Please select your home edition
Edition
GJW Direct 2024 Dinghy

Impressive Year for Australian design

by Ian Grant on 5 Mar 2001
The Murray, Burns, Dovell designed Sydney 38, built managed and marketed by Sydney Yachts has claimed significant success on the national and international circuit in recent weeks.

This high performance sloop purposely designed to satisfy the growing demand to race One-design and compete with the best under the IRC handicap formula has continued to retain an impressive performance market growth record.

Their market destiny created from close One-Design fleet racing in the inaugural Hog's Breath Australian championship series to the nip-n-tuck duels, which highlighted the IRC fleet competition in the Hamilton Island Hahn Premium Race Week, has continued to spread over a wide range of events.

In fact the Sydney 38 has featured in the major results at the Singapore Straits regatta, Middle Harbour Yacht Club Ord Minnett Trophy series, The C.Y.C.A. Wollongong -Sydney short ocean race and the recent Presidents Cup in the Philippines.

Hong Kong based Sydney 38 Stella expertly helmed by Fred Kinmonth and crewed by specialist Etchell sailors completed a very successful maiden international regatta season in Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

Stella sailed by a group of Etchell sailors finished third at the prestigious King's Cup in Thailand followed by IRC class wins in the Singapore Straits regatta and the Presidents Cup in the Philippines.

The IRC rating formula encourages designer's to develop their 'think tank' around creating fast, stiff yachts which have the ability to provide their owners with interesting racing and the Sydney 38 has proven it can fit that demand.

Murray, Burns, Dovell, were quick to grasp the critical elements of the IRC rule as achieved with the regatta and ocean race results with the Sydney 36 and more recently with the Sydney 38.

Similar success has been achieved with the growing fleet In the United States, where the Sydney 38 has achieved consistent high scoring results under PHRF in San Francisco and Chicago.

Over the past nine months the Sydney 38 besides being the fastest selling yacht in the Southern Hemisphere now boasts to have the largest one design yacht racing fleet in Australia.

A fleet of nine Sydney 38's will be racing at Pittwater shortly when Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Commodore John Paul takes delivery of his new yacht.

Well known marine industry identity and ocean racing enthusiast John Messenger has joined the Sydney Harbour racing fleet proudly standing at the helm of his recently launched sloop.

There is little doubt that all of the owners are pleased with the fast, easy to sail design with veteran Victorian skipper and dual Sydney-Hobart race winner Lou Abrahams claiming his Sydney 38 Another Challenge to be one of the most sea friendly offshore racing designs.

Charter operators like Alec Barrass of Teamsail are finding the same yacht is proving very popular for corporate sailing and weekend cruising because of the spacious cockpit and comfortable features in the layout below deck.

Related Articles

Long Offshore Race winners declared in Helsinki
A demanding course across the Gulf of Finland in the Garmin ORC Double-Handed Europeans The Long Offshore Race of the 2025 Garmin ORC Double-Handed European Championship, concluded on Friday in Helsinki after a challenging 247 to 283-nautical-mile course across the Gulf of Finland and back.
Posted on 11 Jul
Conversation with Ben Willows: CEO RS Marine Group
Some people's passion for sailing runs so deep, it feels like it's woven into their DNA There are some people whose passion for sailing runs so deep, it feels like it's woven into their DNA. Ben Willows is one of those people.
Posted on 11 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 4
Balanger dominates qualifying, storm cuts Gold fleet racing short Day four of the 2025 Moth World Championship opened at dawn with another early start for the 137 athletes from 25 nations competing on Lake Garda.
Posted on 11 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds in Aarhus overall
Thrilling Medal Series closes out a spectacular week of high-stakes foiling in Denmark The 2025 iQFOiL World Championship wrapped up in Aarhus with a spectacular Medal Series showdown that saw Emma Wilson (GBR 7) and Andy Brown (GBR 360) rise to the top and secure World Championship titles.
Posted on 11 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC Three preview
This has produced the overall winner of two of the last six editions IRC Three may consist of smaller, slower and in some cases older boats than those that will garner headlines in the first couple of days of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Posted on 11 Jul
Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship preview
This year's regatta will be the largest of its kind ever hosted in Tallinn Tallinna Yacht Club brings one of the biggest sports events of the summer to Haven Kakumäe - 300 young sailors expected at the Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship, plus just as many supporters on shore!
Posted on 11 Jul
Setting sail to support life after injury
Charity Stride Forward looks set to stand out at Cowes Week With some 500 boats and more than 4,000 sailors taking part in this year's Cowes Week (2-8 August) the crew on board charity entry Stride Forward will be sure to stand out, both on and off the water.
Posted on 11 Jul
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water.
Posted on 11 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted on 11 Jul
ILCA 6 fleet at the German Europa Cup
ASC Performance Academy sailors join in Warnemünde Woche Seven international sailors were joined by Performance Academy Head Coach Charlie Linsell, for the German Europa Cup 2025.
Posted on 11 Jul