About Sunny Spells

While living in Antwerp- Belgium, Dick Carter designed this successful IOR 3/4 tonner for the 1971 Admirals Cup and the “Round-the-UK Race”. Production boats were built in Greece by Olympic Yachts, and feature a very sturdy fiberglass / divynicell sandwich hull where woodworkmanship abounds. In Australia the design was built in two versions by Graham Walliker of Yellsley Yachts in Sydney:
  • The “33 Racer”, which was the rear cockpit, tall rig version (Sunny Spells is one of these); and
  • The “33 Passage” with slightly shorter rig, centre cockpit and rear stateroom, aimed at the cruising and charter market.

The Carter 33 is a solid, medium displacement hull (external lead fin keel and skeg-hung rudder) with a bullet-proof double-spreader masthead sloop rig. In the 1976 World Championships held in the UK the Carter was the top scoring production yacht of the series.

Sunny Spells showing off her classic IOR inspired lines on the slip

The Carter 33 returned good results in the late 70’s, including 1st in Division C and 1st in the 3/4 Ton Division of the 1977 Sydney-Hobart, 1st 1978 Australian 3/4 Ton IOR Championships in Melbourne, 1st in the 3/4 Ton Division and 2nd overall in the 1979 Sydney-Hobart (”Wheelbarrow”), being , 1st in Division 3 of the 1979-80 CYCA Long Ocean Racing Series, 1st in Division 3 of the 1979 Montague Island Race, 3rd Overall in the 1979-80 CYCA Blue Water Championship and Member of the Winning No. 1 CYCA Team in the 1979-80 Commodore Cup Series. The boats developed a reputation for being no-nonsense boats that sailed well, especially when going to windward. “Wheelbarrow” was named as a pun on Dick Carter (the designer) and the crew famously wore t-shirts depicting a (good old Aussie) bloke pushing a wheelbarrow to transport his oversized phallus….

Unlike many of her contemporaries, the Carter 33 has substantial accommodation and comfort below decks to ensure the sailing performance is not the only factor enjoyed when cruising or relaxing. The generous beam of 11′ 2″ provides space to sleep and feed a crew of up to 8. There is also headroom of 6′ 3″ in the main saloon area.

After a complete re-fit in early 2008, including standing rigging, Sunny Spells is very well equipped for offshore passagemaking:

  • she has 9 sails, including stormsails and 3 kites (one asymetric chute in sock);
  • 6-person offshore liferaft;
  • new headsail furler (Harken MkIV);
  • Navman 8084 colour chartplotter/sounder at helm;
  • Raymarine ST4000+ autopilot;
  • AIS receiver with target shipping displayed on the chartplotter;
  • conservatively size ground tackle, including a 42lb plough and 30m of 8mm chain/ 50m of 14mmm nylon; and
  • heavy duty electric windlass from South Pacific.

While she has 8 berths, in practice 4 to 6 is probably a comfortable crew complement. There is a cold shower in the heads and the galley has an icebox and metho stove (two burner plus grill).

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