Design and Construction
The Landfall 35 is built predominantly of fiberglass, with extensive use of balsawood cores and a raised, near-vertical transom paired to a raked stem. She carries 5,500 lb of ballast against a 13,000 lb displacement, with a standard fin keel drawing 4.83 ft and an optional deep-draft keel at 6.00 ft. The skeg-mounted spade-type rudder is controlled by a wheel, and two teak dorade boxes on the cabin top provide ventilation.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop, the Landfall 35 is fitted with self-tailing winches and a mainsheet traveller, and test sailors found her easy to handle and predictable and forgiving in a breeze. Close hauled she will sail to within 50 degrees of true wind, though testers observed a slight sideways slip during close haul directly related to the shoal keel. Her best point of sail sits at 60 to 70 degrees, and she heeled gracefully — when a gust arrived she dipped her teak toecap for a few seconds, kissed 37–40 degrees of heel, shook off the gust and returned to her original angle. Weather helm stayed minimal and she did not want to round up. With a high bow she splits through and roils the waves aside with ease, rode the waves with little to no pounding, and maintained 7.02 kts in survey conditions. Testers noted she had that solid feel of an Island Packet or Valiant.
Accommodations
The boat was built with two interior arrangements: one with a conventional V-berth forward, the other with a V-shaped couch and dinette table that converts to a berth. The galley is practical, with two stainless steel sinks, a gimbal-mounted three-burner alcohol stove and oven, and a large ice box. The head includes a shower, supporting the boat's couple-cruiser positioning. A Yanmar 3HM diesel of 27 hp provides auxiliary power, with 30 gallons of fuel and 64 gallons of fresh water capacity.
Known Issues
The one documented handling caveat from sea trials is the slight sideways slip to leeward when close hauled with the shoal keel — a direct consequence of the 4.83 ft standard draft rather than a defect. The balsa-cored construction demands careful bedding maintenance of deck fittings as a matter of ownership prudence.
The Verdict
The Landfall 35 is a thoughtfully executed cruiser-charter hybrid from C&C's late-1970s pivot toward the cruising market. She sails with composure beyond her length, offering forgiving handling and a solid, wave-splitting bow, and her two interior layouts let buyers choose between a traditional forward berth or a convertible dinette. The shoal keel's slight slip to leeward is the only noted trade-off against an otherwise predictable, easy-to-handle package.
Pros
- Graceful, predictable handling with minimal weather helm
- High bow splits waves with little pounding
- Two distinct interior arrangements for couples or charter use
- Solid, Island-Packet-like feel under sail
Cons
- Slight sideways slip when close hauled on the shoal keel
