Barracuda 45's

[JohnOwen]

Barracuda 45\'s

I had the great pleasure of sailing on a Barracuda 45 Named Kracktit many times in the early 90’s and have never since found a yacht that gets the adrenaline flowing in the way that she did. I am interested to find out any information on this boat or any of the other’s that where built which isn’t very many 18 or 19 I think is all that Sadlers produced. I would also be interested to find out where the moulds are and if there is any plans to bring this boat back into production.

 

[brianhumber]

Re: Barracuda 45\'s

I would not disagree as I have the honour of owning one and would not change it even if I won the lottery. Of the others,
Riot was lost off Fecamp because the owner was racing and did not keep away from a lee shore by his own admission, Moon Boots is still in Essex, Lone Shark was in Cornwall, B of T the wooden plug is still around the Solent, one was in Zeebrugge a couple years ago, and Brighton Barracuda has a fixed keel so is frequently up for sale. I looked at her before getting Ronhilda, what a mess.
Moulds are supposed to be on Tilbury docks side.
I am awaiting delivery of a new mast at the moment as the fitting that sits in the mast and the forestay is connected to also contains the 4 spinny and geny sheeves failed on a weld and peeled down the mast wall. I saved the mast but when able to do close examination was not prepared to risk the repair of 2/3kgs of additional metal 7/8ths of the way up the mast the insurers are offering.
Do you want a spin when I am back in commission in Sept. quite often pop over to France over a weekend.

 

[tico]

Re: Barracuda 45\'s

Kraktit was owned for a number of years by the father of a friend of mine and sold after it suffered delamination (allegedly)
I remember it sailing into Neyland Marina in Pembs some years back as very impressive.
It was in Dale sailing's yard for there for quite a few years gradually falling apart as various people tried to refit it.
I heard that it had been bought by a local dentist and taken to his home for re-fit last year.
I wolud love to see it sailing again

 

[dchick]

Re: Barracuda 45\'s

The Brighton Barracuda is now called Incommunicado.
Other boats that i know about are :
Mary Noelle at Bucklers Hard
Phantoms Wake at Fleetwood
Quickhook used to be at Woolverstone
And I saw White Spirit in Ramsgate last year (she looked in excellent condition)
Last month I was just too late in enquiring about one for sale in Southern Spain.

 

[Ianqv]

Barracuda

I would not disagree as I have the honour of owning one and would not change it even if I won the lottery. Of the others,
Riot was lost off Fecamp because the owner was racing and did not keep away from a lee shore by his own admission, Moon Boots is still in Essex, Lone Shark was in Cornwall, B of T the wooden plug is still around the Solent, one was in Zeebrugge a couple years ago, and Brighton Barracuda has a fixed keel so is frequently up for sale. I looked at her before getting Ronhilda, what a mess.
Moulds are supposed to be on Tilbury docks side.
I am awaiting delivery of a new mast at the moment as the fitting that sits in the mast and the forestay is connected to also contains the 4 spinny and geny sheeves failed on a weld and peeled down the mast wall. I saved the mast but when able to do close examination was not prepared to risk the repair of 2/3kgs of additional metal 7/8ths of the way up the mast the insurers are offering.
Do you want a spin when I am back in commission in Sept. quite often pop over to France over a weekend.

Hi Brian... is that you Mr Dale???
I've had the pleasure of sailing with Roy on Moon boots many many times.
(one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet) - as for Moon boots, I remember having the helm crossing the channel, wind behind us and the boat was just surfing along (WELL in to double figures on the log!!!).

Just imagine a new Barracuda, same shape but with modern materials!!!! wow!!!

Ian

 

[PaulR]

also seen one in cherbourgh marina residents area - from memory the furthest south pontoon

 

[keithandpam]

Raced on loneshark last weekend round lefcas race no wind but went very well onboard nexed weekend megenise race owned by brian dale keith

 

[Cantata]

Barracuda 45 'White Spirit'

......And I saw White Spirit in Ramsgate last year (she looked in excellent condition).......

I had a semi-serious look at her but she had a lot of problems. Even so I was sorely tempted but the price was IMHO way too high.
She sold eventually to France, I believe.

 

[jwsail1]

Yep, White Spirit went to France. We raced against her in the Tour Des Ports de la Manche in July.

Having sailed on Barracuda of Tarrant many years ago, I have often wondered just how a modern built one would fair? I reckon more than half a ton to be saved with a modern build (beefing up the deck behind the foredeck hatch at the same time) and if you put a carbon rig on her.......

The main catch with them, as with most twin rudder boats, is the loss of the ability to kick the stern around with bursts of power ahead. These days this could be mitigated to some extent with a single "emergency" rudder that was also used for close quarters work.

Lots of space and pace, maybe one day.......

John

 

[Firefly211]

B45

I had the great pleasure of sailing on a Barracuda 45 Named Kracktit many times in the early 90’s and have never since found a yacht that gets the adrenaline flowing in the way that she did. I am interested to find out any information on this boat or any of the other’s that where built which isn’t very many 18 or 19 I think is all that Sadlers produced. I would also be interested to find out where the moulds are and if there is any plans to bring this boat back into production.

