"Mahili" was built in 1984 at Chantiers Amel, La Rochelle, France. She is an Amel Maramu, constructed of solid laminate fibreglass in the hull and topsides, with balsa cored fibreglass decks. The" on-deck" length is just under 46 feet, and the load waterline just under 36. Loaded in cruising trim, she displaces some 12700 kg of water. A sloop-rigged ketch, she flies one headsail, a mainsail, a mizzen sail, and occasionally a mizzen headsail. Sail area is approximately 900ft square with genoa and full main and mizzen. To manage storm conditions, she is fitted with a removeable stay just inside of the forestay for flying a small working jib or storm jib in winds over 25 and 35 knots, respectively. The main is fitted with two deep reef points, the mizzen one. We also carry a cruising spinnaker with snuffer sock for use in light following breezes. The masts are by Isomat, France, with 5/16 stainless wire rigging on the mainmast,9/32 on the mizzen. We carry no storm trysail; the reefed mizzen will be our storm canvas. Mahili is a comfortable cruising boat, thanks in part to a large, deep centre cockpit with fibreglass dodger and lexan windows. The cockpit is drained by two 75mm diameter drains that are integral fibreglass tubes in the hull; no hoses or valves to worry about. The helm is located on the forward cockpit bulkhead beneath the dodger; unconventional, but extremely comfortable in a blow. Companionway is slightly off centre to starboard, with integral hatch board adjustable to any height. There are large lockers in the cockpit for cruising gear, and two sail lockers in the bow, accessible from on deck and securable from below. Propane is carried in a sealed locker in the aft deck. The hull is performance oriented, yet cruising minded. A deep, long fin keel with skeg-hung rudder. The rudder is hollow, with no foam core to disintegrate. 5 stainless webbing straps reinforce this area. the skeg is strong, purported to support the weight of the boat in a grounding. The iron ballasted keel is external, attached with 22 keel bolts accessible in the base of the keel water tank. She carries 1000 litres of water, 450 diesel. The bilges are dry, and used for stowing bottles and canned goods. Gray water drains to a deep sump in the keel aft of the water tank. Engine access is quite good, but accessible only via a large overhead hatch in the cockpit.