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

Racing Sparrow Blog

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

37 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!

3 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…
4 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…

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

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

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.

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!

Build a sparrow in less than 3 hours!

Oct 18, 2013

A free sailing model yacht made from cardboard and cellotape, apparently it sailed quite well for 15 minutes! It was 375mm long and had a proper weighted keel and working sails.

Take a look at the blog section for a full write up about this model.

John Sheehan's 750 - stunner!

Oct 28, 2009

John Sheehan's dark navy blue racing sparrow model yacht. Very shiney and highly polished, sitting in the backyard

Glue me down!

Aug 1, 2021

A model yacht part way through construction. Glueing the deck to the hull.

Graham Long, Auckland, New Zealand

Dec 17, 2009

The stern of a model yacht with a varnished wooden deck with a dark circular pattern creating lovely sections and a quality aesthetic, Location: Auckland, 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