S&S 34
Encyclopedia
S&S 34 is a cruising and racing fibreglass monohull
sailboat
class. It was based on a design by Olin Stephens
from Sparkman and Stephens after a commission from British yachtsman Michael Winfield following by a 1967 IOR
rule change.
The design features a skeg-hung rudder and a Bermuda rig
with a large, overlapping headsail.
Two sets of moulds
were built, with Winfield building several boats before the first set were sold to UK boatbuilder Acquafibre. The second set went to Australia and changed hands several times before finally coming to Perth, Western Australia
boatbuilder Swarbrick and Swarbrick.
About 200 boats have been built, approximately 50 in the United Kingdom and the remainder in Australia, and mainly by Swarbricks who continue to build S&S 34 boats to order from the original moulds. Since 2004 a new generation of boats have been built using advanced construction materials and techniques. These newer boats use foam-sandwich construction, vinylester resins and multiaxial glass. They are 25% lighter, as well as being much stronger and stiffer. In 2011, pre-1980 boats sell for between $55,000 and $90,000 and new Constellation class boats cost from about $200,000 fully rigged.
, owned by Sir Edward Heath
. Heath had seen the boat at the 1969 London Boat Show
and sailed it to win the 1969 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
as well as a class win in the Fastnet Race
off Cowes
. S&S 34 designs were overall or prize winners in every Sydney-Hobart race from 1969 to 1974, they were placed 1st and 2nd in the 1979 Parmelia Race, and won the 1996 Lord Howe Island Race
. Other notable racing successes were Deerstalker which won the 1989 North Sea Race, another Fastnet class win in 1991, and a win in the 1992 Round Britain and Ireland Race
.
, the design is also notable for being used for several single-handed sailing circumnavigations: Jon Sanders
in Perie Banou (1981-82), David Dicks
in Seaflight (1996-97) and Jesse Martin
in Lionheart (1999-2000). Sixteen year old Australian Jessica Watson
completed a circumnavigation in the S&S 34 Ella's Pink Lady on May 15, 2010.
Quadriplegic sailor Jamie Dunross completed a circumnavigation of Australia in his S&S 34 Spirit of Rockingham on 25 July 2010.
Monohull
rightA monohull is a type of boat having only one hull, unlike multihulled boats which can have two or more individual hulls connected to one another.-Fundamental concept:...
sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
class. It was based on a design by Olin Stephens
Olin Stephens
Olin James Stephens II was an American yacht designer of the 20th century. Stephens was born in New York, but spent his summers with his brother Rod, learning to sail on the New England coast. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a term.Stephens' name had a long history...
from Sparkman and Stephens after a commission from British yachtsman Michael Winfield following by a 1967 IOR
International Offshore Rule
The International Offshore Rule was a measurement rule for racing sailboats. The IOR evolved from the Cruising Club of America rule for racer/cruisers and the Royal Ocean Racing Club rule.-Rule context - past and present rating systems:...
rule change.
The design features a skeg-hung rudder and a Bermuda rig
Bermuda rig
The term Bermuda rig refers to a configuration of mast and rigging for a type of sailboat and is also known as a Marconi rig; this is the typical configuration for most modern sailboats...
with a large, overlapping headsail.
Production history
The prototype was a 36' wooden one-tonner which Winfield named Morningtown. From this Sparkman and Stephens were asked to develop a production design which became the S&S 34. The design was established as a new class in 1968 and quickly achieved great racing success.Two sets of moulds
Fiberglass molding
Fiberglass molding is a process in which fiberglass reinforced resin plastics are formed into useful shapes.-Mold Making:The fiberglass mold process begins with an object known as the plug or buck. This is an exact representation of the object to be made, and can be made from a variety of different...
were built, with Winfield building several boats before the first set were sold to UK boatbuilder Acquafibre. The second set went to Australia and changed hands several times before finally coming to Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
boatbuilder Swarbrick and Swarbrick.
