s&s 34 sailboat data

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

World’s coolest yachts: S&S 34

• August 5, 2021

We ask top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times. This month Don McIntyre nominates S&S 34

The most innovative all-time classic is the S&S 34. As a class they appeared in 1967, a year before the first Golden Globe Race, and Ted Heath [then leader of the opposition and later UK Prime minister], won the 1969 Sydney Hobart in his Morning Cloud .

About 200 have been built since, including 130 in Australia where they are loved to this day. Only one has ever been lost at sea and they are renowned for their heavy weather performance.

Photo: Reuters/Alamy

In 2008, when deciding on a boat to support 15-year-old Jessica Watson’s dream to become the youngest ever, solo non-stop unassisted sailor, the choice was easy.

Jon Saunders in Perie Banou twice circumnavigated solo breaking 12 world records. David Dicks as a 17-year-old took the family S&S 34 Seaflight around solo nonstop, followed shortly after by Jesse Martin, also 17, solo and unassisted on Lionheart . Jessica on Pink Lady [then unofficially took] the record from him, and it still stands today!

S&S 34 stats rating:

Top speed: 7 knots LOA: 10.23m Launched: 1967 Berths: 6 Price: £22,000 Adrenalin factor: 20%

Don McIntyre

Australian explorer Don McIntyre finished 2nd in class in the 1990/91 BOC Challenge solo around the world race, recreated the Mutiny on the Bounty, and resurrected the Golden Globe Race in 2018.

He is currently organising the 2023 Ocean Globe Race, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the original Whitbread, amongst other events.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

Sparkman & Stephens “S&S 34”

Sail Number:

Vessel Type: S&S 34

“Quikpoint Azzurro” Specifications

LOA: 33′ 6″ / 10.2m – LWL: 24′ 2″ / 7.4m – Beam: 10′ 1″ / 3.1m – Draft: 5′ 10″ / 1.8m – Design Number: – Rig: Bermudan Sloop – Displacement: 11,000 – 13,000 lbs / 4,900kg – 5,900kg – Ballast: – Sail Area: 592 – 700 sq ft / 55 – 65m2 – Designer: Sparkman & Stephens – Built By: – Original Owner: Michael Winfield – Current Owner: – Designed: 1968  

Historical:

British yachtsman, and PR agent Michael Winfield commissioned Olin Stephens to design a 34′ production racer-cruiser, the resulting design was established as a new class in 1968 and quickly achieved great racing success.

One of Mr. Winfield’s first customers was former Conservative Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath. A novice sailor with a keen eye and after seeing one at the 1969 London Boat Show, so impressed with the design he order one. The same year Sir Edward Heath entered and won the 1969 Sydney Hobart race, the second Brit to win this prestigious race in its history. So began the distinguished racing career and dominance on racing podiums throughout the world.

Provenance (The Wall of Remembrance – The Owners, Notable Guest, and Reunion Information):

Owner/Guardian: (1968) Michael Winfield

Related posts:

• Russian Dragon Open – Light Weather
• Mystic Seaport – William A. Baker Award
• On this Day ( December 8) – Ship Fled 3,000 Miles to Escape Japanese
• Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta – Summer’s Comin’. Really!

Leave a Comment Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Address:

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Types of Sailboats
• Parts of a Sailboat
• Cruising Boats
• Small Sailboats
• Design Basics
• Sailboats under 30'
• Sailboats 30'-35
• Sailboats 35'-40'
• Sailboats 40'-45'
• Sailboats 45'-50'
• Sailboats 50'-55'
• Sailboats over 55'
• Masts & Spars
• Knots, Bends & Hitches
• The 12v Energy Equation
• Electronics & Instrumentation
• Build Your Own Boat
• Buying a Used Boat
• Choosing Accessories
• Living on a Boat
• Cruising Offshore
• Sailing in the Caribbean
• Anchoring Skills
• Sailing Authors & Their Writings
• Mary's Journal
• Nautical Terms
• Cruising Sailboats for Sale
• List your Boat for Sale Here!
• Used Sailing Equipment for Sale
• Sell Your Unwanted Gear
• Sailing eBooks: Download them here!
• Your Sailboats
• Your Sailing Stories
• Your Fishing Stories
• Advertising
• What's New?
• Chartering a Sailboat
• Cruising Yachts 30' to 35'

The S&S 34 Sailboat

The S&S 34 is a cruising and racing fibreglass monohull sailboat that was designed by Olin Stephens from Sparkman and Stephens. It has a skeg-hung rudder and a Bermuda rig with a large, overlapping headsail. It is a proven cruising yacht that is well suited for short-handed sailing, and also a successful racing yacht that has won many prestigious events.

