sigma 33 or what?

I liked the SJ's as well, sailed on the 30 and 35 lost masts on both :eek:
I was up front at the time and like to think it was'nt my fault.

Yeah, I do foredeck on the SJ 35, i now know why!!!!! It's one of the few boats that that the foredeck is simpler than being in the pit! Luckily the rig has stayed up and we have given it a good testing. What were the circumstances of your rig loss?
 
Sigma 33

Many years ago my Father and I were watching local club racing in which several Sigma 33's were taking part, and although he was very much a classic yacht buff, he remarked how attractive the Sigma 33 lines were.
I took his comments on board (literally) and found one locally which I bought. After a couple of years sailing her and enjoying the experience I decided to move up market - and bought another, later model. (The first one, hull no. 007 - yes really! went on to win the Nationals, no mean feat in itself, but it proves they can remain competitive however old.)

This is the one in the attached photo, which I believe is also for sale (see Sigma33 website).
I sailed her across the Channel many times, mostly racing and even down to Spain twice, and always felt confident in her ability to deliver us safely at our destination. One memorable Channel crossing from Guernsey in a full gale was terrifying and resulted in the boat being partially flooded, and my daughter ended up in hospital after being flung across the cabin in a knock down mid-channel. However she (the boat) came through it with no damage despite the appalling conditions.
Simple to work on - you can do just about everything yourself.
For competitive racing you need a well practiced crew, but there is (for some of us) a lot of satisfaction in one design racing - you can't blame the handicap.

They are strongly built and even by today's standards fairly quick.

Under different circumstances I would buy another one tomorrow!

Cheers,

Michael.
 
Last edited:
Sigma 33s

Michael
It's a bit worrying that your later 33 was called Revenge. Mine was called Retribution. What kind of people are we??
 
Under different circumstances I would buy another one tomorrow!

Cheers,

Michael.

Exactly! I and everyone else I have ever met who owned one seems to feel exactly the same, I think it was the confidence you always felt that she would cope with anything.
One dark night we punched a hole in ours on the lifting lug of an unlit navigation buoy, put her one the other tack for half an hour while I mended the hole hung over the side by my ankles and carried on racing .
 
Albin Nova Again

Doesn't seem to be an Albin Nova available in this country- loads of them if you cross the north sea. However, found one for £14k in america...... That would leave almost enough money to sail it home....... Two ambitions met in one hit!!!!!

I sold mine a year ago after ten years ownership and have many happy memories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za1fkTzHR2w&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za1fkTzHR2w&feature=youtu.be" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za1fkTzHR2w&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za1fkTzHR2w&feature=youtu.be" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350">
 
Last edited:
What do you think? Have I limited my search and should I be considering other boats too?

H.M

People will tell you that there are lots of alternatives and its true - there are. However, a good reputation and strong prices when bought also apply when sold. Buy a one off now that nobody knows about and is chersap as a result can mean real difficulty if eventual resale.

I hasve raced against Sigma 33 and they go well enough. I would not describe them as fast by current standards but mid fleet
 
Resale

One the great joys of a Sigma is that so long as you buy at the right price and do the appropriate maintenance you will always be able to sell with little or no depreciation. I've had three it always proved the case.
 
There's a bowman starlight 35 for sale in dickies Bangor. Apparently it has a bad case of the pox + it's ex-charter/sailing school (plas Menai). I have been thinking about offering 20k sorting out the pox and doing the 2015 AZAB and 2017 OSTAR.

It may of been sold as I can't see it on the hard but still on the website.

People tell me they sail very well and are fairly fast.
 
There's a bowman starlight 35 for sale in dickies Bangor. Apparently it has a bad case of the pox + it's ex-charter/sailing school (plas Menai). I have been thinking about offering 20k sorting out the pox and doing the 2015 AZAB and 2017 OSTAR.

It may of been sold as I can't see it on the hard but still on the website.

People tell me they sail very well and are fairly fast.

That's the boat they are offering at 65k plus vat? You're offering 20k? :D:D Best of luck.
 
Yeah, I do foredeck on the SJ 35, i now know why!!!!! It's one of the few boats that that the foredeck is simpler than being in the pit! Luckily the rig has stayed up and we have given it a good testing. What were the circumstances of your rig loss?

on the 35 first nearly went when the foot plate sheared 3 of its 4 bolts and mast started to slightly rotate, then later that year it inverted down wind may have been too much pole down haul.
 
Michael
It's a bit worrying that your later 33 was called Revenge. Mine was called Retribution. What kind of people are we??

The yacht was originally called 'Chimaera' and I bought her from the original owner. The name did not do anything for me so I changed it, and it was inspired by the naval connection, claimed ancestry etc., however a lot of our sailing colleagues and competitors misinterpreted it.

Michael.
 
Nova...

Interesting thread. I just bought an Albin Nova in November. Very impressed with build quality and interior fit out - huge below. Have raced Sigma 33s in the past, lovely boat too but the Nova has a much nicer interior. Sailed it a couple of times so far and it is a wonderful boat... worth looking at brokers in Sweden / Denmark / Norway?
 
Forgive me if I am wrong, but if I recall correctly, it wasn't just any article, it was in the RORC Yearbook and the race was the Double Handed Fastnet.

I forgive you :D.....I read about it in the March edition of Yachting World pages 88 to 93

Will Sayer bought it in 2001 in dilapidated condition for £7,000 with his student grant and, as was also reported in the RORC Handbook , went on to win the Fasnet double-hander. He also won his class in the YM Triangle in 2008 and has done four transatlantic crossings.
The 33C with its masthead rig is possibly stronger and easier to manage and the whole story is a testimony to and inherently good design.
 
Michael
It's a bit worrying that your later 33 was called Revenge. Mine was called Retribution. What kind of people are we??

Racers. All race boats had aggressive / macho names. You would hardly dare show your face in the bar after a race if you had, for example, called it Twinkle.:D
 
Racers. All race boats had aggressive / macho names. You would hardly dare show your face in the bar after a race if you had, for example, called it Twinkle.:D

Not if they were fast enough, how about Imp, Midsummer Dancer,Sheer Magic, if you had the performance you did not need to shout about it.
 
Top