The Tartan 34 Classic sailboat was designed by world-class naval architect Olin Stephens II. Mr. Stephens’ renowned racing yachts have won the America’s Cup eight times, and the Bermuda Race a record-setting fourteen times. The T34C was Stephens’ answer to how to bring top-notch stability and beauty to “everyday” sailors. From 1967 to 1978, 526 Tartan 34 Cs were produced. Thanks to their durability and seaworthiness, most are still sailing today.
In 2004, a group of Tartan 34 C owners opened a new website dedicated to their beloved sailboat. They wanted to preserve the boat’s history, connect with owners worldwide and share stories, resources and photos.
The Tartan 34 Classic Indian Summer.
Today, we have over one hundred members in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and throughout the United States. We keep a roster of the hulls that are known to be still sailing, and we are actively searching for our “mystery fleet” of boats for which we have no current information.
The association keeps everyone in touch through the website at www.tartan34classic.org , and by regional captains who organize local events. The website includes a calendar of events, technical and descriptive articles, forums, photos, a boat yard for sales, and member cruise reports. Recently a description of the complete renovation of the sloop, Snow Lily, has been posted. Details of the work, materials and photos are available for anyone who has a project boat to bring back to life.
So what are T34C sailors up to today? Racers like Tim Dull of Norfolk find plenty of opportunities to show off their speed. Chesapeake cruisers love the 3’ 11” draft for exploring hidden gunkholes, and appreciate the centerboard which can be lowered nearly five more feet to improve stability in high winds and waves.
Off-shore sailors have crossed the Atlantic twice recently. In 2003, Skipper Jürgen Mohrmann took his Hull #1, Rubicon, across the Atlantic from Hamburg, Germany, to Barbados and the Caribbean. Mohrmann reported that he never once doubted the boat‘s ability to take the tough conditions he encountered. In 2012, Hull # 109, Indian Summer, skippered by Richard Lariviere, circumnavigated the Atlantic. Richard’s greatest accomplishment on that trip was to rescue a fellow sailor whose rudder broke in terrible weather off the coast of Africa. Richard used his 42-year-old Tartan 34 to tow the heavy 36-foot Canadian Sailcraft, Viewfinder, for 34 hours with gusts of 30 kts and waves of 10 to 12 feet, back to Madeira in the Canaries. Lariviere remembers thinking, “If she has survived all this time, she would not let us down now!” He is credited with saving the lives of the skipper, his crew and their boat.
We love new members, so if you sail a Tartan 34 Classic, don’t be shy: Contact us through our website, and we’ll make you feel right at home