Published Specification for the S&S 34

Underwater Profile:   Fin keel & Skeg-Hung Rudder;

Hull Material:  GRP (Fiberglass);

Length Overall:  33'5" (10.2m);

Waterline Length:  24'2" (7.4m);

Beam:  10'1" (3.1m);

Draft:  5'9" (1.8m);

Rig Type:  Masthead sloop;

Displacement:  9,195lb / 4,171kg;

Designer:  Sparkman & Stephens;

Builder:   Winfield & Partners/Aquafibre (UK);

Year First Built:  1968;

Owners Association:  Sparkman & Stephens Owners Association

'Morning' , an S&S 34 for Sale

Although 'Morning' is no longer for sale, the interesting pics and text of the original advertisement are available here for the benefit of anyone researching this classic sailboat.

Published Design Ratios for the S&S 34

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:  16.5

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio:  58.7

3. Displacement/Length Ratio:  291

4. Comfort Ratio:  24.3

5. Capsize Screening Formula:   1.9

read more about these all-revealing numbers...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the  S&S 34

1.A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.5 suggests that, in the right hands, the S&S 34 will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length well astern.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 58.7 means that the S&S 34 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 291, tells us the S&S 34 is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 24.3 suggests that crew comfort of a S&S 34 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 tells us that a S&S 34 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

Cruisers' Questions about this Sailboat...

How many S&S 34 boats have been built and by whom?

About 200 boats have been built, approximately 50 in the United Kingdom and the remainder in Australia. The first boats were built by Winfield & Partners/Aquafibre in the UK, and later by Swarbrick & Swarbrick in Australia. Swarbricks continue to build S&S 34 boats to order from the original moulds.

What are some of the notable racing achievements of the S&S 34?

The S&S 34 has a long history of racing success, both in crewed and solo events. Some of the highlights are:

• The first production S&S 34 built was Morning Cloud, owned by Sir Edward Heath, who won the 1969 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and a class win in the Fastnet Race;
• 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;
• Deerstalker won the 1989 North Sea Race, another Fastnet class win in 1991, and a win in the 1992 Round Britain and Ireland Race;
• The S&S 34 has also been used for several single-handed sailing circumnavigations, such as by Jon Sanders in Perie Banou (1981–82), David Dicks in Seaflight (1996–97) and Jesse Martin in Lionheart (1998-1999);
• Jessica Watson unofficially became the youngest ever solo non-stop unassisted sailor on her S&S 34 Pink Lady in 2010.

How fast can the S&S 34 sail?

The S&S 34 has a hull speed of about 7 knots, which can be exceeded in favourable conditions. It has a performance rating of about 0.900, which means it can sail about 90% as fast as an ideal boat of the same length. It is comparable to other similar boats such as the UFO 34 and slightly faster than the Contessa 32.

How comfortable is the S&S 34 for cruising?

The S&S 34 is designed to be a comfortable cruising yacht that can accommodate up to six people in two cabins. It has a spacious saloon with a dinette table, a galley with a stove and sink, a navigation station with a chart table, and a head with a toilet and shower. It has ample storage space for gear and provisions, as well as water tanks and batteries. It is well-ventilated and insulated, and has good headroom throughout.

How easy is the S&S 34 to sail and handle?

The S&S 34 is a well-balanced and responsive boat that can be sailed and handled by a single person or a small crew. It has a simple and efficient rig with a masthead sloop configuration, a roller-furling genoa, and a slab-reefing mainsail. It has a tiller steering system with a skeg-hung rudder that provides good feedback and control. It has a reliable and economical diesel engine that can power the boat at about 6 knots.

