Design and Construction
Archambault built the A 35 using vacuum-infused PVC foam sandwich construction with vinylester resin for the hull and resin transfer molding for the deck, a step forward from the balsa-cored decks of the yard's earlier Grand Surprise generation resin-infusion construction. The hull carries its wide beam aft, which yields a roomy cockpit and a berth cabin that sits below it, while the bow remains quite narrow — a deliberate trade that keeps the entry fine and the V-berth compartment distinct from the saloon behind an arch bulkhead with a curtain for privacy. Stylish clamshell-shaped deadlights in the cabin trunk pour light into a cabin that reads airy and white-gelcoat bright, and the open transom reinforces the boat's performance orientation.
Rig and Handling
The A 35 is rigged as a fractional sloop with a carbon mast and a tiller rather than a wheel, a combination that Cruising World cited as dispelling any lingering doubts about the boat's intent the moment one sees her sailing heeled on the edge carbon mast. An optional sprit allows an asymmetric spinnaker to be flown for added downwind pace without resorting to a conventional pole setup. The 6-foot-9-inch draft fin keel and 4,387-pound lead ballast (roughly 45 percent of the 9,811-pound displacement) give her a stability profile suited to the IRC rule she was drawn for.
Accommodations
Below, the boat employs a simple glass-module interior with doorless galley cabinets and minimal joinerwork, a construction choice that keeps weight down and maintenance simple simple glass-module interior. The narrow bow houses a V-berth separated from the saloon by an arch bulkhead and curtain, while the wide aft sections provide both the roomy cockpit and the berth cabin beneath it. The airy, white-gelcoat cabin is lit by the clamshell deadlights, and a built-in fridge is fitted for crew comfort on warmer sails.
The Verdict
The A 35 is a purpose-built IRC-era performer that does not pretend to be a traditional cruiser. Her vacuum-infused sandwich construction, carbon mast, and tiller steering mark her as a boat for sailors who value lightness and response, while the wide-aft beam plan delivers real volume in the cockpit and aft cabin. The minimal-joinerwork interior is pragmatic rather than luxurious, and the narrow bow means the forecabin is compact. She is best understood as a fast, modern weekender-racer with genuine belowdecks livability aft.
Pros
- Vacuum-infused PVC foam sandwich hull with vinylester resin for low weight and modern construction
- Carbon mast and tiller steering for direct, race-oriented control
- Wide beam carried aft yields a generous cockpit and full-berth cabin below
- Airy white-gelcoat cabin with clamshell deadlights and built-in fridge
Cons
- Narrow bow limits V-berth privacy and forecabin size
- Minimal joinerwork and doorless galley cabinets suit performance over cruising comfort
- Open transom and tiller configuration are not to every cruiser's taste
