A grey and white with wooden deck Racing Sparrow model yacht built by Eric Rosenbaum from the USA Model builder: Eric Rosenbaum, USA

Build your own radio controlled yacht

Are you ready to embark on the exciting journey of building your very own model RC yacht?

Our comprehensive eBook has clear building instructions and step-by-step photography for the Racing Sparrow 750mm RC Yacht.

RC Boat Building eBook

What we cover in our boat building eBook

Download a sample of our eBook

Even those with limited building experience can join in on the fun with minimal materials and a simple toolset. Our eBook by New Zealander Bryn Heveldt covers strip planking, fibreglass strengthening, mould and casting techniques, electrics installation, spray painting and masking, sail making and tuning.

To get started on your Racing Sparrow model RC yacht project, purchase our eBook and download the PDF now.

Purchase eBook $14.99 USD PayPal, Google Pay, Credit Card
internal structure - 3d model illustration

Print Your Own Radio Controlled Yacht

Want to 3D Print a RacingSparrow? Well now you can. We offer a set of STL files and instructions.

We have been hard at work designing the original Racing Sparrow to be 3D printable.

It is so easy to print and build and sails really well. We are really happy with how it turned out.

Read more about the model on the 3D Printing page.

square RS3d
Purchase STL files $24USD PayPal, Google Pay, Credit Card

Racing Sparrow Blog

We share tips and stories from the model boat building community. See all Blog Posts.

23 days ago

Chip's Stunning Mahogany Build

Chris from Illinois USA sent in these photos of this amazing all mahogany and brass build. Some stunning craftmanship!

2 months ago

3D Printing Update: Print Your Own Radio-Controlled Yacht!

The process to design a 3D printed Racing Sparrow is going well. The first boat had a sea trial which quickly led to a s…
3 months ago

A 3D Printed Racing Sparrow!

The time has come, and I finally made the call to try and 3D print a Racing Sparrow model yacht. This is quite a departu…
9 months ago

The Design Rationale for the RacingSparrow 750

The Racing Sparrow is a model RC yacht designed by New Zealander Bryn Heveldt. Inspired by his early sailing experiences…

Free model boat plans

We provide a number of different boat plans that you can build using techniques covered in our full eBook.

You can download plans for boats of different sizes and specifications.

What our customers say about Racing Sparrow

Being a complete novice, I purchased your book a couple of years ago and built two racing sparrows. Building on this experience I then went on to build, from scratch, an IOM (Triple Crown design).

I've since joined a local club and sail virtually every weekend. I would just like to thank you for your endeavours which have allowed me to enter a world I never thought was in my reach.

John Sterland, Australia

Coming upon your book, "Build your own Radio Controlled Yacht" in the Napier Public Library, I am hugely impressed.

The combination of your superb photos and illustrations with your easy writing style make it a standout publication and I hope it does well for you.

Richard Spence, New Zealand

Thanks for an excellent design in your RG65. I trialled her again today in a solid 20 knots gusting higher. Even so in a steep chop and fingers off the rudder she drove upwind remarkably well, balanced perfectly.

Very impressed that a model boat can handle that with a large rig. I found the book excellent. Ive built several big boats, plus a few skiffs and without that resource building such a good boat would have been impossible.

Mike Bennett

Boats built by the Racing Sparrow community

We continue to be amazed at the beautiful model RC boats created by Racing Sparrow enthusiasts.  Send your images to info@racingsparrow.co.nz.

Take a look at the full boat gallery page. So many fine model yachts!

80% RG65, Auckland, New Zealand

Apr 25, 2015

An 80% RG65 model yacht with black sails and wooden hull natual, Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Terry Raggett's - RS750, Portsmouth, England

Jun 4, 2008

A colourful model yacht with red sails and bright blue swirly painted hull, sitting in a bathtub for it's first "float", Location: Portsmouth, England

Miss Sunshine, RS750 by Terry Plumridge from Vienna Austria. Built for his wife Gertraud. Terry writes " Firstly thanks for writing your book, it introduced me to building from plans, and plank on frame construction, both of which I enjoyed tremendously."

Matt - Fly Girl 750

Oct 1, 2014

A model yacht sitting in a cradle without rigging, a black hull with swirly writing that says "Fly Girl"

P3 - The third 3D printed RacingSparrow, Nelson, New Zealand

Sep 22, 2024

2024 09 17 08 v2.40.07, Location: Nelson, New Zealand

More about Racing Sparrow

What is Racing Sparrow and who is Bryn Heveldt?

When I was nine years old my father, Ross Heveldt taught me to sail down at Bucklands Beach in Auckland. My wee optimist dinghy was called 'The Racing Sparrow', the nickname my uncle Bruce Curry gave to me when I was a small boy. Apparently I had an abundance of energy.

I studied at Whanganui School of Design and have been a designer / developer since 1998. I live in New Zealand.

Best wishes and happy sailing, Bryn Heveldt.

To contact me please email: info@racingsparrow.co.nz

Bryn when he was nine years old sailing the original Racing Sparrow Optimist down at Eastern Beach, Auckland