About Kelebek

Kelebek is an Irwin 41 ketch, built and launched in Clearwater, Florida in January 1983. Kelebek has an overall length of 45'6", a length on deck of 41'8" and a waterline length of 35'1". She has a 13'4" beam and a draft of 4'6".

While these lengths may seem definite here, out on the oceans Kelebek feels like a small 41, but then a very big 41 when painting the bottom in the boatyard.

The 4'6" draft means that we can explore more shallow areas, but it also affects the upwind performance. We are a cruising yacht though and as we all know, "Gentlemen don't sail to windward".

The hull and deck are fibreglass and the interior is a combination of varnished teak and white panelling.

Over the last 25 years and more than 80,000 miles Kelebek has been a comfortable home and sound sailing boat for us. From time to time we've made additions or changes such as the canvas dodger, cherry or teak panelling to the interior walls and small comforts.

Engine: Perkins 4-154  60 HP

Fuel Capacity: 480 litres in 2 tanks

Fuel Consumption: 2.6 litres/hour

Kelebek's engine is quite economical. If conditions are good then we can motor at 6 knots, if not, then 5 knots. Our range is 1000miles. 

Anchor Windlass: Lofran Tigres

Ground Tackle:

Primary - 20kg Spade anchor with 80 metres of 10mm chain

Secondary - 45 lb CQR anchor with 10m chain and 100 m rode combination

100% Sail area is 960 sq feet but normally we use a 130% genoa, staysail, main and mizzen. If we are expecting an upwind passage then we change the genoa to the working jib, but if we are in light winds and feel like playing then we use the colourful cruising spinnaker. 

Our rollerfurling staysail is made of heavy cloth.  We use it in stronger winds and when motorsailing.

Unlike many cruising ketches we use our mizzen for more than justmounting the radar. When the winds increase we reef the mainsail until often we are sailing with a just the reefed genoa and mizzen. On Kelebek the genoa and mizzen compliment each other well.