Sadler Yachts initially built the boat in the UK. After Sadler went into receivership in 1993, production passed to Rival Bowman and continued through 1998. The moulds then went to Rustler Yachts, which completed a few more boats to order. In all, 105 hulls were launched. The result is a purposeful midsize cruiser that appealed both to long-distance voyagers and to families moving up from smaller yachts.
Design and Construction
Jones gave the hull a long bow overhang and pronounced sheer, rising from low freeboard aft to high, slightly flared bows. This profile helps keep the deck dry in heavy going. The low coachroof gives the helm a clear panoramic view, while wide side decks have a moulded-in non-slip surface.
Structurally, an inner moulding is bonded to the hull at the ring frames, with closed-cell foam injected between the two. This construction provides insulation and a smooth, easy-to-clean interior finish, while the inner moulding also forms the basis of much of the furniture.
Buyers could choose a fin, shallow-fin, or wing keel. Each is cast iron and bolted to a GRP stub that forms part of the hull, keeping weight low and creating a deep bilge. A deep, skeg-mounted rudder helped the boat track dead straight with little effort at the wheel.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Starlight 35 has a stout, deck-stepped masthead rig on a twin-spreader Seldén mast. The generously sized standing rigging includes fore and aft lower shrouds and an adjustable backstay. The MkII carried a slightly larger rig than the MkI.
A fully battened mainsail works with lazyjacks and luff cars. All control lines run beneath hinged cockpit covers to two Lewmar 30ST winches, while Lewmar 48ST primaries handle the large genoa. The spreaders are swept only 10° aft, allowing the boom to go nearly dead out without fouling them.
Under sail, the Starlight 35 is responsive, balanced, and easy to handle. She tacks confidently through 80° and points to 32° off the apparent wind. Owners have found her docility and manoeuvrability reassuring, while testers identified around 45° off the wind as her favourite point of sail; in a stiff breeze, she makes 7 knots there.
The wing keel is said to add lift to windward while preserving shallow draught. Testers found that it produced no more leeway than a normal fin and had a damping effect that checked pitching in big seas.
The boat also showed an above-average performance envelope for a tough, long-legged bluewater hull. In the 1991 Round the Island Race, a fully equipped cruising example beat dedicated racers, finishing second in Channel Handicap Class 5 within two minutes of the Britannia Cup winner and winning her non-rated division.
Accommodation
Below, the Starlight 35 has a spacious, comfortable layout. The saloon contains two settees, each measuring 1.98 by 0.65 metres and both excellent as sea berths. The starboard settee has a pull-out extension, and a folding table serves the saloon.
The forward cabin has a double berth and hanging locker, as does the aft cabin. Headroom in both the saloon and aft cabin is 1.83 metres.
The L-shaped galley is large enough for voyaging, with two deep sinks, a large fridge, and a fully gimballed cooker fitted with a crash bar and bum strap. To port, a forward-facing, Admiralty-chart-size navigation table includes instrument trays. The heads compartment, aft of the navigation station, is fully lined and has a shower seat over the toilet.
Cockpit and Practical Details
The cockpit is well protected, with good ergonomics and enough room for three people to work without getting in one another’s way. It has a deep, self-draining well and a tall bridge deck, made safer by stainless-steel grab bars.
The lower engine-box step is positioned well forward, providing straightforward access for servicing. Several owners of larger, heavy-displacement cruisers chose the Starlight 35 specifically because they wanted something smaller, easier to handle, and easier to maintain.
The one ergonomic shortcoming noted in period testing concerns the primary genoa winches. They’re mounted too far forward for the helm to reach, which can complicate short-handed trimming when sailing on the wind.
The Verdict
The Starlight 35 is a thoughtfully detailed Jones cruiser that punches above her 35-foot length. She combines a foam-cored, well-insulated hull with a practical deck, a rig arranged for short-handed control, and, with the wing keel, a sea-kindly motion. She suits both cruising families and serious voyagers, though the forward placement of the primary winches is a minor concession.
Pros
- Shares the Starlight 39’s layout and cockpit feel in a lighter, handier package
- Wing keel provides shallow draught without a measurable leeway penalty
- Spacious, voyaging-grade galley and secure sea berths
- Demonstrated racing pace against dedicated racers in 1991
Cons
- Genoa winches are out of reach from the helm
- Relatively heavy by modern standards
