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A legendary design. A modern refit. A vessel purpose built for real offshore sailing.
Vessel Overview
Built in 1969 by renowned German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen, s/v Libra is a 60′ custom center cockpit ketch designed by William H. Tripp Jr. With elegant lines, rugged fiberglass construction, and serious offshore performance, Libra has always stood out.
Over the past five decades, she's logged many hundreds of thousands of miles across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and North America—first with her original owners having set off around the world, and now as the flagship of Sail Libra’s offshore training program.
Refitted, refined, and continuously upgraded, Libra blends the timeless beauty of classic yacht design with the confidence of modern systems and offshore capability.
Design Heritage
The last of a visionary’s creations.
William H. Tripp Jr. was one of America’s most prolific and admired yacht designers of the 1950s and ’60s. Known for blending beauty with performance, Tripp designed custom offshore racers for elite clients and helped shape production models for builders like Columbia Yachts and Seafarer.
His designs emphasized:
Balanced hull shapes with long waterlines and fine entries
Divided rigs (like ketches) for shorthanded sail handling
Aesthetic restraint—boats that looked fast even standing still
Libra was one of Tripp’s final custom designs before his untimely death in 1971. Commissioned by Gerald W. Holden and built in Germany by Abeking & Rasmussen, she embodies Tripp’s ideal cruising yacht: capable of long-range ocean sailing, manageable by a couple, and built to endure.
“Classic lines, simple beauty, and efficiency of design were Bill Tripp’s key criteria in building the perfect boat.”
He is remembered in The Great American Yacht Designers (1974) and The Encyclopedia of Yacht Designers (2005) as a true innovator—someone who made yachts that were not only fast and elegant, but smartly designed for the sea.
Today, Libra carries that legacy forward—refitted, restored, and returned to the purpose she was built for: sailing far, fast, and confidently.
The Refit: Bringing Libra Back
When Ryan first saw Libra, she was docked across the bay from his day sail business in Orange Beach, Alabama. It was one of those moments—you see a boat and just know. Over time, he got to know the owner, helped out with small tasks aboard, and quietly hoped that, one day, the opportunity to become her caretaker might come his way.
In 2013, that call came—and with it began the journey of restoring one of the last custom yachts designed by Bill Tripp Jr.
From 2013 to 2015, Ryan led a full-scale, full-time refit of Libra. He was running his sailing business during the day and raising two young children, but every other hour went into bringing this legend back to life. With the help of friends, skilled craftspeople, and plenty of determination (and coffee), Libra was restored piece by piece.
Mechanical & Plumbing Overhaul
Libra’s original systems were beautiful but outdated. Everything was stripped back to the hull and rebuilt from scratch.
Bilge & Pumps: The original manual bilge system (bronze valves, nickel-copper plumbing) was removed. We installed 2 high-capacity dewatering pumps, along with 6 maintenance pumps—reliable, efficient, and ready for real offshore emergencies.
Freshwater: All plumbing and tanks were replaced. A clean tank selector switch was installed for simple management underway.
Through-Hulls: All 22 through-hulls were replaced to modern spec.
Electrical & Navigation Systems
Libra’s electrical system is completely custom and designed for real-world offshore redundancy.
Main Panel: A new dual-voltage panel delivers 12v, 36v DC and 110/220 AC shore or generator power.
Wiring: Every inch of wire was replaced and rerouted. The new system is clean, expandable, and robust enough to support future upgrades.
Lighting & Power: Recessed dimmable LED lighting throughout, USB power at each berth, and intelligent load planning.
Navigation: A fully integrated Raymarine and NMEA 2000 system with dual helm/station redundancy and mobile device connectivity. The nav station features a PC-based setup with full backup redundancy an auto logging of sailing passages.
Gallley & Interior Rebuild
We went deep on the galley—not just restoring, but REPLACING it with vast improvements.
Cabinetry: All galley cabinetry was rebuilt using solid mahogany and topped with sea-blue granite.
