UFO 31 - 34

[ANDY123]

Hi, new to the forum.
Have been looking for a UFO 34 - 31. Doe's anyone have any opinions / commments on their sailing abilities downwind

 

[DanTribe]

Hi
Welcome to the forum.
There has been a number of posts on UFO 31s & 34s over recent years.
If you do a search for UFO 31 you will find most of them.
In short, I think they are great boats, [some will disagree]
Not quick downwind by modern standards unless you use the kite, upwind, not much can compete. Very responsive on the helm.
The 34 is a faster boat but gear is that much heavier and mooring charges are more. But I'd have one if I could afford it.
Dan

 

[ANDY123]

Cheers Dan, I have seen the other posts, and was looking for some more info on their downwind performance.
I am looking for a family cruising boat that could be used for the occasional race, and wouldn't want my family to be put off by any excessive rolling downwind
Andy

 

[DanTribe]

I have a 31 and have never experienced excessive rolling.
Dead downwind you get an occasional twitch but just head up a few degrees, much faster anyway.
The problem is, I had a Stella before, they can really roll, so the Ufo is tame compared with them.
Dead downwind in heavy airs with a kite can get exciting but don't do it with the family on board.
Where is your usual sailing area?

 

[jwilson]

UFO34 not a problem downwind unless driven REALLY hard, which you probably won't do family sailing.

 

[oleander2]

Re: UFO 31

Hi,

I had a UFO 31 up until four years ago. Wonderful boat and there were tears in my eyes when I sold her. Never experienced any downwind rolling. Cruised and raced her with my two teenage sons. Also sailed her singlehanded down to Brest one year. She went like the proverbial off the shovel. Sadly SWMBO wanted a floating caravan with an aft cabin.

 

[Fergus]

Re: UFO 31

So what did you get?!

 

[ANDY123]

Many thanks for all your comments.
This forum is a wonderful resource, full of good advice from impartial people.
We sail in Cumbria (not many marinas) and the boat we have been looking at does't seem to have any system for anchoring - other than chucking it over the port quarter and walking it up to the bow. Has anyone come across this before and how did you cope?
Ou
Andy

 

[ashanta]

Only seems a small difference between the 31 and the 34 but they are 2 different IOR class boats 31 is a 1/2 tonner and the 34 is the 3/4 tonner and considerably more faster than the smaller relative. All IOR class boats of this era were not designed for fast down wind sailing as the modern racers are today. With the large fore sails and relatively small main sails they were designed to sail quickly to windward.
What I have seen of the 34 it certainly does that very well and it leaves my T31 behind easily.

 

[brianhumber]

Had a tiller 34 for several years in 80s and 90s. Built like a brick sh***house.
Went well to windward. Bit slow downwind unless you put the kite up.

Got a bit of a handful downwind in a blow off headlands with kite up . Seem to recall some exciting moments off St Cats, Anvil Head etc but could have been me not having exprience rather than the boat.
Saw me through several blows in the channel and off ushant as I was younger and more gung ho in those days.

B

 

[ANDY123]

Do you think a cruising chute might be an alternative?
Andy

 

[sailorman]

No
different type of sail not designed 4 down wind.
i have the UFO 31 / 34 big sister, Oyster 37 IOR rule one tonner.
i normally sail 2 up & if conditions ok will fly the kite in wind speeds > 15kts apparent & single handed if its light airs & passage making.
C/chute ok with the wind about 70Deg > 140 Deg.
there is a photo in my link with me S/handed chute up

 

[Plevier]

If you're interested in a project a friend of mine has an unfinished UFO34 in Brighton. It's never been in the water! Colvic built hull. No rigging. PM me if it's of any interest and I can get him to phone you.
Mike

 

[10oxometer]

Had my UFO just over a year now, great boat ran downwind in a force 7 headsail only felt as safe as houses very little rolling even number one enjoyed it.

 

[ANDY123]

Thanks everyone, I'll let you know what happens.
Is there an owners association?
Andy

 

[30boat]

I used to race one and a Contention 33.The Contention would always outsail the UFO to windward but not downwind.The UFO is IMO a much better seaboat and if factory finished much nicer below.

 

[Cariadco]

There's an UFO 31 in Gouvia Marina, Corfu called 'Pocket Rocket' It's owned by Barry of Sailing Holidays and the thing's stripped bare. Come every Corfu regatta at the end of the season, the thing has been thrashing everyone for years.....well, when they do enter it, that is!