How safe and seaworthy is the S&S 34?

The S&S 34 is a very safe and seaworthy boat that can withstand harsh conditions and heavy weather. It has a strong and solid fibreglass hull that is reinforced with longitudinal stringers and transverse frames. It has a deep and heavy lead keel that provides stability and reduces the risk of capsize. It has a self-draining cockpit with high coamings and a bridgedeck that prevents water ingress. It has a sturdy mast and rigging that can handle high winds and waves.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge,  we believe them to be accurate.

Recent Articles

Westerly Oceanranger 38 for sale

May 19, 24 04:09 AM

Hunter Passage 450 for sale

May 18, 24 03:46 AM

Used Sailing Equipment For Sale

May 15, 24 02:04 AM

Here's where to:

• Find  Used Sailboats for Sale...
• Find Used Sailing Gear for Sale...
• List your Sailboat for Sale...
• List your Used Sailing Gear...

Our eBooks...

A few of our Most Popular Pages...

Copyright © 2024  Dick McClary  Sailboat-Cruising.com

Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts.

• Sailboat Guide

Swarbrick S&S 34

Swarbrick S&S 34 is a 33 ′ 0 ″ / 10.1 m monohull sailboat designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Swarbrick & Swarbrick starting in 1968.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

S&S design # 1959. Specification as built by Swarbricks. Draft (approx, Mk 1 keel): 1.85m/6.07’ Draft (approx, Mk 2 keel): 1.92m/6.3’ Displacement -depending on fitout. Later boats several 100kg lighter, varies on fitout: 5000-6000kg/11,000-13,000lbs Ballast Mk1 keel: 2480kg/5,450lbs Ballast Mk 2 keel: 2365kg/5,214lbs

Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code.

Discover Related Sailboats

• About Sailboat Guide

©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Published on September 7th, 2021 | by Editor

S&S 34: World’s coolest yachts

Published on September 7th, 2021 by Editor -->

Yachting World has been asking top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, and Australian explorer and event organizer Don McIntyre nominated the S&S 34. Here’s the report :

The most innovative all-time classic is the S&S 34. As a class they appeared in 1967, a year before the first Golden Globe Race, and Ted Heath [then leader of the opposition and later UK Prime minister], won the 1969 Sydney Hobart in his Morning Cloud.

About 200 have been built since, including 130 in Australia where they are loved to this day. Only one has ever been lost at sea and they are renowned for their heavy weather performance.

In 2008, when deciding on a boat to support 15-year-old Jessica Watson’s dream to become the youngest ever, solo non-stop unassisted sailor, the choice was easy.

Jon Saunders in Perie Banou twice circumnavigated solo breaking 12 world records. David Dicks as a 17-year-old took the family S&S 34 Seaflight around solo nonstop, followed shortly after by Jesse Martin, also 17, solo and unassisted on Lionheart. Jessica on Pink Lady [then unofficially took] the record from him, and it still stands today!

For Yachting World’s list of cool boats, click here .

Tags: coolest yachts , Don McIntyre , S&S 34 , Yachting World

Related Posts

How to nurture a high performing team →

First to foil Giant multihull around world →

Using tides and tidal currents →

Being the only woman on board →

© 2024 Scuttlebutt Sailing News. Inbox Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved. made by VSSL Agency .

• Privacy Statement
• Advertise With Us

Get Your Sailing News Fix!

Your download by email.

• Your Name...
• Your Email... *
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• Compare Sailboats
• Sailboat Calculators
• Bluewater Sailboats
• Catamarans and Multihulls
• Sailing Liveaboard
• Sailboats Galley
• How Much it Costs
• Sailing Destinations
• Meteorology Terms
• Sailing and Nautical Terms
• Parts of a Sailboat
• Great Explorers
• People of the Seas

Bluewater Sailboat – Sparkman and Stephens 34

The Bluewater Sailboat S&S 34 has become the most acclaimed and possibly the most successful of all Sparkman and Stephens production boats; no small feat given Sparkman and Stephens’ standing as one of the world’s most prominent and long-lived yacht design firms. “We hope and believe that the S&S 34 will make a fine all-round boat, so as to demonstrate in a reasonably small package that a good boat for offshore racing will also be a good boat for cruising,” designer Olin Stephens (1908-2008) declared at the time.

