Offered as a sloop or ketch, Bella Figura is a ketch design. She developed from the Bermuda 30 where another foot plus 2 inches were added and the rudder became attached rather than hung on the transom. Some 150 hulls (all 1" thick) were produced by Cheoy Lee Shipyard of Hong Kong. She actually is a modified Herreshoff designed as a racer cruiser with emphasis on speed, comfort and utility. She has a low wetted surface and a long, stable lateral plane. Her reputation suggests she is quite dry in a chop, easy to handle on all points of sail with maximum rudder handling. She has a "big-boat" motion. The side decks are wide, and like the foredeck, is clear of obstacles to aid in sail handling. Offered with a wheel or tiller, Bella Figura sports a wheel and the ketch rig is particularly excellent for offshore cruising. The spars are made of Sika Spruce and are regularly maintained and varnished by a very particular owner to keep them nice and in great condition. Her interior is pretty traditional with a double forepeak berth that is an unusual 7.5' long. The head and vanity lie just aft and port and starboard settees aside the table are 6' in length. The table folds up on the bulkhead when not in use. A cabin heater and oil lamp keep her cozy on chilly nights. The interior is richly appointed with teak. The galley is to port of the companionway. There is a navigation/chart table, lots of storage and hanging locker. The current owner has performed extensive upkeep including removing the teak deck & epoxying the core to the fiberglass deck and then replacing the teak deck. All stanchions, chain plates, railings & deck attachments have been rebedded. This boat is cruise ready. The re-powered Perkins inboard is over sized for the boat & works great (approx. 395 hours). Original engines were either an Atomic 4 or Volvo MD-2825. Owner is reluctantly selling because of age and physical limitations. He claims this boat will last another 50 years, easily.