There was a thread on here that suggested the moulds went to Tilbury as White Silk Yacht had some idea of rebuilding them, but from there the trail goes stone cold following them being impounded. Chances are they have been chopped up like those for the Spring 25.

It's been suggested that Tony Castro would be happy to update the design so some new moulds would most likely be the best option.

Full Away is up for sale the other side of the channel and looks like a good example that's had a lot of money spent. The price is accordingly high! Though I think the addition of teak decks might have tipped her scales in the ULD area though especially when loaded.

I have to say that few designs seems to capture so much attention and admiration as the Barracuda and it would be fantastic to her back in production. I think I could even be persuaded to part with deposit myself.

 

[bistag]

Hello to all,
I own Quick Hook and keep it in Italy.
Barracuda's are fantastic boats! even after 25 years this is a fantastic design.
The production boat from Sadler is overweight (sadly!) by 2 tons and the prototype is very poor inside.
Nowdays there are many boats that resemble the Barracuda design and are much more updated.
The problem on the Barracuda (sadler version) apart from weight is the upwind wich is poor and I have evaluated to change rudders blades and keel to make her better under these conditions.
I have also listed all the barracuda's I have been able to trace:
N°

10 Quick Hook – Giovanni Battista Giorgini – Cala de Medici – Leghorn – Italy – since 2003
$ilence - Brasil -
Ronhilda - UK
Mora Mora – France now GWENNILI Brest, France
White Spirit -
Full Away – Zeebrugge Germania
Incommunicado – Spain – now Shanguan –
6 Barracuda of Dart – Ireland 1988
Lone Shark – Greece
7 Mary Noelle – Sweeden

0 Barracuda of Tarrant – Wood Prototype due to France

Possible but yet not found/contacted:

Moonboots – UK?
Phantom's Wake in Fleetwood
Mary Noelle UK?
Aloha VII ? Japan?
Shanguan ?
KraKtic??

Not all but nearly.......

 

[Twister_Ken]

It's the thread that they can't kill!

 

[sarabande]

bistag

well done for all the hard work on assembling the data !

If you have time to add some pictures, it would be appreciated as the Barracudas are quite special to look at !

 

[bistag]

1) Barracuda of Tarrant
2) Quick Hook with new sailplan
3) $ilence with extended stern
4) MoraMora now Gwennili
5) White Spirit
6) Full Away
7) Incomunicado now Shanguan (had made a mistake in my previous message same boat)
8) Lone Shark

sorry I do not have Brian's Ronhilda
and only inside pictures of Mary Noelle (the new ower has made a site where she is well represented)

 

[Bajansailor]

Can't let this thread die just yet - Barracudas are lovely boats.

Had a dig through my files, and found this catalogue that I had picked up at Southampton Boat Show sometime, probably in the late 80's.

 

[Boreades]

It was a good ULDB design for its time. Nowadays, I'd suggest someone like John Corby, who's got a proven track record in ULDBs

http://web.me.com/jcboats/CorbyYachts/Boats.html

 

[FullCircle]

Hello to all,
I own Quick Hook and keep it in Italy.
Barracuda's are fantastic boats! even after 25 years this is a fantastic design.
The production boat from Sadler is overweight (sadly!) by 2 tons and the prototype is very poor inside.
Nowdays there are many boats that resemble the Barracuda design and are much more updated.
The problem on the Barracuda (sadler version) apart from weight is the upwind wich is poor and I have evaluated to change rudders blades and keel to make her better under these conditions.
I have also listed all the barracuda's I have been able to trace:
N°

10 Quick Hook – Giovanni Battista Giorgini – Cala de Medici – Leghorn – Italy – since 2003
$ilence - Brasil -
Ronhilda - UK
Mora Mora – France now GWENNILI Brest, France
White Spirit -
Full Away – Zeebrugge Germania
Incommunicado – Spain – now Shanguan –
6 Barracuda of Dart – Ireland 1988
Lone Shark – Greece
7 Mary Noelle – Sweeden

0 Barracuda of Tarrant – Wood Prototype due to France

Possible but yet not found/contacted:

Moonboots – UK?
Phantom's Wake in Fleetwood
Mary Noelle UK?
Aloha VII ? Japan?
Shanguan ?
KraKtic??

Not all but nearly.......

Moonboots in in Burnham UK. Same legendary owner for years.

 

[bistag]

Jim

thank you, now I can update my records!
By chance do you have the email contacts that you can send my by PM so I can get in touch?

 

[FullCircle]

thank you, now I can update my records!
By chance do you have the email contacts that you can send my by PM so I can get in touch?

He owns this company....

http://www.skee-tex.co.uk/

 

[surekandoo]

I sailed on Brian "GoldenBo***ks" Dale's Barracuda in the 80's - Torbay & Dartmouth regattas. What fun - we never took the sailing too seriously though. I remember us winning the Tobay to Dartmouth passage race despite an awful start. The boat was very quick, but we got hammered on handicap.

I can't remember what the boat was called, but I believe it was the prototype or something like that. I know that it had NAVICO in huge letters down each side and this had to be blanked out for the races. Brian with his usual wit, only blanked out "AVIC"!! I remember the boat was powered by a marinised golf diesel, and that the keel hoist mechanism on the cabin top was covered with a wooden structure was went by the name of the "chicken coop".

Happy days!