Hallberg-Rassy 34

 

The mainsheet is a 6:1 tackle attached to a short traveller which spans the cockpit trench. If you are moored for a length of time you can remove the traveller completely to get it out of the way. The mainsheet system has a snap shackle at its base and you fasten that outboard to a fitting on the caprail.

The HR 34 is simple to handle. The Selden vang controls the leech nicely, and the traveller is so short it would make little difference to mainsail shape anyway. You will be comfortable in the cockpit because you can choose to have the dodger up or down and the centre windscreen panel open or closed.

It is difficult to summarise this boat. The trim and detailing are almost from another era, though it is both classy and comfortable, but it is a modern boat with a slippery hull. It is not cheap but how you respond to it depends completely on how much you value quality and only you can answer that one. Quality, and how Australians react to quality, is the subject of another PhD.

Don’t forget you need to add only a radio — and wheel steering if you want (which would free up a bit of cockpit space) so before you decide on the HR 34’s value you need to do your homework with care.

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Sailing the HR 34 explains why it is one of the top three in the ARC, though it is more Oyster than Swan in concept.

It leaves me interested to see how designer and builder treat the bigger, centre-cockpit (or aft-cabin) boats in the HR range.

Story & Photos by Barry Tranter

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