Alubat Cigale 18

Super-rugged and hugely-capable 60ft aluminium water-ballasted cruising yacht from Alubat and Groupe Finot with full bluewater specification and versatile 4-cabin, 4-heads interior layout.

FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:

Extremely rare to the market, ELEONORA 2 is a 2008-launched example of the Groupe Finot designed semi-custom Cigale 18m from Alubat in France.

Conceived as a safe, fast and comfortable bluewater cruising yacht, the basis of the Cigale 18m is a slippery chined aluminium hull with broad transom, heavily roached mainsail an a cutter rig free of back-stays, supported by three sets of swept back spreaders. The inclusion of water ballast tanks aft allows for a manageable fixed draft of 2.90m (removing the complication of lifting keels) and helps to create an unsinkable hull.

The last of three Cigale 18’s built. ELEANORA was delivered to her current and only owner in 2008. Fitted out with a comprehensive bluewater specification and with a customised interior layout designed to provide enormous versatility with or without crew.

Having taken line honours in the 2014 ARC+ with a crossing time from the Mindelo to Saint Lucia of just 12 days, ELEONORA’s ocean capabilities are well proven. Coupled with her ultra-low maintenance unpainted aluminium topsides and synthetic teak decking, ELEONORA would be an ideal candidate for those planning  a circumnavigation or high-latitudes adventure.

ELEONORA 2 boasts many specification highlights including:-

• Aluminium hull, deck and superstructure construction with unpainted topsides
• Synthetic teak decks for zero-maintenance
• 2.90m torpedo bulbed lead keel
• Semi-skegged aluminium rudder
• Water ballast system created aft crash structure and unsinkable hull form
• Versatile 4-cabins 4-heads layout with aft saloon and stunning cherry interior joinery
• Aft targa-arch providing support for solar panels, antennas and high-mounted dinghy davit for safe passagemaking in following seas
• Sloop/cutter rig with low boom and heavily roached mainsail, for lower centre of gravity and increased stability. Triple swept-back spreaders removing need for backstays.
• Recently replaced standing rigging
• Lewmar powered winches
• Furling code sail
• 92hp Yanmar diesel engine with shaft drive and 4-bladed MaxProp
• Retractable bowthruster
• Northern Lights generator
• Inverter
• Solar panel array
• Dessalator watermaker
• Air-conditioning
• Diesel-fired cabin heating
• Washing machine
• Updated Raymarine instruments with radar, plotters and twin autopilots
• SSB radio with Pactor modem
• Satellite phone system
• Dinghy with outboard engine

MANUFACTURER HISTORY:

In 1974 ALUBAT built ‘VODKA’, the prototype of the first OVNI ever: the OVNI 25. It was made of aluminium but with a fin keel. Then, the OVNI 31 soon enlarged the range, but as a weighted lifting keel boat. After that, the OVNI 28, launched in 1978, was the first aluminium lifting keel boat and although it had a bilge keel, it did set the tone for the next designs.

Later, in 1994, the yard started to build keel yachts. Today, this range includes 4 CIGALES (from 14 to 22 meters) and the 'ALUBAT 58'.

Bought out in 2014 by 14 shareholders represented by Michel Berson, president, and managed by Christian PICARD, the ALUBAT shipyard has built more than 1,500 units, all aluminium, most of which are still sailing all over the world.

DESIGNER’S COMMENTS:

We wanted to make a sure, simple boat to handle, which allows to go fast and far in complete safety with enough comfort, great space of life, low angles of heal because of the water ballasts and easy to handle and to drive thanks to twin helms non-overlapping genoa and good positioning of powered winches.

"I liked to start again, on the Comet 13, the boat which we navigate in family for 12 years, the principle of the aft saloon, of the stability reaching; but I wished besides water ballasts to limit heeling, a aft space big enough to place a dinghy..."

MANUFACTURER’S COMMENTS REGARDING BALLAST TANKS:

Contrary to some preconceived ideas, water ballast tanks do not affect the safety of the boat. When the full ballast is located to leeward, the ease of tacking is not affected, as long as the boat is carrying the right sails for the weather.

The ballast makes it possible to limit the heeling of the boat to 10 degrees and therefore makes it possible to increase the speed by 7 to 10%. Ballast maneuvering is designed to be simpler than reducing sail. It consists, for filling, in opening a valve and letting the ballast fill upwind, or in starting the engine for five minutes, to fill the ballast upwind. When tacking, just open a valve, wait 3 minutes, close it and then tack.

The ballast consists of two compartments welded to the hull on both sides (these compartments also create a safety partition in the event of impact or grounding and constitute an unsinkable volume).

