacht owners, they want to try a bigger and better pleasure craft, which leaves Tigerlily of Cornwall up for grabs. Considering its age, the British heritage, and the moderate asking price of €1.2 million ($1.3 million), this timeless beauty is a bargain.