Fast & powerful bluewater cruising with Dixon 65, LIARA

Originally launched in 2004, built at Southern Ocean Marine Down Under of exotics, the brief was to deliver a performance cruising yacht that could win regattas and offshore, whilst being comfortable for family cruising. She certainly delivered on this for her original and next owners.

History of Dixon 65, LIARA

Her current owners loved her lines, exciting and powerful sailing and generous interior accommodation in mahogany with great accommodation for eight people in four cabins.

They planned a world cruise and wanted to be able to manage LIARA, just the 2 of them, taking advantage of her speed for fast passage times and her in-boom furling which tames her mainsail.

You can see LIARA’s walk through video here:

Prior to departure in 2017/2018 they embarked on a significant refit which ranged from service to rebuild to alteration – even to include new mahogany soleboards which really look the business today. Her owners outline these enhancements below:

Exploring the Refit Works to Dixon 65, LIARA

“The forward lazarette had a Lewmar hatch with Plexiglass which bothered us when we worked on the foredeck. We were worried about what would happen if a heavy breaker hit the foredeck. So, we removed the entire hatch including the frame and replaced it with an extremely stable and safe teak-covered hatch.

To be even safer at anchor, we replaced the 45kg C.Q.R. anchor with a Rocna of 55kg. To match the anchor, we bought also stainless-steel chain from ‘Ketten Waelder’ 10mm Cromox Premium 35 duplex, 110m. This of course included also a new and stronger Lewmar V6 capstan. We replaced the hydraulically/electronically operated anchor arm with a new one that works with gas springs for safer operation. At this time, we also increased the amps of the anchor/bow thruster batteries.

For a second anchor we bought an Aluminium Spade 200 with an 80m rope as well as a Fiorentino para-anchor 21’ diam. with 2 x 100m 24mm warp and a large Shark storm drogue (Fiorentino).

The GRP davits were replaced with Simpson Marine 175kg stainless steel davits which work brilliantly.

An important improvement was to update the redundant navigation system. LIARA has a PC based (MaxSea) system and additionally a Furuno TZ touch14 system on the port helm station. Both systems have AIS and radar overlay. Normally, both systems are integrated, but they can work independently.

As time went by, the dark blue colour of LIARA’s hull bothered us more, not least because the hull got very hot from the sun, so we painted her ‘Matterhorn White’. Both the paint and the antifouling were removed back to the epoxy resin layers and then the paint coatings were replaced as well as the antifouling.

To sail safe and fast downwind we bought a Parasailor from Isteck (Germany) and got rid of the spinnakers.

The installation of the Locomarine yacht router was also a good investment, allowing us to access shore-based WLAN stations and GSM/LTE transmitters from a longer distance.

We like very much the sophisticated Weathermax sprayhood with the possibility to open the front glass plus as well as the Weathermax bimini with integrated Strataglass windows so that we can monitor the mainsail. The bimini has an additional zipper for installing 3 UV protection side panels.”

An Insight into the Current Plans of Dixon 65, LIARA

Unfortunately, the owners’ ill health delayed LIARA’s departure around the world and she has cruised only locally since. She has been maintained in the hope that she would make the trip, but this is clearly not now going to be possible.

Her owners are now focused on finding LIARA new sailors for this trip (or whatever programme her new owners decide upon) and have therefore reduced her price from €950,000 to €675,000 ex-VAT.

For further information about this very special, and under priced yacht please visit this link –
https://www.berthoninternational.com/yacht-sales-brokerage/yachts-for-sale/dixon-65-liara/

To arrange to view contact Sue Grant – sue.grant@berthon.co.uk.

Our local agent Filippo Martini – f.martini@7hyb.it is on hand to show you aboard – Tel: +39 392 4909184.

About Sue Grant | About Filippo Martini | Meet the Berthon Sales Group