About 200 boats have been built, approximately 50 in the United Kingdom and the remainder in Australia, and mainly by Swarbricks who continue to build S&S 34 boats to order from the original moulds. Since 2004 a new generation of boats have been built using advanced construction materials and techniques. These newer boats use foam-sandwich construction, vinylester resins and multiaxial glass. They are 25% lighter, as well as being much stronger and stiffer. In 2011, pre-1980 boats sell for between $55,000 and $90,000 and new Constellation class boats cost from about $200,000 fully rigged.
Racing achievements
The first production S&S 34 built was Morning CloudMorning Cloud
Morning Cloud was the name given by the British politician Edward Heath to a series of five yachts which he owned between 1969 and 1983.-No. 1:...
, owned by Sir Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
. Heath had seen the boat at the 1969 London Boat Show
London Boat Show
The London Boat Show is held each January at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London, just opposite the O2 and the centre of London's business and entertainment centre. It is a very large event, now in its 54th year, which uses ExCeL's two 32,500 square metre halls...
and sailed it to win the 1969 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart. The race distance is approximately...
as well as a class win in the Fastnet Race
Fastnet race
The Fastnet Race is a famous offshore yachting race. It is considered one of the classic offshore races. It takes place every two years over a course of . The race starts off Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, rounds the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and then finishes at...
off Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
. S&S 34 designs were overall or prize winners in every Sydney-Hobart race from 1969 to 1974, they were placed 1st and 2nd in the 1979 Parmelia Race, and won the 1996 Lord Howe Island Race
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, directly east of mainland Port Macquarie, and about from Norfolk Island. The island is about 11 km long and between 2.8 km and 0.6 km wide with an area of...
. Other notable racing successes were Deerstalker which won the 1989 North Sea Race, another Fastnet class win in 1991, and a win in the 1992 Round Britain and Ireland Race
Round Britain and Ireland double handed Yacht Race
The Round Britain and Ireland double handed Yacht Race was established in 1966 and is held every four years starting and finishing in Plymouth, England...
.
Notable voyages
A proven cruising yacht which is well suited for short-handed sailingSingle-handed sailing
The sport of single-handed sailing or solo sailing is sailing with only one crewmember . The term is usually used with reference to ocean and long-distance sailing, and particularly competitive sailing....
, the design is also notable for being used for several single-handed sailing circumnavigations: Jon Sanders
Jon Sanders
Jon Sanders is an Australian yachtsman.- Early years :He grew up in Perth and in his teens and twenties, worked with shearing teams for 17 years. Initially he was a wool classer/shearing contractor, shearing team overseer and later owner of his own shearing team...
in Perie Banou (1981-82), David Dicks
David Dicks
David Dicks OAM CitWA, is an Australian sailor. He became the youngest person to sail non-stop and solo around the world. In February 1996, at the age of 17, he set out from Fremantle, Western Australia in his family's 10m S&S 34 sloop named 'Seaflight'...
in Seaflight (1996-97) and Jesse Martin
Jesse Martin
Jesse Martin is an Australian sailor who in 1999 became the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo, non-stop, and unassisted, taking the record from David Dicks, who was 24 days younger when he completed his circumnavigation, but had obtained assistance. Martin's journey in the S&S 34...
in Lionheart (1999-2000). Sixteen year old Australian Jessica Watson
Jessica Watson
Jessica Watson is an Australian sailor. She resides in Buderim, Queensland. In May 2010, she unofficially became the youngest person to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world, although her route did not meet World Sailing Speed Record Council criteria for circumnavigation of the...
completed a circumnavigation in the S&S 34 Ella's Pink Lady on May 15, 2010.
Quadriplegic sailor Jamie Dunross completed a circumnavigation of Australia in his S&S 34 Spirit of Rockingham on 25 July 2010.
External links
- S&S 34 Courtesy of sailboatdata.com