Specifications

CONSTRUCTION

RCD Status:

• We understand this vessel complies with the RCD and is classed as Category A (Ocean).

Hull Construction:

• Hard chined hull profile
• The Cigale 18 is built in marine aluminum alloy AG4MC (5086HIII)
• Plate thickness 4,6,8,10 mm in the bottoms
• Alloy structural framing and stiffners welded to hull plating internally - 40 x 40 x4 stringers
• Additional welded rubbing strake below sheerline.
• Armacell insulation between frames.
• Bare alloy between waterline and sheerband.
• Recessed, tinted polycarbonate portlights.
• Raw aluminium topsides finish with two-pack paint boot-top

Deck & Superstructure Construction:

• Welded alloy plate construction.
• Plate thickness 4mm with 6mm, 8mm and 10mm reinforcements
• Alloy toerail with freeing holes running the length of the deck outboard.
• Armacell insulation between frames.
• Tinted polycarbonate windows, bonded and screwed to secure.
• Superstructure painted with white two-pack paint system.
• synthetic teak decking to side decks, coachroof, cockpit and aft platform
• Teak slatted cockpit seating

Keel & Rudder:

• Fin keel, externally bolted with lead ballast and torpedo bulb
• Aluminium rudder blade with half-depth protective skeg

MACHINERY

Engine & gearbox:

• Yanamar 4JH3-THE, 4 cylinders inline, turbocharged and intercooler diesel engine producing 92hp @ 3700rpm
• Water-cooled diesel engine
• KM4A marine gear

Service & Maintenance:

• Serviced by the vendor at the manufacturer recommended intervals.
• Engine overruled 2020 (water exchanger, distribution, injectors, turbocharger)
• Engine hours – approx. 4100 as of beginning 2024

Propulsion & Steering:

• Shaft drive with bronze p-bracket
• MaxProp 4-bladed feathering propeller.
• MaxPower12vDC retractable bowthruster
• Lewmar/Whitlock rod drive steering system with twin helm pedestals and hide covered stainless steel wheels.
• Tiller emergency steering system connecting directly to rudder stock.

ELECTRIAL SYSTEMS

Voltage systems:

• 12vDC primary domestic system with 12vDC starting circuit and 220v AC via generator, inverter or shorepower

Battery Banks:

• 5x 12vDC service batteries – 2020.
• 12vDC Engine start battery.
• 12vDC Generator start battery
• 12vDC bowthruster battery
• Battery monitoring system at chart table

Charging / Inverter:

• Powersine 2,000w inverter.
• Victron energy battery charger with battery monitor at the chart table.

Generator:

• Northern lights 5Kw generator
• Generator hours – approx. 6,600 as of beginning 2024

Alternators:

• 12vDC engine mounted alternator

Solar Panels:

• 2x 50w (approx.) monocrystalline panels mounted on A-frame gantry.
• Dedicated charge controller for each

PLUMBING & GAS SYSTEMS

Fresh Water:

• The hot freshwater circuit is led into a well-insulated 60 litres stainless steel hot water tank, heated by engine or 220v AC immersion heater element 
• Fresh water shower in cockpit
• The fresh water system is driven by a pressure pump

Bilge Pumps:

• Electric bilge pump with separated pump in the forward sail locker
• Manual bilge pump
• Bilge pump for each head

Watermaker:

• Dessalator 100 litres/hours reverse osmosis watermaker
• Watermaker working under 220vAC and 12vDC

TANKAGE

Fuel:

• Approx. 600 litres fuel tanks in 2 tanks
• Tank level gauges at chart table
• Tanks cleaned 2020

Fresh Water:

• 600 litres fresh water capacity in 2 tanks
• Tank level gauges at chart table
• Tanks cleaned 2020

Holding Tanks:

• Holding tanks for each heads
• Tanks cleaned 2020

Aft Ballast tanks:

• Aft stbd and port ballast tanks
• Water transfer via pump or gravity
• Easy to access water pump under the dinette table
• 2x 1,000 litres water ballast tanks

NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

In Cockpit:

• 3x Raymarine i70s multi display for each steering column – 2020
• 1x Raymarine p70 autopilot display -2020
• Spare autopilot actuator with dedicated command
• Raymarine Axiom touch screen display
• Raymarine radar scanner mounted to aft targa arch
• Twin steering compasses

At Chart Table:

• Raymarine Axiom touch screen multi display

Communications Equipment:

• Icom IC-M604V VHF with DSC
• Icom IC-M801E HF SSB radio
• 2x Icom IC-M32 handheld VHF
• Inmarsat satellite connection
• Sailor Thrane & Thrane satellite antenna
• Pactor modem

DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT

Galley:

• Alpes Inox gimballed stainless steel stove with 3x gas burners and oven
• Twin stainless steel sinks with pressurised fresh water supply
• Front opening fridge
• Top opening fridge
• Top opening freezer isotherm - Inside workshop cabin
• Salt water foot pump
• Panasonic microwave oven

Heads:

• 12vDC electric saltwater flush marine toilets
• Hot & cold pressurised water supplies with shower in heads

Laundry:

• Aquamatic 4kgs washing machine

Heating & Ventilation:

• 2x 10.000 BTU Crusair air-conditioning systems with remote controls at chart table
• Webasto diesel fired hot air heater

Entertainment:

• TV LCD in the main saloon
• TV-LCD in the owner cabin

ACCOMMODATION

Summary of Accommodation:

• 7 berths in 4 cabins and 4 heads layout

Accommodation Finish:

• Interiors made of cherry wood
• White painted wood ceiling
• White leather upholstery
• Teak & holly soleboards
• Synthetic stone counters in galley and heads
• Blinds for deckhead hatches and side ports

Accommodation Layout from Forward:

• Forward portside double bed cabin (approx. 1.65m wide) with ensuite heads
• Forward starboard single bed (crew) cabin with ensuite heads
• Amidships owners cabin aft to port with king size bed and ensuite head
• Amidships guest cabin to starboard with double bed and ensuite head
• Walk-in locker to port accessing water maker, washing machine, AC, water heater
• Walk-in locker to starboard accessing generator
• Full equipped u-shaped  galley area aft to port with stove, sinks and fridges & freezers.
• Engine mounted centrally with access beneath central galley counter
• Chart table area to starboard
• Saloon area aft with large u-shaped seating set around central dining table

DECK EQUIPMENT

Rig:

• Sparcraft aluminium rig
• Fractional deck-stepped mast with three-sets of swept-back spreaders
• Aluminium boom
• Standing rigging replaced 2020
• Checkstays for staysail configuration
• Facnor LX 200 jib furler
• Facnor LX 200 staysail furler
• Carbon fibre genoa pole
• Bowsprit
• Hydraulic adjustment for 2x backstays
• Adjustable full-width mainsheet track in coachroof sole
• Towable sheet tracks for genoa and staysail
• 195sqm sail area upwind
• 80sqm main sail area
• 24sqm staysail are
• 105sqm genoa area

Winches:

• 2x Lewmar 68 2 speed self-tailing powered winches
• 3x Lewmar 54 2 speed self-tailing powered winches
• 1x Lewmar 54 2 speed self-tailing winch
• 1x Lewmar 2 speed self-tailing winch at the mast

Sails:

• One Sails furling genoa – 2015
• One Sails furling staysail – 2021
• One Sails full batten main – 2008
• One Sails FFR furling code sail – 2008

General:

• Double lifelines.
• Stainless steel mast pulpits
• Flush deckhead hatches
• Carbon folding passerelle
• Bathing ladder.
• Aft targa-arch mounting solar panels, radar scanner and antennas
• Carboway carbon fibre outboard engine davit
• Teak cockpit table with folding leafs

Anchoring & Mooring:

• 12vDC Lewmar reversing electric windlass
• 80 m ø 14mm stainless steel anchor chain
• Anchor
• Fenders & warps

Covers, Cushions & Canvas:

• Sprayhood with stainless steel frame
• Bimini with stainless steel frame
• Stackpack mainsail cover with lazyjacks

Tender & Outboard:

• Prestige rigid bottom 3.00m tender
• Outboard engine 9hp 4 strokes Mercury
• Tender tubular sun owning

SAFETY EQUIPMENT:

General note on safety equipment: Any safety equipment such as liferafts, Epirbs, fire extinguishers and flares etc. are usually personal to the current owner(s) and if being left on-board as part of the sale of a used vessel may require routine servicing, replacement, or changing to meet a new owners specific needs.

Life saving:

• 2x Jon Buoy MOB
• EPIRB
• Anular with light MOB
• 8 person ISO 9650 inflatable cannister liferaft in stainless steel pushpit bracket

Disclaimer

Grabau International offers the details of all vessels in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information or warranty the condition of any vessel and the details do not constitute a part of any contract. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. All vessels are offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice. Grabau International provides professional yacht conveyancing and legal transfer of title for all yachts as per the ABYA Code of Practice with all deposit payments and final balance payments processed through secure dedicated client accounts solely for that purpose. Our dedicated client accounts are written in trust at Natwest Bank and we are fully insured.