Design and Construction
The 39 CR’s lineage is unmistakable. Its hull, keel, and rudder come directly from the Sydney 38, and the deep rudder earns its keep in hard sailing.
The boat measures 38 feet 6 inches overall, with a 35-foot-3-inch waterline. Displacement is 13,735 pounds, including 4,255 pounds of lead ballast. That gives it a ballast ratio near 45 per cent—high compared with its market peers and, for stiffness and offshore safety, a case where more truly is merrier.
The shrouds attach to carbon-fibre chainplates moulded into the hull, a Sydney Yachts trademark. This arrangement provides a wide shroud base for better mast support and removes deck penetrations so leaks are eliminated. Inside, the builder emphasises that all furniture and bulkheads are structural and bonded to the hull moulding. The moulded grid system is also bonded in place and picks up loads from the mast step, engine beds, and backstay. The hull should therefore be stiff, which is good for offshore safety.
Large tempered-glass windows in both the hull sides and coachroof bring in plenty of natural light and provide unrestricted views.
Rig and Handling
A modern swept-back-spreader rig with non-overlapping sails allows the boat to be easily crewed or sailed short-handed. The two-spreader aluminium mast carries non-overlapping headsails, while the Sydney 38’s masthead spinnaker was replaced by a smaller one on the 39 CR. This moderate rig and its small headsails make a fast boat easier to sail.
Running rigging is concealed below deck, leaving the coachroof uncluttered and safe. The large composite wheel is another Sydney Yachts trademark. It is precise and communicative, and the helmsman’s foot supports are large and well placed. Even a short helmsman can see the headsail tufts without straining.
Performance
The Sydney 39 CR’s displacement-to-length and sail-area-to-displacement ratios are close to those of a grand prix racer. It’s a light boat with a big engine in terms of sail area, although its low weight means the actual sail area isn’t especially large.
The boat handles well in all conditions and is very stable and effortlessly fast. Martin Thompson claims it will make 7.2–7.3 knots upwind in about 15 knots of breeze. One owner reports averaging nearly 10 knots on the run home from the Whitsundays in 25–40 knots.
Accommodation and Cockpit
Below, there are two double berths: one in the bow and another aft to starboard. To port aft, the layout provides either a single-berth cabin or a huge wet locker.
The head is forward of the main bulkhead and has a Jabsco manual toilet and retractable shower head. The dinette is to port, while two single seats sit to starboard on either side of a small table. Teak furniture contrasts with light-coloured myrtle on the hull sides.
Clean lines and an uncomplicated layout help create a sense of space. The main saloon feels modern and warm, whether used for entertaining or relaxing. Above, the large open cockpit gives the crew room to manoeuvre under sail, then serves as an alfresco dining area at anchor.
Delivery and Equipment
Sydney Yachts delivers each boat with its keel and rudder faired to raceboat standards. Sheets and halyards are Vectran, and the spinnaker halyards have their sheaths stripped for easier handling. A boom bag and lazy jacks are included; all are removable for racing.
The first two Sydney 39 CRs sailed with basic wardrobes consisting of only two headsails.
The Verdict
The Sydney 39 CR is a genuine cruiser-racer. It wraps a bright, roomy live-aboard interior around a raceboat hull and a precise rig. Its high ballast ratio and stiff hull suit offshore work, while non-overlapping sails and concealed running rigging make short-handed sailing a practical proposition rather than an aspiration.
Pros
- Pure Sydney 38 hull, keel, and rudder, with the authority of a deep rudder
- Moulded carbon-fibre chainplates eliminate deck leaks and provide a wide shroud base
- Near-grand-prix performance ratios with a rig suited to short-handed sailing
- Bright, spacious interior arranged as three cabins or two cabins plus a wet locker
Cons
- Smaller spinnaker than the Sydney 38, limiting downwind racing punch
- Basic factory sail wardrobe on the first two boats, with only two headsails
