Design and Construction
Robert Evelyn’s Formula Yachts shop in Groton, Connecticut, built the first seven hulls; C&C Yachts of Middletown, R.I., completed the rest of the production run (Formula Yachts built the first seven and C&C built the remainder).
The earliest boats used Divinycell hull coring, while the later C&C-built hulls switched to balsa. Owners claim the first boats feel lighter, stiffer, and faster. Most observers credit the C&C-built examples with a nicer molded interior, suggesting that later production boats received a modest improvement in finish without losing the original’s racing intent.
The Evelyn 32 measures 32 feet 1 inch overall, with a 28-foot 2-inch waterline and a 9-foot 8-inch beam. Displacement is 4,500 pounds, with a 2,000-pound lead ballast bulb on a 6-foot fin keel. Steering is by spade rudder.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Evelyn 32 is a fractional sloop rather than a masthead-rigged boat. Its bendy mast and adjustable backstay allow a tuning-minded crew to shape the sail plan for different wind strengths (fractional rig with an adjustable backstay).
The standard sail plan includes a 199-square-foot mainsail and a 234-square-foot jib. A 363-square-foot genoa and a 740-square-foot spinnaker are available for reaching and downwind work.
On the water, the Evelyn 32 is a light-displacement “PHRF killer” built for club racing. It often rates in the mid-90s to low-100s and is documented as fast in light air, with excellent upwind bite and real planing potential off the wind. Owners describe the boat as fast, responsive, and genuinely fun.
It isn’t a solo weekender, however. In a breeze, the Evelyn 32 wants seven or eight hands and can become demanding when the wind pipes up.
Cockpit and Accommodations
This is more racer than full cruiser, and the interior makes no apology for that. The layout includes a V-berth forward, saloon settees, and a small galley and head, allowing a crew of four to six to overnight modestly. Sailing World’s survey found that the boats generally had simple but comfortable interiors, with the C&C-built examples distinguished by a nicer molded finish.
The open cockpit reinforces the boat’s race-first character and gives the crew room to move during a buoy-set or spinnaker peel.
Variants
Minor variants exist alongside the standard Evelyn 32-2, the most common version afloat. Early “32-1” hulls show half-ton influences, and a tall-rig option was offered for teams seeking more power in displacement-limited conditions.
These differences are subtle within the boat’s consistent performance brief, but they matter when comparing an early Groton-built hull with a later Middletown example.
The Verdict
The Evelyn 32 is a focused, light-displacement racer/cruiser. It rewards a sailing-minded owner with pace and responsiveness that few 32-footers of its era can match, but that performance comes at the cost of cruising comforts and a crew-hungry nature when the wind builds.
Pros
- Strong light-air speed, excellent upwind performance, and downwind planing potential
- Tuneable fractional rig with an adjustable backstay
- Rare, purpose-built club racer with MORC and IMS lineage
- Simple, comfortable overnight accommodations for a race boat
Cons
- Demands seven or eight crew in a breeze and can be hard work in heavy air
- More racer than cruiser, with a modest galley and head
- Small production run limits choice on the used market
