Norlin 34 SPICA
‘Follow the arc to ARCTURUS, and speed on to SPICA…’
SPICA joined the 59º North family at the height of COVID in the summer of 2020, named in honor of Andy & Mia’s first boat ARCTURUS. Axel was born earlier that spring in March, and Mia & Andy wanted a boat they could keep and sail closer to home in the Baltic. With the big boats sidelined during COVID, this seemed like it made sense!
Browsing the listings, as you do, we found a Norlin 34 ‘Special’, based on the production Mk. 2 hull, but with a totally different deck layout and cockpit, optimized for racing the famous 350-mile Gotland Runt race in 1977. She’s a 1 of 1, the only boat like it. Andy could not resist the temptation to get a one-of-a-kind boat designed by one of his favorite designers (Peter Norlin), built in Sweden and perfect for family cruising and some racing.
In spring 2021, we refit SPICA for another run at Gotland Runt, getting a fresh suit of sails, new bottom paint, and entirely new electrical system from the batteries to the wiring and alternator, new instrument package and some TLC. Andy & Mia did most of the work in the shed at Gullberg’s Marina, the same shed where ARCTURUS was refit in the summer of 2013 with her new engine.
SPICA will remain in the Baltic and possibly west coast of Sweden where she’ll race and run cruising trips with 59º North when Andy & Mia aren’t on the big boats.