The S&S 34 had a good career as an IOR racer before becoming the boat of choice for single-handed record-breaking and subsequently establishing a strong reputation as a bluewater cruising yacht. The boat is famed for its seaworthiness and is a joy to sail because it is wonderfully balanced and easy to handle with one hand.

AS PER SPARKMAN & STEPHENS CONSTRUCTION SPECS

• LOA: 33′ 7″ (10.23 m.)
• LWL: 24′ 2″ (7.37 m.)
• Beam: 10′ 1″ (3.07 m.)
• Draft MkI: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m.)
• Draft MkII: 6′ 0″ (1.83 m.)
• Displacement 9,195 lbs. (4180 kg.)
• Ballast MkI: 5220 lbs. (2450 kg.)
• Ballast MkII: 5081 lbs. (2305 kg.)
• Sail area 483 sq. ft.

AS PER SWARBRICK & SWARBRICK (variations dependent on weight of fit-out options)

• LOA: 33′ 3″ (10.13 m.)
• LWL: 24′ 5″-25′ 3″ ( 7.45-7.7 m.)
• Draft MkI: 6′ 1″ (1.85 m.)
• Draft MkII: 6′ 4″ (1.92 m.)
• Displacement: 11,000-13,000 lbs. (5000-6000 kg.)
• Ballast MkI: 5,450 lbs. (2480 kg.)
• Ballast MkII: 5,214 lbs. (2365 kg.)
• Headroom: 6′ 1″
• Designer: Olin Stephens
• Year Introduced: 1968
• Builder: Winfield & Partners, UK / Aquafibre, UK / Swarbrick Bros, Australia / Swarbrick & Swarbrick, Australia

The S&S 34 was created shortly after Olin Stephens designed the Intrepid, which was the first 12 Metre to have a distinct rudder and keel, an innovation that the S&S 34 preserved. A British yachtsman named Michael Winfield commissioned the design in 1968. Morningtown was a 36-foot wooden one-tonner created for RORC racing, and he was so taken with it that he ordered Sparkman and Stephens to prepare blueprints for a production boat. The outcome was the S&S 34. Morning Cloud was the first boat built, and it went on to win its class in the Sydney Hobart in 1969.

Stephens describes Winfield “He established himself in England, and I’m not sure how many boats he built, perhaps a dozen or so, but he was not an accomplished boat builder, and he didn’t continue the business. The moulds and machinery were sold to another builder nearby, who made a few more.”

Thus, Winfield & Partners sold one of its two moulds to Aquafibre, a boatbuilding company that maintained production until 1974. Other boatyards frequently finished these hulls. Some boats made their way to the United States, where they were marketed as the Palmer Johnson 34.

The S&S, on the other hand, thrived in Australia. Swarbrick Brother Yachts in Western Australia owned the second set of Winfield moulds, and between 1969 and 1984, the three Swarbrick brothers Tom, Terry, and Harley produced 34 boats. The company eventually went bankrupt, and the moulds were sold to Maybrook Marine of NSW in 1986, who constructed four more boats over the next three years. The moulds were subsequently preserved until 2003, when they were returned to Western Australia by Mike Finn of Cottesloe Yachts, and boat construction was updated to employ the latest in foam sandwich with vacuum infusion technology in cooperation with Sparkman and Stephens. These new “Constellation” class boats, which Cottesloe Yachts sells, were introduced in 2004 and are still in production. They were built by an entirely new Swarbrick firm called Swarbrick & Swarbrick, which is owned by Tom Swarbrick’s son Glenn. These new boats have a 25% lighter hull, are physically stiffer, and have higher impact strength.

In total, between 50 and 100 boats were manufactured in the UK, while Glenn Swarbricks reported 126 boats coming off the mould in Australia, three of which are of the most recent “Constellation” class boats built with the most recent foam-sandwich GRP technology.

