Hi
I have not visited Sailnet for almost a year but am glad to be back. I am the owner of OPTION, a Mark Soverel designed Soverel 36 with a fin keel.
You will find that the fin keel version sails extremely close to the wind and, for a displacement hull, is excellent in light winds. So, notwithstanding all of his achievements, the fin keel Soverel 36 may be the best of all of Mark Soverel's designs. It is sad that his life ended so prematurely.
Things to look for on the fin keeled Soverel 36 which are things I had to address on OPTION - all probably due to age - are: 1) the rudder which may be water logged and in need of repair or replacement; 2) the steering quadrant may be corroded and shot, and in need of replacement; 3) the steering assembly including cable, chains and pulleys may be shot and in need of replacement; 4) the windows, a/k/a/ lights, may be in need of replacement; 5) a number of the cheek blocks on deck and on the traveler may be in need of replacement; and 6) the clutches may be shot and in need of replacememt. As an addition, asymmetrical spinnakers attached to the bow or using a spinnaker pole work well.
OPTION and Moody Blue may be the only Mark Soverel designed Soverel 36s that have not, as of today, been modified. I am aware of all but three (3) of the seven (7) fin keel boats.
With her almost new Quantum sails, OPTION is undefeated in 2010 and 2011 local PHRF events. The largest regatta she has competed in is known as the Spirit Rider Regatta. It is is an ocean race that held off the beaches of Long Beach, New York which is a Long Island community. (
The O'Keefe Foundation,Inc.) Her competition included two (2) Soverel 33s and other boats some of which were crewed by Navy, Army and Fordham. OPTION won overall both in 2010 and 2011 with the fastest overall time and, in 2011, beat the 2nd place Soverel 33 by a little more than a mile. She also won the Spirit Rider Regatta in 2006, with old sails, on PHRF.
The Around Long Island was considered for 2011 but the idea was scrapped due to numerous maintenance issues. Now with an AIS receiving radio installed, along with all of last year's maintenance issues having been resolved, she is fit to look at the 2012 Around Long Island. That decision will be made in March subject to having sufficient crew.