Yachting

MAY 2016 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com 85

USED BOAT TEST

OUR VERDICT ON THE BOAT

What’s she like to sail?

If you’ve never sailed a Freedom, it’s a little daunting looking

at all the lines running aft, but once you’ve seen someone

who knows how it’s done you begin to realise that it’s actually

quite straightforward. The fi rst thing you notice is that nothing

is straining, creaking or groaning under massive tension or

compression. The wishbone booms are light, quiet and act as

a mere sail guide, rather than a device to tame the sail. The

two-ply, wrap-around sails come down low, below the booms.

No kicker is needed as the sail seems to naturally form the ideal

aerodynamic shape without being forced.

The sails are self-tacking, on long tracks and each has a 3:1

sheet tackle, which is more than enough to allow them to be

handled manually, without a winch. Although there are 14 rope

clutches in the cockpit, you quickly realise that it’s just seven

control lines for each sail, duplicated.

The toughest part of our daysail was hauling up the heavy

ballasted centreplate once back on the mooring. Requiring 120

turns of the winch and using only a simple rope tackle means it’s

a hard job at the end of the day.

What’s she like in port and at anchor?

She’s not the biggest 33-footer on the market and, like her

unusual rig, the layout below takes a little getting used to. The

saloon is dominated by the centreboard box. In accommodation

terms I would class her as a 2+2 boat. That is, she’s ideal for a

couple who might occasionally have another couple staying on

board for short periods. Her galley is up to cooking for more and

there’s plenty of space to entertain folks for a drink, but when

it comes to bedding down, abluting and general living aboard

under way, she can be a little cramped.

In the cockpit, the U-shape seating doesn’t lend itself to

socialising; one side has to be kept free for access below. Then

there’s the large lump of extended coachroof in the middle, with

the binnacle and wheel behind, further restricting movement and

reducing possible entertainment space to a minimum.

Would she suit you and your crew?

If you believe the majority of yachts made today are Bermudian-

rigged because the designers must be right, you really should try

a Freedom-rigged boat. You might hate it (although there’s really

very little to hate) or you might come away thinking ‘why aren’t

all yachts made like this?’ Just don’t criticise it before you’ve even

tried it. ‘It just doesn’t look right’ is a commonly heard comment,

and ‘I just wouldn’t trust the masts not to fall down’ another.

But, as designer Garry Hoyt rightly stated in the original sales

brochure ‘If a plane can support a 100ft-long unstayed wing in

700mph winds without it breaking off, why not a yacht?’ I can’t

recall a Freedom rig ever being lost, even in extreme conditions.

If, like me, you’re getting weaker as you age, and are looking

for a boat that doesn’t need the muscles of a gorilla to operate,

or if you only hoist the spinnaker when you have extra crew

on board, here’s your answer. Lessening the load is a healthier

solution than increasing the power needed to sail by installing

Watt-hungry electric winches.

FACTS AND FIGURES

■ Guide price

£25,000-£35,000

■ LOA 10.59m (34ft 9in)

■ LOD 10.05m (33ft 0in)

■ LWL 9.14m (30ft 0in)

■ Beam 3.35m (11ft 0in)

■ Draught 1.06-1.83m

(3ft 6in-6ft 0in)

■ Displacement

5,454kg (12,000 lb)

■ D/LWL ratio 198.4

■ Ballast

1,727kg (3,800 lb)

■ Ballast ratio 31%

■ Sail area 60.64m^2

(620 sq ft)

■ SA/D ratio 18.99

■ Diesel 100 lit (22 gal)

■ Water 200 lit (44 gal)

■ Engine 29hp Perkins

Perama diesel

Freedom 35

Would she

suit your style

of sailing?

COA STA L

PORT-HOPPING

★★★★★

CREEK

CRAWLING

★★★★★

OFFSHORE

PASSAGE-MAKING

★★★★★

TRADE WIND

VOYAGING

★★★★★

HIGH-LATITUDE

ADVENTURE

★★★★★

GRAPHICS: MAXINE HEATH

The offset companionway steps curve down to the saloon and galley

■ Transmission Shaft drive

■ RCD category A (Ocean)

■ Designer Garry Hoyt

■ Builder Western Yachts, Penryn

■ Owners Assoc.

http://www.freedomyachts.org

The outboard-facing chart table is a good

size, but situated forward of the galley