Blondie
| Launched | December 15th 2008 |
| Owner | Simon & Rosemary Torvaldsen |
| Purchased | 2008 |
| Contact | storvaldsen@3rdave.com.au |
| Configuration | Double spreader keel stepped rig with Mk2 keel and rudder. Vacuum infused vinylester foam sandwich construction |
| Colour | White hull with red and yellow trim and off white deck |
| Berthed | RPYC, pen B27 |
| Sail Number | R 32 |
| Australian Registration | |
| State Registration | DY 509 |
| Call Sign | VNW 6364 |
| Builder | Swarbrick & Swarbrick yachts, Henderson + shipwright Mike Foss |
| Hull Number | 122 |
| Fit Out | Nanni 21hp Saildrive under cockpit, dinette to port, pilot berth to stbd and fully enclosed head and V berth forward |
| Previous Owners | None |
| Previous Names | Nil |
The Yacht's Story
Blondie is the 3rd S&S 34 to be built since the moulds came back to Western Australia and were refurbished to allow vacuum infused construction. Construction commenced in 2007 and took some time to complete as she was the first fully fitted cruiser/racer built using the new construction methods and the first one designed from the start to have a fully enclosed head. Several new mouldings were developed for her fitout, including the heads compartment, companionway hanging locker, steps and gas bottle locker. Although the construction is entirely foam sandwich composite, wood veneers were used as a finish though the saloon. No liners were used in construction, the remainder of the interior finish being 2 pack polyurethane faired, sprayed and polished.
After a lot of planning and negotiation all hurdles were overcome and she was finally built. She was built under survey and the surveyor had nothing but praise for the quality of her construction. The final fitout was meticulously and beautifully done by Mike Foss and the electrics/electronics wired and installed by Steve Humphries. All deck gear is Ronstan and the quality of the fittings supplied was outstanding, in nearly all cases designed and built to a superior specification to their competition.
A lot of design has gone into optimising the interior and fitout, and we are confident that future owners (of which we hope there will be many) will be saved time, trouble and money by having the detailed development work already done for them. The rig has been standardised and suits both cruising and IRC racing, being significantly stronger and lighter than that originally specified by Sparkman & Stephens.
For more details on the fitout click here or alternatively click on the photo of Constellation on the home page
About the Owners
Simon is a GP who previously owned a much smaller M27. This was sold to raise funds to buy in to a medical practice and he foolishly thought it wouldn't take long to save up enough for another boat. Rosemary decreed that the new boat had to have standing headroom, an inboard motor (she still has memories of failing outboards going under bridges), hot water and an enclosed toilet. It had to be a boat that was safe and easy to sail shorthanded for cruising, not too big, but able to be raced competitively if required. She needed to be well built and seaworthy. After a lot of looking around only the S&S 34 really fitted this description and also had the advantage of being pretty and having a very friendly and supportive class Association.
Simon is the current Webmaster of the S&S 34 Association.
Page provided by the Sparkman
and Stephens 34 Association