UFO 34 (yacht)

UFO 34[1]

A UFO 34 built in West Australia
Development
Designer Holman & Pye
Year 1973
Boat
Crew 1 to 6
Draft 1.68 metres (5 ft 6 in)
Hull
Type Monohull keelboat
Construction Fibreglass
LOA 10.16 metres (33.3 ft)
LWL 8.56 metres (28.1 ft)
Beam 3.35 metres (11.0 ft)
Sails
Total sail area 47.47 metres (155.7 ft)

UFO 34 is a cruising and racing fibreglass monohull sailboat class. It is a sloop based on a design by Holman and Pye.[2] The design features a spade rudder and a Bermuda rig with a large, overlapping headsail. Over 150 UFO 34s have been built both in the United Kingdom and Australia.[1]

Production history


The first yacht was designed for Richard Mathews by the British Naval Architects Holman and Pye[3] as a IOR 3/4 ton 32ft prototype Unidentified Flying Object, which won the Royal Yacht Squadron's de Mass Cup at Cowes in 1974 and many other races.[2][4] The design was developed into the UFO 34, which became the first yacht produced by Richard's company Oyster Marine.[3] Over 150 were built, both in the United Kingdom and Australia.[2][1]

In the United Kingdom builders included Colvic Craft (hull & deck), Landamores Yacht Builders (fitout) plus a number were completed by owners.[1][3][4] A mark II version was also released by Oyster Marine incorporating an external ballest keel with either a racing/cruising keel (5,000 lbs) or a racing keel (6,000 lbs).[5]

In Western Australia builders included Durben Marine and Sea Craft Marine.[6]

Racing achievements

UFO 34's are raced at club level both in the United Kingdom and Australia.[4][7] By modern standards a UFO 34 is a moderate to heavy yacht[8] with good performance, particularly to windward.[9] UFO34s racing performance is similar to S&S 34s[10] with both rated the same and slightly faster than a Contessa 32.[11][4] UFO 34s also regularly compete in offshore races in Western Australia.[12][7]

A UFO 34 based in Australia called Not Negotiable had a number of impressive results in offshore racing, including 2000 Melbourne - King Island. PHD (1st Overall) & IMS (2nd Overall), 2001 Melbourne - Low Head (Tasmania) 2nd PHD Overall, the 1998, 1999 & 2000 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, the 2004 Australian Three Peaks Race the 2009 Launceston to Hobart and more recently the 2013 Fremantle to Bali yacht race.[4][9][13] UFO 34's also had good results in the 1993 Fremantle to Lombok (Indonesia) yacht race with Amadeus winning IMS honours (1st overall) and Vela taking out the YAH trophy (1st overall).[14]

Notable voyages

A UFO 34 yacht sailing

A proven cruising yacht that has extensively sailed around Great Britain, the Baltic and North Sea and Mediterranean.[7] UFO 34 yachts have also participated in the 630 nautical mile Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race[9] and the 1,460 nautical mile Fremantle-to-Lombok Yacht Race.[14]

In May 1979 the UFO 34 Windrift of Clyde sailed from Scotland to Iceland and encountered severe weather conditions, estimated at a sustained 60 knots plus for over 24 hours. During this period the yacht suffered severe knockdowns and capsized twice, including being pitch-poled. Despite some damage and injuries to crew, the yacht was able to sail to Iceland without assistance. A very good summary of the voyage is detailed in the fifth edition of Adlard Coles' Heavy Weather Sailing.[8]

Seaworthiness

Some concerns have been raised regarding the seaworthiness of the UFO 34,[15] most probably due to the poor reputation of IOR yachts in general.[16] However these concerns appear to be unfounded as the UFO 34 have few vices and make a good all-round fast cruiser/racers.[8][17] Note that the UFO 34's stability index has been calculated at 122.4 with a Limit of positive stability of 119.1, [18] which is above the minimum stability index of 115 required for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.[19]

During the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race the UFO 34 Not Negotiable experienced winds in excess of 65 knots (Force 12, +73 mph, +118 kph) for approximately 6-8 hours.[20] During this period breaking waves of 4-8 metres, with the occasional 12 metre wave were also encountered. Apart from one knockdown to 80 degrees, Not Negotiable had no issues and safely retired to Eden.[18] The main technique utilised was to "...keeping our nose into it and ploughing forward and just ducking and weaving around the worst of the waves worked for us fine".[20] Note that this is similar to the successful storm tactics employed by the UFO 34 Windrift of Clyde when the yacht was actively sailed with the bow into the sea.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "UFO 34". Sailboat Data. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Previous Models: UFO". Oyster Yachts. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "History". Landamores Yacht Builders. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "UFO 34 cruiser-racer". www.yachtnet.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Oyster Marine Press Release". ybw.com. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  6. ↑ Campbell, Peter (1979). The observer's book of sailing craft of Australia and New Zealand. Methuen of Australia. p. 85. ISBN 0454000766. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "UFO News: The place for sailors and everyone else interested in the UFO 34.". UFONEWS. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Bruce, Peter (2004). Adlard Coles' Heavy Weather Sailing (5th ed.). London: Adlard Coles Nautical. pp. 195–200. ISBN 0713668679. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "Not Negotiable". Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  10. ↑ Torvaldsen, Simon. "Thoughts on Sparkman and Stephens 34". Blue Water Boats. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "CYCA Classes Database". The Clyde Yacht Clubs’ Association. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Ocean Classic: Dirk Hartog Race & Rally Programme" (PDF). South of Perth Yacht Club. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "Not Negotiable re-negotiates her position". Fremantle to Bali Yacht Race. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  14. 1 2 "Event History". Fremantle to Bali Race & Rally. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "Boat Reviews: UFO 34". SailNet. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Catalina 38 Sailboat". Cruising World. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  17. ↑ "She 36". Yachtnet. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  18. 1 2 Dolphin, Michael. "Owner "Not Negotiable"". Equipped To Survive: NSW State Coroner's Inquest - 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race - Volume 9 - Yachts without Incidents. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  19. ↑ "Notice of Race: 2016 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race" (PDF). Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  20. 1 2 Lawrence, Mark. "Crew "Not Negotiable" (Helmsman)". Equipped To Survive: NSW State Coroner's inquest - 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race - Volume 9 - Yachts without Incidents. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
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