39.8m Abeking & Rasmussen 4K Marked Sold After 2025/26 Refit

Superyacht Partners now lists 4K, the 39.78-metre Abeking & Rasmussen sailing yacht, as sold and no longer available for sale. Built in 2002 to Bill Tripp naval architecture and exterior design, the aluminium blue-water cruiser entered the latest stage of her brokerage life after a substantial 2025/26 refit that included a comprehensive Nauta Design interior refresh.

A proven Abeking & Rasmussen world cruiser changes hands

4K was conceived as a family-oriented world cruiser rather than a performance yacht designed only around regatta use. Her aluminium hull and superstructure, broad teak decks and Bill Tripp naval architecture were developed to combine offshore capability with the volume and practical circulation needed for extended periods aboard.

Superyacht Partners describes the yacht as capable of approximately three months of autonomy, with a 570 hp MTU engine supporting an estimated 2,000-nautical-mile range under power. That mechanical range complements her sailing capability and makes the yacht suitable for itineraries where reliable progress cannot depend on wind conditions alone. For buyers in the pedigree sailing-yacht market, that combination can be more important than age alone because hull construction, rigging philosophy and long-range systems define how confidently an older yacht can continue operating after a major renewal programme.

The 2025 refit reshaped the guest interior

In autumn 2025, Nauta Design was commissioned to refresh the guest spaces while retaining the character of the original interior. The programme introduced new flooring, softened architectural lines, revised finishes and a lighter contemporary palette intended to update the yacht without erasing the craftsmanship of the original design.

The refit also increased functional flexibility. A gym created forward of the lower saloon can convert into a fourth guest cabin when required, allowing owners to alternate between wellness space and additional accommodation depending on the cruising programme and guest configuration. Updating an established yacht in this way can preserve proven engineering while removing some of the dated finishes that often limit the appeal of older brokerage inventory. It also allows the refit budget to target the spaces owners and guests experience most directly rather than replacing systems without operational need.

Bill Tripp design underpins the blue-water brief

The yacht measures 39.78 metres with an 8.38-metre beam and a variable draft of 4.1 to 5.9 metres. Her 188 GT volume is relatively modest compared with a motor yacht of similar length, but the sailing platform prioritises stability, passage-making and deck space rather than maximum enclosed volume.

Superyacht Partners quotes cruising and maximum speeds under power of 10 and 12 knots respectively. More importantly for a yacht of this type, the design brief centres on dependable ocean capability and comfortable long-distance operation rather than headline motoring performance. The lifting-keel-style draft range also reflects the compromises inherent in serious sailing-yacht design, where upwind performance, stability and access to shallower water have to be balanced. Owners moving between ocean passages and coastal cruising therefore benefit from a platform designed around more than one operating condition.

The sale closes a brokerage chapter after major renewal

The direct Superyacht Partners listing now carries a sold status and states that 4K is no longer available for sale. No transaction value or buyer details are disclosed on the archived page, so the commercial terms remain private.

What is clear is that the yacht reached the transaction after significant recent investment in her guest areas and operating flexibility. For a 2002-built pedigree sailing yacht, that refit work materially changes the ownership proposition by combining established Abeking & Rasmussen engineering with a substantially renewed interior environment. The sold status also shows how recent refit investment can support marketability when the underlying build pedigree remains strong. While the final transaction terms are private, the combination of Abeking & Rasmussen construction, Bill Tripp design and Nauta’s renewed interior gave the brokerage campaign a clear technical and lifestyle story.

Official sources: www.superyachtpartners.com.