Breaking the Record

The boat raced successfully, with future British Prime Minister Ted Heath’s Morning Cloud winning its class in the Sydney Hobart in 1969, before it became the boat of choice for solo circumnavigation attempts.

Jon Sanders set off in his Bluewater S&S 34 Perie Banou in 1981 to perform a double round around Cape Horn. He set 12 world records while sailing nonstop and solo, including the longest distance, sailed by any yacht, covering 48,510 miles, and the longest continuous cruise at sea, totalling 419 days.

At the age of 17, David Dicks set out in 1996 to become the youngest person to circle the globe alone nonstop via Cape Horn, sailing his mother’s S&S 34, Seaflight. Jesse Martin broke the record in Lionheart, finishing in 1999 at the age of 18. Inspired by Martin’s journey, Jessica Watson completed her own circumnavigation in Ella’s Pink Lady between 2009 and 2010, becoming the youngest solo unassisted sailor at the age of sixteen (a record that held for only 20 months before Laura Dekker sailed home in her Ginn Fizz 37 in January 2012, also at the age of sixteen).

For a design created in 1967, the boat has a strikingly modern shape. The hull has a distinct diamond shape from above, with a beautiful bow and a small stern. The lines reveal a short waterline, big overhangs, a generous tumblehome, and a rather high freeboard for its date. Below the waterline is a short fin keel, with nearly all of the ballast in the centre of the boat and a skeg-hung rudder near the stern. Overall, a fairly unique arrangement for the time.

The S&S 34 featured a relatively tall masthead rig with a high-aspect mainsail and an extended foresail, which proved popular among racers in later years.

Down below, the normal Australian cabin has 6′ 1″ of headroom “which tapers down an inch at the main bulkhead On the port aft quarter, there is a sea-going bed and a navigation station slightly forward. The galley is located starboard. Ahead of the saloon are hanging lockers and a head, and there is a rather tight V-berth at the forepeak with a headroom of 5′ 10” “.

With adjustments to the keel and rudder, MkII variants increased hydrodynamic efficiency. The new keel was deeper, with a straighter leading edge and a better aerofoil shape, while the rudder was replaced with a curved spade rudder hanging from a smaller skeg.

Rigs were available in two sizes: a cruising rig and a racing rig that was 2 feet taller. The forestay was terminated aft of the bow in both British and early Australian boats, but it was taken all the way to the end of the bow in later Australian boats. During the 1980s, there were additional rig variants, with some boats having a keel-stepped mast and others having a deck-stepped mast with a substantially bigger cross-section.

The traditional engine position is amidships, which gives best weight distribution and aids in seagoing motion; however, some later cruising-focused boats, following the introduction of lighter engines, had the engines situated under the cockpit.

The deck was lowered below the sheerline, creating a toerail, and the cabin was formed with a doghouse and a lower forward cabin trunk in the original Winfield deck moulds. When Swarbrick Bros. purchased the moulds, they decided to develop their own deck mould to increase forward headroom. The Australian boats now have a flush cabin trunk, and the keen observer will see the deck has been elevated flush to be level with the sheerline. A somewhat shortened bow to fit the forestay tang was another modest alteration.

Performance

The S&S 34 is still a fast boat after 40 years. The hull is easy to drive, and according to the figures, just 20hp is needed to operate the boat at hull speed, however, owners claim less in practice.

This Bluewater Sailboat S&S 34 was considered as having excellent speed to windward and in strong weather when it was first introduced. Even today, the boat is difficult to beat to windward in more than 10 knots, with owners reporting 80-degree tacks.

Her 50% ballast ratio produces a stiff boat, with the first reef placed in at a strong 25 knots of wind. The waterline length grows dramatically when the boat heels; according to Olin’s design criteria, the ideal angle of the heel is 23.5 degrees, but don’t anticipate a dry ride; the S&S 34, like most Sparkman & Stephens designs of that era, is a wet boat.

Quick Notes

There is an active market for the S&S 34 in Australia, no doubt aided by an active owners association. It’s recommended prospective buyers contact them via their online discussion forum when researching.

