“Aristos of Kenya” was launched in 1983 in Kilifi, Kenya.  Her builder brought the hull and spars from the UK and fitted her out in Kilifi.  Her interior is constructed using local hardwood giving a warm ambience and she was specifically designed for long distance cruising in the tropics.

She is a 56 foot / 17m auxiliary packet ketch constructed to a design by a well-known naval architect, Alan Pape.  She was designed to meet Lloyds 100A1 specifications.  She is registered in with Jersey Harbours, official number 713410, and flies the British Red Ensign.

Her overall dimensions are 56 feet / 17m in length, 14’6” or 4.4m beam with a draught of 6’6” or 2m.  Her fully provisioned displacement is 21 tons, or 19 tons excluding fuel and water.

She can carry two foresails, a main sail and a mizzen sail, the main sail was replaced in August 2007.  A Perkins Sabre M130C marine 6 cylinder, normally aspirated diesel engine is fitted, giving a maximum hull speed of 8.5 knots 2/3 engine power.  Two 450 liter steel fuel tanks holding a total of 900 liters gives a large range under power if needed.  “Aristos” has 3 cabins; one double cabin in the bow, one twin cabin in the center, and one double / twin cabin in the stern.  There are two heads with marine toilets and showers; one en suite to the stern cabin and one shared by the forward and twin cabins.  In 2006, a silent marine diesel generator and air conditioning were fitted to “Aristos”.