Island Packet 440, JESSICA MEI

Broker’s Comments

The Island Packet 440 is an ideal cruising yacht. The brain child of naval architect Bob Johnson, and the Island Packet design team, they created a popular cruising yacht with a traditional exterior, and a cutter rig, using modern construction techniques. The result is a true bluewater vessel capable of crossing oceans but with a draft of only 5’ she is also able to enter those sought-after anchorages.

The Island Packet 440 provides enormous living space for her size – with plenty of storage to hold gear for a circumnavigation and enough sail to speed comfortably to your destination with the convenience and safety of managing her from the cockpit. Below deck, you’ll be immediately impressed by the panoramic view of the open main saloon, the spacious forward and aft cabins, each with private heads, impressive woodwork throughout, large galley, and spacious navigation centre, rivalling those found on much larger yachts.

Overall Island Packet 440 JESSICA MEI is in a very good condition, with one owner since new. They have cared for her lovingly. She has benefitted from extensive maintenance and recent upgrades include new rigging, Axiom Pro navigation system, AIS, electric winches, inverter and Eberspacher heating providing hot air to each cabin and the saloon. With minimal distance sailed over the years, she will provide her new owner with the perfect platform for long distance and coastal cruising.

Sales Video

Owner’s Comments

We have owned Island Packet 440, JESSICA MEI since new – with the original intention of long term voyaging where toughness and comfort are essential. However business and family commitments intervened and we are downsizing to a smaller boat.

JESSICA MEI is sea kindly and tough, as we found during our December voyage to Hamburg, where in busy waters she coped well during a force 8 gale with rough seas and thick fog necessitating heavy reliance on our AIS and radar to keep us safe! We completed our outbound trip nonstop in an impressive 3 days; pretty good going for such a heavy boat.

Given her design and purpose, sailing close hauled is not her best point of sail, preferring more favourable winds. However when returning from Hamburg, flying our cruising chute in 14 knots of wind, we managed an impressive 10 knots through the water.

Much of our sailing has been in the Solent where the waters are constricted and can be crowded, consequently given her strong suite is not sailing close hauled, frequent tacking can be hard work for which the electric winches are a great help.