Now you can also precisely calculate the expenses related to boat ownership to make smart choices based on your budget and sailing needs. Use this bluewater Sailboat Calculator to explore different options and make the best decision.

If you’re looking for a used sailboat for sale, check out the Bluewater sailboat data and specs to make an informed decision. Ocean Wave Sail has data for over 10000+ boats that can help you select one to meet your sailing needs.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Don’t miss new updates on your email.

© OceanWave Sail. All Rights Reserved 2022

Terms & Conditions – Privacy Policy – Cookie Policy

About Us – Privacy Policy

• New account

Forgot your password?

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Back to login

Privacy Overview

S&S 34 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of S&S 34. Built by Aquafibre Ltd. and designed by Sparkman & Stephens, the boat was first built in 1968. It has a hull type of Fin with rudder on skeg and LOA is 10.21. Its sail area/displacement ratio 16.53. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Faryman, runs on Diesel.

S&S 34 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about S&S 34 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, accomodations, contributions, who designed the s&s 34.

S&S 34 was designed by Sparkman & Stephens.

Who builds S&S 34?

S&S 34 is built by Aquafibre Ltd..

When was S&S 34 first built?

S&S 34 was first built in 1968.

How long is S&S 34?

S&S 34 is 7.37 m in length.

What is mast height on S&S 34?

S&S 34 has a mast height of 10.67 m.

Member Boats at HarborMoor

S&S 34 Association

Welcome to the sparkman and stephens 34 site.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions.

• I see imported boats such as Beneteau and Bavaria advertised for around $200,000 “sail away”, why does the S&S 34 cost more?

What are the pros and cons of refurbishing a second hand boat vs building a new one?

Why use vinylester resin?

Why not have a carbon fibre mast?

Why does the S&S 34 rate so well on handicap?

Why specify a twin spreader rig?

Doesn’t the twin spreader rig require a running backstay?

Isn’t it better to place the engine amidships as in the original S&S design?

Back to top .

I see imported boats such as Beneteau and Bavaria advertised for around $250,000 “sail away”, why does the S&S 34 cost more?

It is a little like comparing a Hyundai to a Mercedes. The both perform the same basic function but to different standards of performance and durability. Most of the mass production imported boats are built down to a minimum price point. They use the minimum of materials, a specification that is just adequate for the intended purpose and fit the smallest winches and most basic equipment possible consistent with not too many breakages/warranty claims within the first few years. Many are built with chartering in mind, being sailed in light winds and at anchor every night. Generally such things as spinnaker winches, poles, extra halyards, folding propellers are extra. Those that are well built and well equipped will cost a lot more, usually around $300,000 when on the water fully equipped. Even then none are built to the standard of the new S&S 34, which uses materials and construction normally found only on custom race boats, such as vinylester resin and foam core construction throughout including the furniture (which then becomes an integral part of the boat structure, making it enormously strong).

This is not to say that the cheaper boats are bad – for costal cruising, twilighting and racing inshore they may be fine. However, the S&S 34 was designed as a serious blue water cruiser/racer, and the demands on construction and fittings are much higher. Owners expect to safely travel long distances. Many have completed Sydney-Hobart races and other offshore events. Lower quality fittings are not adequate. The rig needs to have ample safety margins for heavy weather.

A higher specification does cost more. The cheaper boats have winches which cost half as much. Top quality blocks cost up to three times more than basic ones. Cast iron for keels costs a few cents but lead now costs around $3 per kg. Polyester resin and glass mat is cheaper than vinylester Core-Cell construction.

However, having the cheapest specification is of no use when it doesn’t perform adequately or last the distance. Being built in Australia, the new S&S 34 offers premium quality for very little additional cost, as all of the price reflects build quality not transport and importation costs. You are also buying direct from the builder with no sales or agents fees. When true on the water prices are considered the S&S 34 cost is comparable with most imported boats. However, no other production boat can match the sailing qualities, seaworthiness or construction of the S&S 34. Very few if any can boast the proven history of so many voyages, race wins, circumnavigations and records, which count for far more than any specification sheet or sales promotion.

