Hobie 33 – Lightweight, Responsive, and Built to Teach
This Hobie 33 has quite a story. Originally raced in Hawaii and later modified for the legendary Transpac Race—a demanding offshore competition from California to Hawaii—she was eventually sold in California, where we found her and trailered her back to the East Coast to become part of our training fleet.
We use performance sailboats like the Hobie 33 because they’re incredibly maneuverable, easy to handle, and highly responsive—qualities that make them ideal for learning. You get instant feedback from every adjustment, helping new sailors build skills faster and with more confidence. Plus, because she’s so light and easily driven, we’re often sailing comfortably in conditions that would leave heavier boats stuck. Learning on a race boat isn’t just effective—it’s also a lot more fun.
Pearson Ensign:
The Pearson Ensign is an Alberg design and a staff favorite. Based on the Pearson Electra; the Ensign was designed as a family oriented, one design day-sailor. With a large cockpit that can accommodate 5 adults, the Ensign makes a great instruction boat. The boat sails well in light and heavy air, always feeling composed and predictable. The Ensign has enjoyed continued popularity through out the years thanks to its overall great sailing characteristics, and new boats are still being built today!
Sigma 36 (Thomas) – Performance Cruiser with Real Character
After an extensive two-year search, we’re proud to add the Sigma 36 to our fleet—designed by David Thomas and built by Marine Projects in the UK starting in 1979.
Key Features & Specs
LOA: ~36 ft; Beam: ~11.5 ft; Draft: ~6.4 ft
Displacement: ~12,350 lb; Sail Area: ~605 ft² with fractional sloop rig
Hull & Keel: Fiberglass hull with fin keel and spade rudder—gives nimble handling and solid tracking
Engine: Reliable Volvo MD11 23 hp diesel
Why It’s Perfect for ASA 104
Combines sporty, responsive sailing with comfortable accommodations—just right for overnights.
Handles like a true performance boat, yet is forgiving enough for students to learn confidently.
The cozy teak interior and spacious aft cabin offer real comfort, while still keeping the focus on practical seamanship
Performance Highlights
A Sail Area to Displacement ratio of ~18–20 puts her ahead of two‑thirds of similar vessels in light air—making her lively, even when wind is low.
Good stability (CSF ~2.0) and comfort ratios mean she's well-suited for coastal and near offshore cruising.
In Summary
The Sigma 36 is a well-rounded performance cruiser—sporty yet sensible, responsive yet comfortable. She’s the ideal platform for hands-on, overnight ASA 104 training: intuitive to sail, robust in sea-kindling, and warm for living aboard. We’re thrilled to have her guide our students toward real-world cruising readiness. More pictures and videos coming soon!
Retired Fleet
Paceship Chance 32/28*:
S/V Nomadic is a 32′ IOR style racer cruiser. This is the largest and best performing boat that Paceship ever made. IOR was set of rules designed to govern racing throughout the 70’s and 80’s. IOR has been entirely phased out in favor of other handicapping rules, but this bygone racing rule produced boats that had unique and often challenging characteristics. The Chance 32/28 has unbelievable performance to windward, rivaling most newer production boats, but is a real challenge to handle on almost any tack off the wind. Although the fleet she was designed to race against has largely been forgotten, there is a real sense of accomplishment when you have learned to master this vessel.
*not available for rental