Regatta Yacht Dorade

Dorade Fastnet Yacht Kit Ship model kit from manufacturer Amati

History of the original

The Dorade yacht is considered one of the most significant designs in sailing history and a symbol of the beginning of modern ocean racing. It was designed in 1930 by the then 21-year-old American yacht designer Olin Stephens and built at the Minneford Yacht Yard in New York. Together with his brother Rod Stephens, Olin Stephens developed a boat that revolutionised yacht building with its lightness, narrow hull and innovative design. The Dorade became particularly well known for the Dorade vents named after it, a new type of ventilation system that brought fresh air below deck without allowing water to enter – a technical detail that is still used in many yachts today.

With a length of around 16.4 metres and a slim mahogany hull on oak frames, the Dorade was significantly lighter and more elegant than most of its competitors at the time. It was rigged as a sloop and was characterised by excellent seaworthiness and speed. Shortly after her launch, she won several regattas on the American East Coast, but her real breakthrough came in Europe in 1931.

In 1931, the Dorade took part in the legendary Fastnet Race, one of the most demanding offshore races in the world. The course ran from Cowes on the Isle of Wight via the notorious Fastnet Rock off the south coast of Ireland to Plymouth – a distance of around 608 nautical miles. Under the leadership of Olin and Rod Stephens, the Dorade competed against a fleet of significantly larger and heavier British yachts. Many British sailors initially dismissed the American boat, considering it too small and too light to withstand the harsh conditions of the North Atlantic. But the Dorade proved all the sceptics wrong: not only did it sail safely through the heavy weather, it won the race by a large margin on corrected time.

This victory in the 1931 Fastnet Race marked a turning point in the history of ocean sailing. The Dorade proved that lightweight construction, hydrodynamic efficiency and precise design are crucial for speed and seaworthiness – not just mass and size. The success made the young designers at Sparkman & Stephens instantly famous and had a lasting impact on the development of modern yacht design.

In the years that followed, the Dorade continued its success story. Among other things, it won the 1931 Transatlantic Race from Newport to Plymouth and the 1932 Bermuda Race, again on corrected time. It changed hands several times over the decades, was lovingly restored and is now considered one of the best-preserved classic yachts in the world. It still takes part in regattas in the 21st century – in 2015, it successfully completed the Fastnet Race once again, proving its exceptional seaworthiness.

To this day, the Dorade remains a symbol of innovation, elegance and maritime engineering. Her victory in the 1931 Fastnet Race made her a legend and marked the beginning of a new era in yacht design – an era in which lightness, efficiency and technical sophistication set the tone.

Kit description

The kit contains a prefabricated, very lightweight ABS hull with a high-gloss finish. Deck and superstructure made from cleanly laser-cut plywood parts. The deck is planked with precious wood. Round rods and strips are made from ramin and walnut. The kit contains a large number of beautifully crafted metal and wooden fittings, including a set of filigree brass etched parts. The cast parts are of high quality and require only minor finishing. Sailcloth and all materials for the rigging are also included. The model stand shown is not included.

Who is the kit suitable for?

The kit is not suitable for beginners and inexperienced model builders.

What else is needed?

Paints, adhesives and tools are required and can be found in our range.

It is technically possible to convert the model into an RC model, but the assembly instructions do not cover this. Any conversion is left to the builder of the model.

What do the assembly instructions look like?

The kit contains printed step-by-step instructions with clear directions. These include 4 large plan sheets with drawings and a detailed parts list. A German translation is included.

The booklet also contains instructions in English and French.

Instructions are not available for download.

Technical data

Scale: 1:20
Length: 856 mm
Width: 180 mm
Height: 1030 mm