Back to questions | top .

This depends upon the extent to which you are prepared to accept second hand fittings and the extent of the refurbishment. Most second hand boats are around 30 years old and many do need quite a bit of work. If you can find one in good condition, are prepared to re-use some second hand fittings and do a lot of the work yourself, a refurbished second hand boat makes good sense and you could have a sound and functional boat for a very reasonable price. You may be lucky enough to come across a boat that has been well restored by a previous owner.

However, if you are intending a major refit, replacing mast, engine, fittings etc with new this will be expensive, and if the work is undertaken by a shipwright the cost may not be far short of a brand new boat. A large part of the cost of a boat is in the rig, engine and fittings as opposed to hull and deck. A new boat will usually be more expensive, but the difference may be as little as $50-100,000 compared to a professional total refit of an older boat. This difference must be weighed against the brand new hull and deck structure, greater strength and lighter weight of a new boat. Depreciation may also be a consideration, as when selling it will probably be harder to recoup the money spent on refitting an old boat compared to a new one. In the long run all S&S 34’s hold their value well (many are now selling for more than what they originally cost to build!).

Vinylester resin is used throughout construction as it is much stronger and less brittle than polyester. A strong, adhesive resin that doesn’t readily crack under strain is essential to get maximum advantage from the high tech foam core and cloths used in the layup. Vinylester is also very resistant to water penetration and therefore osmosis.

Epoxy resin is slightly better in strength than even vinylester, provided it is used absolutely correctly including proper post cure heat treatment. However, it is not easy to use correctly, there is little margin for error and it is much more expensive. There is little point in using it without also using very expensive carbon fibre cloths. The weight savings and performance benefits of using epoxy/carbon fibre over vinylester in the S&S34 are minimal, the safety margin is less and the costs are greater. For these reasons Gurit  recommended using vinylester rather than epoxy resin for the new S&S34.

There are a number of reasons why a carbon fibre mast is not standard. For a start, a good quality carbon mast (there is no point having anything else) would add to the cost of a finished boat. In addition, the S&S34 is designed to be a boat that can be readily cruised as well as raced and carbon fibre masts are still less desirable for cruising to many.  Insurance may also be an issue for long term cruisers. For those in Western Australia, where a mast hinge is normally required, this is very difficult to reliably engineer into a carbon fibre mast.

With the high ballast ratio of the S&S 34 and the relatively small mast of a 34′ yacht, the weight gains and the improvement in sailing performance using carbon fibre over a properly engineered alloy mast are relatively modest. For the racers, carbon also gives a rating increase, although in recent years this has reduced.

However, technology is advancing, the cost of carbon fibre is coming down and the production reliability is increasing.  It is possible that a carbon rig may be an option in the future.  For the best performance results, this would also need some weight reduction from the keel.  The overall weight reduction could be around 400kg, which along with the reduced weight aloft and greater righting moment  would improve performance to a small but significant extent, which could be worthwhile to a competitive racer.  Any potential owner interested in exploring this option should contact the builder.

This comes back to the genius of Olin Stephens, arguably the 20th century’s greatest yacht designer. The S&S 34 was designed as a racing boat, incorporating Olin’s philosophy that she must be seaworthy and able to perform in all conditions. She was carefully designed to perform better than her leading dimensions would suggest. When heeled or under spinnaker her waterline length increases, allowing extra speed. Her keel was designed using years of experience with America’s Cup winning yachts to provide maximum stability and lift for its dimensions. The current “Mk2” keel is an improved S&S design drawing on further experience with the 12m America’s Cup yachts and results in even better performance and balance.

Although initially the racing rule was RORC, followed by IOR, then IMS and now IRC, all racing rules look at the basic measurements and adjust accordingly. The same qualities that made her a handicap winner years ago still hold true, and she remains very competitive under the IRC rules, as evidenced by her class 3rd in the 2007 Sydney-Hobart race and many recent major offshore trophies in Western Australia, including outright race wins against brand new, high tech racers up to 50′ in length.

