The Starlight 35 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Starlight 35 was launched in 1991 as a smaller version of the Starlight 39, which was designed by Stephen Jones in 1988. The Starlight 35 had a MkI and a MkII model, with the latter having a slightly larger rig. The Starlight 35 also had different keel options, such as a fin keel, a shallow fin keel and a wing keel.

The Starlight 35 has a spacious and comfortable interior, with an inner moulding that provides insulation and a smooth finish. The accommodation consists of a forward cabin with a double berth and a hanging locker, a saloon with two settees that can be used as single berths, a folding table and plenty of storage, a U-shaped galley with a two-burner stove, an oven, a fridge and a sink, a navigation station with a large chart table and an instrument panel, and an aft cabin with another double berth and a hanging locker. The head compartment is located aft of the saloon on the port side, with a marine toilet, a washbasin and a shower.

The Starlight 35 has three keel options: a fin keel with a draught of 5'11", a shallow fin keel with a draught of 5'0", and a wing keel with a draught of 4'9". The keels are made of cast iron and bolted onto a GRP stub that forms part of the hull. The wing keel option is said to improve her windward performance while reducing her draught for shallow water sailing.

The Starlight 35 is a delight to sail, as she is responsive, balanced and easy to handle. She has good directional stability and tracks well on all points of sail. She tacks easily and confidently through 80° and can point up to 32° off the apparent wind. She is fast and agile in light airs, reaching up to 7 knots at 45° off the wind in a stiff breeze. She is also stiff and seaworthy in heavy weather, thanks to her high ballast ratio and low center of gravity. She has a well-protected cockpit with good visibility and ergonomics.

The average cost of a secondhand Starlight 35 depends on the year, condition and equipment of the boat. According to some online listings, the price range can vary from £40,000 to £65,000 (as of July 2023).

The original boatbuilder of the Starlight 35 was Sadler Yachts, which was founded by David Sadler in 1974. Sadler Yachts went into receivership in 1993 due to the recession and was taken over by Rival Bowman Yachts, which continued to build the Starlight range until 1998. Rival Bowman Yachts also went out of business in 1998 and sold the moulds to Rustler Yachts, which built a few more Starlights to order. Rustler Yachts is still in business today, but it does not produce the Starlight 35 anymore.