1991 Tayana 55, 299 500 USD

Scirocco is a 1991 Tayana 55, a substantial center-cockpit bluewater cruising yacht designed by Dutch naval architect Pieter Beeldsnijder and built by the well-regarded Ta Yang yard in Taiwan. The Tayana 55 comes from an era when cruising boats of this size were built with long offshore passages in mind, with substantial displacement, good tankage, plenty of storage, and comfortable accommodation for extended periods aboard.

With her cutter rig, generous beam, protected center cockpit, and skeg-hung rudder, the Tayana 55 is very much a traditional offshore cruising design. She is not a lightweight performance boat, but instead offers the solid feel, comfortable motion, and directional stability that many experienced cruising sailors look for when spending days at sea.

Her cutter rig provides plenty of options for changing conditions and allows sail area to be reduced while maintaining a balanced sail plan. Electric furling for both the headsail and staysail, electric primary winches, and an electric main halyard winch make a boat of this size considerably more manageable for a small crew.

Scirocco has benefited from considerable investment during her current ownership, including major deck work and upgrades to her rig, sails, electrical and charging systems, refrigeration, generator, bow thruster, and navigation electronics. In 2023 the hull was faired, removing the manufacturing mold marks, and the entire hull and deck were painted with three to four coats of Awlgrip. The detailed history of the work is covered below in the owner's comments and equipment inventory.

Below decks, Scirocco's two-cabin arrangement makes good use of the volume available in a yacht of this size. Rather than trying to accommodate several smaller cabins, she provides two genuinely large sleeping cabins, with a king-size walkaround berth aft and a queen-size walkaround berth forward, along with considerable storage throughout.

The galley was substantially updated in 2023 with quartz countertops, a stainless steel sink and faucet, a Force 10 stove and oven, and refinished woodwork. Large refrigeration and freezer capacity, a watermaker, washer/dryer, air conditioning, and heating provide the systems needed for extended periods aboard.

Outside, the protected center cockpit is complemented by wide side decks, tall lifelines, and a large aft deck that provides useful additional living space. A custom stern arch carries the solar panels, wind generator, radar, and communications equipment, while heavy-duty davits keep the tender clear of the water and ready for regular use.

Scirocco will particularly appeal to buyers looking for a heavier, more traditional cruising yacht rather than a modern lightweight production design. Her storage, tankage, equipment, and living space are suited to extended cruising, while the cutter rig and powered sail-handling systems make her practical for a small crew. She is a well-proven Tayana 55 that has seen extensive bluewater use and has been continually upgraded with that purpose in mind.