Gallart 3/4 Ton Information, Review, Specs

The Gallart 3/4 Ton emerged from a rich shipbuilding heritage. Gallart Shipyard, founded in 1944 in Vilassar de Mar, Spain, by Joan Gallart, was a pioneer in fiberglass yacht construction, beginning mass production with the material in 1960. The shipyard was renowned for its robust construction, intelligent design, and exceptional seakeeping abilities, reflecting a blend of traditional Spanish craftsmanship with pioneering technologies. This ethos of durability and reliability was applied even to their racing designs.

The design by Joubert-Nivelt, a French maritime architect bureau, signifies a focus on performance within the intricate parameters of the IOR rule. Joubert-Nivelt were known for their eclectic designs, including successful IRC racing yachts and IOR tonners such as the One Tonner "Diva." By the late 1980s, IOR designs, particularly those with fractional rigs, had evolved to offer improved handling characteristics. The Gallart 3/4 Ton's design reflects the culmination of this development, combining Gallart's robust fiberglass construction with Joubert-Nivelt's expertise in creating fast, rule-beating offshore racers.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Gallart 3/4 Ton's specifications reveal its inherent design for competitive sailing. With a length overall (LOA) of 32.64 feet and a waterline length (LWL) of 27.62 feet, it presents a compact yet potent platform for its class. The boat features a fin keel and a spade rudder, typical of IOR racing designs of the era, optimized for responsiveness and maneuverability around the racecourse.

Performance ratios further illustrate its capabilities:

• Sail Area to Displacement (SA/D) Ratio: At approximately 23.66, this ratio is quite high, indicating excellent performance potential, particularly in lighter air conditions, where it would be quick to accelerate and maintain speed.
• Ballast to Displacement (B/D) Ratio: With a ballast of 2,756 lbs and a displacement of 7,251 lbs, the B/D ratio stands at around 0.38 (38%). While not exceptionally high, this figure provides good stiffness, allowing the boat to carry sail effectively and stand up to stronger winds, crucial for competitive racing.
• Displacement to Length (D/L) Ratio: Approximately 153.4. This value places the Gallart 3/4 Ton in the light to medium-light displacement category for its length, confirming its design as a performance-oriented vessel intended for speed and agility rather than heavy-duty cruising.

Overall, the Gallart 3/4 Ton would be expected to deliver a nimble and responsive sailing experience, characteristic of a well-tuned IOR racer. Its fractional sloop rig suggests a powerful mainsail and more control over sail shape, contributing to its competitive edge in various conditions.

Accommodations and Layout

As a dedicated IOR 3/4 Ton class racer, the Gallart 3/4 Ton's interior accommodations would have been primarily functional, prioritizing weight reduction and crew efficiency over luxurious comforts. While specific details on its interior layout are not readily available, it is typical for racing yachts of this caliber and era to feature a spartan arrangement. This would generally include minimal bunking for crew, a compact galley, a basic head compartment, and open areas suitable for sail handling and gear storage during races. Headroom, for which specific data is not provided, would likely be limited, further emphasizing its racing-focused design rather than extended cruising comfort. The emphasis would have been on structural integrity and the efficient placement of systems required for competitive sailing.