ISABEL looks backwards and forwards at the same time. Above the waterline, the 21.64-metre sailing yacht borrows the long, elegant visual language of classic J-Class yachts, while underneath that appearance sits a Kevlar-and-epoxy performance platform designed for modern cruising.
Northrop & Johnson has brought the 2001 Olsen yacht to market at $1.2 million through brokers Elizabeth Swain and Hank Halsted. The listing follows extensive work completed in 2025 and gives buyers a chance to assess whether a distinctive custom yacht can offer more character than a newer production alternative.
Georg Nissen gave the yacht a classic reference point
German naval architect Georg Nissen designed ISABEL with particular inspiration from Endeavour, one of the best-known J-Class yachts. The influence is strongest in the profile and deckhouse rather than in the underwater design, which is built around performance-cruising priorities.
That separation is important because retro styling can sometimes be little more than decoration. On ISABEL, the visual character sits over a composite hull, tall rig and lifting keel intended to keep the yacht capable rather than purely nostalgic.
Carbon spars and powered systems reduce crew demand
A Hall Spars carbon mast and carbon Park Avenue boom are paired with powered Andersen winches and hydraulic controls for the headsail furling, vang and backstay. The objective is to make a 72-footer manageable without requiring a large sailing crew for every manoeuvre.
For owners in this size range, that can change the economics and spontaneity of using the yacht. A boat that can be handled by a smaller team is easier to take away for shorter trips instead of turning every departure into a staffing exercise.
The 2025 programme addressed both finish and sailing gear
Northrop & Johnson says the Flag Blue topsides were refinished, the bottom was stripped, faired and refinished, and exterior brightwork received eight coats of varnish. New North Sails and new running and cockpit rigging were also added, while a new teak deck is on order.
That work gives buyers a useful starting point, but it should still be verified through invoices, survey and inspection. On a 2001 custom yacht, the condition of structural, hydraulic and electrical systems matters at least as much as the appearance of the renewed exterior.
A lifting keel expands the cruising envelope
The hydraulic keel changes draft from about 7ft 5in raised to around 12ft 9in fully lowered, combining shallower-water access with a deeper sailing configuration. Retractable bow and stern thrusters support manoeuvring under power alongside a 160hp Deutz diesel and Gori three-blade feathering propeller.
Below deck, ISABEL carries a king-bedded master forward, two guest cabins aft of the saloon and separate two-berth crew quarters. For a buyer who values classic looks, genuine sailing capability and a more individual interior than mainstream series yachts provide, the specification makes the $1.2 million asking price worth a closer technical inspection.
