Tradewind 33

[benlui]

Just back from an extra long wkend sailing in West Cork, and met a lovely couple who showed us around there tradewind 33. We were thrown back by the elegance/design/space/everything about this yacht. It possibly looks like its high up there in our list of (possible) boats for the Blue Water rally in 2011. Only thing is that puts me off of this boat, is the owner has said it will sail at top speed of approx 6kts or less. Is this true as Im used to our Shipman 28 which is faster than this & for a 2 year world cruise i would like something that is capable of making good way in good time. Am i mad for thinking this?

 

[ParaHandy]

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We were thrown back by the elegance/design/space/everything about this yacht ......

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Jings ... couldn't agree with you more !

Afraid a cruising speed of 5kn is more like it. The Tradewind 35 will do 6 - she has a few feet more on the water line. They are fine boats - unlikely ever to let you down.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Not only are they fine vessels, as young Para has hinted, but the standard of cuisine aboard is much higher than on a Twister.

 

[savageseadog]

One of the great cruising boats, top quality

 

[michael_w]

When I did the ARC in my Contessa 33 there was a Tradewind 33 in the fleet too. We sailed the whole way, never using the engine.

The Tradewind, which motored, arrived a week after us. Very heavy displacement, well built, but heartbreakingly slow.

 

[wotayottie]

The tradewind has a water line length about 10% greater than the shipman so provided it has the sail power it should be that bit faster. I very much doubt that it is - its a heavy old fashioned design and a pure cruiser not a cruiser racer.

 

[Tranona]

Both the 33 and the 35 have the same waterline at approx 7.9m The extra length of the 35 is in the drawn out bow and a longer counter stern. The biggest change however is in extending the keel aft and a more efficient less raked rudder. There were many detailed changes such as a cutter rig, optional bowsprit and lighter interior. I think the standard sail area was also increased. I used to keep my boat at Mitchells in Poole where most of the early boats were built and remember the first 35 being launched. A clear step up from the 33. Both boats have excellent reputations as comfortable long distance cruisers.

 

[wotayottie]

seem to remember something about the 33 being poor to handle and needing a bowsprti cost the sail plan design wasnt right.

 

[Twister_Ken]

The one I've sailed seems to go well enough. Although hardly an ocean greyhound it isn't unbalanced

 

[benlui]

hum, interesting views thanks guys

 

[richardh10]

Sorry to dig this old thread up, but it's reached the time of year when I think about changing my boat, and the tradewind 33 seems to tick a lot of boxes.

So I was just wondering if anybody had anything to add to the comments already made

Any similar style alternatives?

 

[Tranona]

robmcg and scotty tradewind who both post here have Tradewinds.

 

[claymore]

[ QUOTE ]
We were thrown back by the elegance/design/space/everything about this yacht ......

[/ QUOTE ]
Jings ... couldn't agree with you more !

Afraid a cruising speed of 5kn is more like it. The Tradewind 35 will do 6 - she has a few feet more on the water line. They are fine boats - unlikely ever to let you down.

You did well to meet a nice owner - some of them can be a bit arsey.....

 

[KellysEye]

>approx 7.9m

Hull speed is the square root of waterline length X 1.35. Thus hull speed for a Tradewind 33 is 6.75 knots but it will need wind 20 knots plus to get moving reasonably fast and more to reach hull speed unless reaching.

>The Tradewind, which motored, arrived a week after us. Very heavy displacement, well built, but heartbreakingly slow.

It sounds like it was a light to no wind passage if they had to motor. On the fuel tank side the 33 seems to have one or two tanks with the capacity of 100 litres or 225 litres if the latter then the boat would only be able to motor 100 to150 miles. We had a heavy displacement steel ketch and had a light wind passage we prayed for squalls to the get the speed up and did motor when there was no wind.

 

[robmcg]

I own a 35 and love it to bits. It is a boat that comes with compromises. The negatives first:-

Poor handling in reverse so not the best in small marinas
Not the fastest out there. Slower to accelerate than more modern boats, not as fast top speed as more modern boats
Smaller accomodation foot for foot than a more modern boat
Smaller cockpit, more than 2 and it quickly starts to get crowded

On the plus side however:-

Feels very solid and safe, in pretty much all conditions and points of sail
Cutter rig is versatile and sails are easily handled
Big flat deck makes moving around easy
Deep cockpit that is good for bracing and makes you feel safe
Large forepeak berth that makes a nice big bed
Is not easily blown of course and carries her way for a long time
Doesn't slam, wander around, feel tippy so inspires confidence in all conditions
Good headroom below deck
Good upwind (less leeway but won't point quite as close as modern boats)

It is actually quite a difficult thing to quantify without resorting to subjective measures. For me, I find the boat almost ideal, for others I am sure it would be horrible! It is also difficult to be objective about the relative merits of the boat as there are so many variations in fitting out, rig and setup on the 33 and 35. We have the taller rig and bowsprit so carry a greater sail area that does improve the light airs performance. I say improve as light airs aren't really her forte and the boat really comes into its own from about 14kts upwards. That said we can plod along at about 4kts in about 8-9kts of wind if the sea is fairly flat. In two seasons of ownership, I have found that the positives the boat has far outweigh the negatives (which is mainly not being good in reverse). Being long keeled and of a more traditional design, the Tradewinds are never going to appeal to everyone but to me at least, the boat looks fantastic and has the row away factor. They are a great all weather long distance cruiser and are equally at home cruising along the coast and port hopping or day sailing. They are easy to sail, well mannered............ and heavy! I have certainly found that they are not as slow as many others would make out.

Alternatives would be Rustler 36, Biscay 36, Vancouver 32/34/36, Endurance 35/37 and possibly the Nicholson 35 (albeit without the long keel). If your budget is stretched, look at the Nicholson 32/31, Rustler 31 or even a Vancouver 27 (which would be significantly smaller).

 

[richardh10]

Rob,
Thanks for all that. Certainly nothing there to put me off!

 

[robmcg]

Rob,
Thanks for all that. Certainly nothing there to put me off!

I agree, the benefits more than outweigh the shortcomings, plus you can go just about anywhere you would want to go in relative comfort. :encouragement:

 

[rotrax]

I also sail a heavy, slow, tricky in astern but steady, comfortable and reliable boat.

If speed is what sailing is supposed to be about I would not have joined............................................

 

[Eyore]

I also sail a heavy, slow, tricky in astern but steady, comfortable and reliable boat.

If speed is what sailing is supposed to be about I would not have joined............................................

Me too...........................but sadly having got hacked off by being passed by everyone and pointing 20 degrees less to windward I have thrown in the towel and bought a modern 1989 (for me ) fin keeler. Looking forward to a bit of performance again.