When the various “Ton” rating classes were at the height of their power back in the 1970s and 1980s, the Three Quarter Tonners, midway between the 37ft One Tonners and the 30-ft Half Tonners, might have been regarded as something of a poor relation. The One Tonners had the glamour of the historic One Ton Cup as their main international trophy, while the Half Tonners were sufficiently economical to provide huge turnouts with many potential hull and rig development experiments.
But in 2025, with the Centenary Fastnet Race inevitably dominating international thinking, we remember that it was a Three Quarter Tonner, the Ron Holland-designed Nicholson 33 Golden Delicious sailed by the Bagnall brothers, which won the Golden Jubilee Fastnet Race of 1975 overall.
Subsequently, designers like Tony Castro continued to develop the Three Quarter Ton size, and Bateleur for Scotsman Chris Bonnar in 1988 was particularly highly regarded. She still is, and has just won the ICRA Boat of the Year (ECHO) for Pat Tanner of Royal Cork, and a “Sailor of the Month” title with it.