Appliances: We installed a GN Espace 5-burner stove, under-mount double sink, an air fryer, and a modern refrigeration system with 3 fridges and a deep freezer (over 8 cu ft).
Lighting: The galley and salon now feature warm LED lighting and improved workspace ergonomics.
Throughout the boat, the interior was restored with care:
Woodwork: Mahogany throughout, maintaining the original layout.
Overhead: The original wood overhead had fallen apart. We replaced it with tongue-and-groove PVC beadboard and installed over 100 recessed LED lights on dimmers.
Heads and Comfort Systems
Toilets: We installed new Raritan 32v electric heads, replacing the original Wilcox manual systems.
Cabinetry & Counters: All head compartments were refinished with granite counters and updated cabinetry.
Heating: The boat retains central heating for cold-weather passages with oil and solid fuel systems.
Deck, Rigging & Structural Work
Libra's deck and rigging were rebuilt with offshore safety, simplicity, and classic form in mind. Every element—from the rig to the toe rail—was stripped, redesigned, or restored to meet the demands of modern passage-making while honoring her original 1969 design.
Rigging: All standing and running rigging was replaced. A new self-tacking system was designed for the staysail.
Sails: A full new sail set by Schurr Sails was commissioned.
Centerboards: Libra’s two boards were removed, media blasted, inspected, and fitted with new lifting cables and pins.
Toe Rail: The original toe rail was beyond saving. We sourced 20′ lengths of Honduran mahogany in Biloxi, steamed them, and rebuilt the rail to Tripp’s original specs using Libra’s 1969 plans.
Foredeck: Reconfigured with a simplified anchoring system to eliminate tripping hazards.
Anchor: A 125 lb Mantus with 400′ of ½″ chain now leads the ground tackle.
Cockpit & Helm Redesign
Libra’s deep cockpit was built for safety. We preserved the layout but updated everything:
Helm Panel: Completely rebuilt, now equipped with a NavPod GP2080 unit. all new electronincs
Wheel: The original helm was replaced with a larger diameter wheel for better control and feedback offshore.
Between 2013 and 2015, s/v Libra underwent a full-scale restoration led by Captain Ryan—stripping the vessel to her core and rebuilding her systems, structure, and interior with a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern reliability.
Every system was evaluated and reimagined: from bilge plumbing to navigation electronics, from handcrafted mahogany cabinetry to a full rig replacement. The goal was simple—honor the integrity of Bill Tripp Jr.’s original design while preparing Libra to sail safely, comfortably, and confidently offshore for decades to come.
Specifications
General
DesignerWilliam H. Tripp Jr.
BuilderAbeking & Rasmussen (Germany)
Year Launched1969
ConstructionFiberglass
LOA60 ft
LWL48 ft
Beam[Add Beam If You Know It]
Draft6′ board up / 16′ board down
Displacement42 tons
Rig & Deck
Rig TypeCutter/Ketch
SparsAluminum
Air Draft71 ft
SailsFull suite by Schurr Sails
Anchoring400′ ½″ chain, Mantus 125 lb anchor
Centerboards2 — Main (Stainless), Aft (Bronze)
Systems
Engine175 HP Yanmar Turbo Diesel
Generator12kw Kubota (Phasor)
Fuel Capacity540 gal (4 tanks)
Water Capacity450 gal (4 tanks)
Electrical12/36v DC
Accommodations
BerthsSleeps 12
Cabins2 private staterooms + pilot berth
Heads2 (Raritan 32v electric)
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Lets Sail Together
You’re welcome to reach out directly — Captain Ryan is available by email at captain@saillibra.com or through the form below. For the quickest response, please send a text to his personal number: 251-923-8825. Include your name, your question, or a request for a callback. We appreciate you taking the time to explore Sail Libra and her offerings. If we’re offshore, there may be a delay in responding — thank you for your patience while we’re at sea.