Design and Construction
The SR 27 is a conventionally built fibreglass monohull. It measures 27.50 ft overall, with a 24.00 ft waterline, a 9.50 ft beam, and a displacement of 3,750 lb. Its nearly plumb stem and open reverse transom give it a purposefully contemporary profile for a 1992 racer.
Below the waterline, the boat has a lifting fin keel. Draft is 5.92 ft with the keel extended and 1.50 ft with it retracted, allowing the boat to be trailered without a crane. Steering is by tiller through an internally mounted, spade-type rudder. This keeps the appendage clear of the hull structure aft and leaves the cockpit uncluttered for crew work.
Rig and Handling
The SR 27 carries a fractional Bermuda sloop rig. Its short-overlap genoa and masthead-free headsail plan are typical of a boat tuned for crewed buoy racing.
The lifting keel defines the boat’s handling and transport arrangements. Extended, it gives the SR 27 a competitive 5.92 ft draft. Retracted, it permits ground transportation on a trailer between distant regattas.
There’s no inboard engine. A small outboard may be fitted for docking and maneuvering, reflecting the boat’s light displacement and the absence of an inboard.
Performance
The SR 27 has a hull speed of 6.56 kn. Its racing character is also reflected in a PHRF average handicap of 102, with a recorded high of 105 and a low of 99 across the fleets that rated it. Those figures place it among the quicker small keelboats of its era when sailed to its fractional rig. The stated hull speed is consistent with its 3,750 lb displacement and 24.00 ft waterline.
Verdict
The SR 27 is a rare, trailerable racing sloop that trades cabin accommodation for a clean fractional rig and a keel that retracts for highway transport. Its scarcity makes any surviving example a specialist’s boat, but this 1992 C&C design follows a coherent racing brief rather than compromising between racing and cruising.
Pros
- Trailerable, with a lifting keel that reduces draft to 1.50 ft
- Fractional Bermuda sloop rig suited to buoy racing
- PHRF average handicap of 102, with a high of 105 and a low of 99
- Solid fibreglass construction by C&C Yachts
Cons
- Only eight were built, limiting the support network and commonality of spares
- No inboard engine; relies on a fitted outboard for docking
