Design and Construction
The original Medalist 33-1 was a solid fiberglass hull with a balsa-cored deck and attached rudder; all were flush decked with ports in the topsides. When Le Comte redesigned the boat in 1966 to be slightly longer, the enlarged hull through 1970 was built with a spade rudder and a tall rig as the 33-2, though one 33-2 was built with an attached rudder and a trunk cabin. The Mk III was offered with either a flush deck or a trunk cabin. The Mk II and Mk III both use a long keel and a masthead rig, with the Mk II built by the Dutch yard LeComte-Holland, N.V. and the hull made of fibreglass. The Mk III's draft sits at roughly 5.25 to 5.55 feet depending on load, letting the boat enter most marinas without drama.
Rig and Handling
The Mk II carries a tall rig with a masthead configuration, and its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 14.2 on the ISO reference sail, rising to 16.5 with a 135% genoa. The 33-1's foretriangle measured I 35.58 and J 11.83, while the enlarged 33-2 measured I 39.5 and J 12.25, reflecting the taller rig on the longer hull. The Mk II's standing and running rigging are thoroughly documented: mainsail and genoa halyards run 25.2 meters at 10 mm, jib and genoa sheets are 10.1 meters at 12 mm, and the mainsheet is 25.2 meters at 12 mm. The Mk III's capsize screening value is 1.76 and its Motion Comfort Ratio is 31.2, while its displacement-length ratio of 374 places it among heavy cruisers. The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 6.6 knots, and the immersion rate is 839 pounds per inch.
Accommodations
The Mk I interior that established the model's reputation was well-designed and offered ample living space, typically with a V-berth forward, settees both sides in the main salon, a galley, a navigation station, and a head, accommodating up to six. The Mk II and Mk III inherit that cruising footprint within the enlarged hull, and the Mk III's length-to-beam ratio of 3.30 with a 36% ballast ratio speaks to a volume-forward, stable platform rather than a stripped racer. The original 33-1's flush deck gave way to trunk-cabin options on later marks, widening the habitable trunk without abandoning the low-slung profile.
Performance Heritage
The Medalist 33 MKI was known for speed and agility, with a large sail area that let it excel in light and heavy winds and an upwind ability that made it a reliable offshore choice in rough seas. The Mk II's SA/D figures and tall rig continue that character, and the Mk III's heavy-cruiser DL categorization alongside a 1.76 capsize screen suggests a boat that carries load without surrendering its seakeeping. The 33-foot waterline produces a predictable, comfort-oriented motion rather than a twitchy ride.
The Verdict
The Medalist 33 Mk II and Mk III are mature expressions of a Dutch fiberglass cruiser lineage that began as a pioneering production design. The enlarged hull, spade rudder, and tall masthead rig give the later marks a measurable step up in sail plan and marina-friendly draft, while the long keel and heavy-cruiser displacement ratios anchor them as dependable coastal and offshore companions.
Pros
- Pioneering fiberglass production heritage with a documented design evolution from 1961 onward
- Enlarged Mk II/Mk III hull with spade rudder and tall rig for improved sail area
- Draft around 5.25–5.55 ft keeps the boat manageable in most marinas
- Strong upwind and rough-water reputation carried from the Mk I
- Accommodations for up to six with a practical V-berth and dual-settee layout
Cons
- Heavy-cruiser displacement-length ratio limits outright speed despite tall rig
- Earlier 33-1 and some 33-2 configurations used attached rudders, a step behind the spade setup
