Plume is a well-traveled and extensively upgraded 1991 Kirié Feeling 416 Owner’s Version, combining the performance-oriented design of Philippe Harlé and Mortain with an unusually bright interior, generous accommodations, and a long list of practical improvements made specifically for short-handed and long-distance cruising.
Built by Kirié in France, the Feeling 416 is a true cruiser/racer: relatively light for her size, powerful under sail, and laid out with the space and comfort required for extended life aboard. With a 13’8″ beam, fin keel, spade rudder, masthead sloop rig, and approximately 6’4″ draft, the design offers a useful balance between sailing performance and cruising practicality.
Plume has covered more than 20,000 nautical miles under her current ownership, including passages from France to French Guiana, Panama, northern Canada, and ultimately Mexico. Her current owner purchased her in France nearly four years ago and has since focused heavily on making her easier to manage solo, more reliable offshore, and better suited to extended cruising. Plume has had only three owners from new, with the previous owner – an Airbus engineer – also making a number of thoughtful upgrades. The result is a yacht that has been actively used for the purpose for which she was designed.
Major Refit & Recent Upgrades
A substantial four-month refit was completed in Canada in 2024.
The original teak deck was removed and replaced with a modern nonskid paint system following Interlux recommendations. Throughhulls were renewed, the cutlass bearing and stuffing box were replaced, hull and deck were repainted, plumbing and electrical systems were refit, the diesel tank was cleaned, and the engine received extensive servicing. The 2024 refit also included a new mainsail, replacement of running rigging as necessary, communications upgrades, electrical panel work, installation of two autopilot systems, and a new dedicated bow thruster battery installed.
Further improvements continued in 2025 and 2026, including three new AGM house batteries, a new start battery, new wheel-steering bearings, professionally renewed exterior canvas stitching, refinished interior and exterior varnish, a new freshwater pump, and refurbishment of the dinghy outboard gearbox.
All major control lines have been led aft to the cockpit, allowing much of the vessel to be managed without regularly going forward. The sail inventory includes a 2024 mainsail, Hydranet tri-radial genoa with UV strip refreshed in 2024, serviced staysail, and a new storm jib. The yacht is also equipped with a retractable bowsprit, adjustable backstay, mast-mounted spinnaker pole, multiple robust winches, and a titanium gooseneck.
The large cockpit comfortably seats six, with additional room around the helm. Teak cockpit seating, teak sole grating, and a folding binnacle table make the space equally useful underway or at anchor for relaxing.
A collapsible dodger frame improves forward visibility when desired without requiring removal of the canvas. A stainless stern arch supports the bimini and dinghy-handling system and was repositioned during the 2024 refit for improved strength and usable deck space.
The reverse transom incorporates a sugar scoop seating area, lower swim platform, and folding swim ladder, making water access easy for swimming, diving, and tender operations.
Auxiliary power is provided by a 32hp Yanmar 4JH2E diesel, which the owner reports is run monthly.
Below decks, Plume feels remarkably open for a yacht of her vintage.
Large panoramic coachroof windows and light elm/ash joinery create an airy interior that contrasts sharply with the darker styling found aboard many yachts of the same period. The main saloon features generous seating, a folding centerline dining table, substantial storage, a C-shaped galley, and a dedicated forward-facing navigation station. The galley is arranged for practical use underway and includes twin stainless steel sinks, hot and cold pressurized water, filtered drinking water, a two-burner stove with oven, top-loading icebox, and extensive storage. The Owner’s Version layout provides three private cabins: a spacious forward owner’s cabin and two matching aft double cabins.
The vessel was originally built with two heads. The current owner has deliberately simplified the plumbing system by completely decommissioning the forward ensuite and converting it to storage, and the sink plumbing in the aft head has also been removed. The aft manual toilet and shower arrangement remain functional. The owner states that these alterations were made for reduced maintenance and could be reversed by a future owner if desired.
Another major part of Plume’s value is the amount of equipment included in the listing.
The yacht comes with an extensive inventory of tools, spare parts, replacement pumps, alternator, MPPT controller, inverter, autopilot ram, filters, seals, electrical and plumbing supplies, ropes, blocks, maintenance materials, and cruising consumables.
Also included is a substantial collection of recreational and adventure equipment, including SCUBA gear, freediving equipment, spearguns, climbing gear, kitesurfing equipment, surfboard, standup paddleboard, inflatable kayak, fishing gear, drone, and additional personal cruising equipment.
For a buyer planning to step directly into an active cruising lifestyle, this inventory represents significant practical value and avoids the expense and time required to build a comparable onboard equipment package from scratch.
Currently located in Mazatlán, Mexico, Plume is exceptionally well positioned for cruising the Mexican Pacific, Sea of Cortez, or preparing for the next offshore passage. The current owner is stepping away from sailing after several years of intensive solo cruising and intends to provide the next owner with meaningful personal access for handover and familiarization.
Plume will appeal most strongly to a sailor looking for something beyond a conventional production cruiser: a proven, performance-oriented yacht with extensive realworld passagemaking history, significant recent refit work, redundant systems, strong short-handed capability, and an unusually comprehensive inventory.
Features
- Proven offshore cruiser with 20,000+ nautical miles under current ownership
- Owner’s Version — three private cabins
- 32hp Yanmar 4JH2E diesel
- Bow thruster
- Retractable bowsprit
- Adjustable backstay
- LED interior lighting and USB/AC (Euro) outlets
- Webasto-style cabin heater
Highlights
- 400W solar array with Victron MPPT controllers (2022)
- Original teak decks removed and replaced with modern non-skid finish (2024)
- Hull and deck repainted (2024)
- Through-hulls renewed (2024)
- Extensive engine servicing (2024)
- New mainsail (2024)
- Raymarine and Autohelm autopilots (2024)
- Three new 100Ah AGM house batteries (2025)
- New 100Ah start battery (2026)
- AIS transceiver
- Victron inverter, charger, and battery monitor
- APEX 10’6” dinghy with Yamaha 15hp outboard
- Extensive on-board inventory: professional tool collection, specific spares and replacement parts
- SCUBA and freediving equipment included
- Kitesurfing, surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking and climbing gear included
- Fishing and spearfishing equipment included
- Drone and additional cruising gear included