Of course, she will not necessarily be a line honours contender, a purpose built grand prix race boat will be quicker, and a larger boat is quicker than a smaller one. However, this is not the intention, as many owners will want a boat that they can also safely and comfortably cruise or sail short-handed, and the purpose built racer cannot do this. The new S&S34 is designed to be a true cruiser-racer that will be fast, comfortable and safe for cruising, yet capable of winning races under IRC both in serious offshore races and in club racing.

The strength of a mast relates to the strength (measured as stiffness) of the mast section and the length of unsupported mast sections. Having 2 sets of spreaders reduces these section lengths and means that for the same strength the mast does not need to be as large or heavy. This translates into less heeling, less pitching and more speed. The disadvantage is the added cost of the extra set of shrouds and spreaders. As more spreaders are added there is a diminishing return and for the S&S 34 two pairs are optimal. The strength of the twin spreader and original single spreader rig is about the same, both have ample strength. Having the mast keel stepped adds about 35% to its structural strength, and therefore reserves of safety. Although it is possible to step the mast on the deck, this is not recommended and requires an extra heavy mast section to give the same safety margins as a keel stepped mast.

The mast height and sail area has been specified based on extensive experience. The current twin spreader rig is similar to the original Swarbrick “Mk2” rig but the boom is 200mm higher. This results in about 0.5m2 less mainsail area, but still significantly more than the original Mk 1 rig. It has been found to give optimal performance for both cruising and racing, and a good IRC rating. The original boom height was specified under RORC/IOR rules using a much shorter boom than the current design. By raising the boom there is no significant performance difference, but much less chance of being hit on the head!

This rig is very suitable for cruising for the reasons given above, and is identical to that of Huckleberry, Constellation and Blondie, all of whom have recorded impressive racing records under IRC.

Runners were originally specified with the twin spreader “tall” rig. However, in practice they are very seldom used, even by those racing offshore and the rig has proven quite strong and reliable without runners. The current twin spreader rig has a slightly smaller mainsail area than that specified originally, as this has proven the fastest and best balanced layout so is equally if not less likely to require runners. It is possible that under some circumstances of long distance cruising or offshore racing in heavy weather that owners may opt for the additional security of a running backstay, and the masts are equipped with slots to fit the runners if required. When not in use they can be secured to the chainplates. They do provide the advantage of extra support to the mast in the event of a breakage in another part of the rigging, and represent an option that is not available in most other cruiser/racers.

Theoretically this is true. Weight placed as low and centrally as possible is good for performance. It made a big difference in 1968 when engines weighed 200+kg. However, thanks to modern engines weighing around 100kg the engine placement is not so critical. Due to the hull shape the under cockpit engine is almost the same height above the keel as a midships engine, and about the same distance from the centre of gravity and centre of buoyancy. By appropriate positioning of fuel and water tanks fore/aft balance can be maintained. The dinette layout also allows batteries to be placed lower and more centrally than a midships engine arrangement allows. The performance difference between a midships and under cockpit engine installation is small, but the under cockpit positioning allows for more flexibility and storage area in the saloon. However, for those who prefer a midships engine, this is also available as an option.

One thought on “ Frequently asked questions ”

Does the new SS34 comply with the Cat1 AUSTRALIAN SAILING SPECIAL REGULATIONS on section Structural Features and Stability, i.e. can it be Cat1 compliant? I know the original SS34 does, but while reading it, for example, I noticed that cockpit volumes are stricter for boats after 1992.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notice: It seems you have Javascript disabled in your Browser. In order to submit a comment to this post, please write this code along with your comment: c8b6f4e2367e055d5e2de1b9dd77179a

SAILING THE WEB

The ultimate sailboat database, most popular sailboats.

Legendary sailboats

Last updated sailboats

Sailboat data sheets

On this website you will find many datasheets of the main mass-produced sailboat models : they are informations and contents found by passion over many years of research and checks on the net. Now this archive is free for you to consult and compare various sailboats, create a list of your favorite sailboats and much more: we are just at the beginning!

Use the dedicated section for questions and answers too!

Take advantage of our space reserved for questions and answers! you have an entire community at your disposal from which you can ask for advice, request information on the boat you own or want to discover.