Racing Sparrow Model Yacht RC Sailboat Plans

Check out these plans and resources, ranging from a 375mm boat to a 1500mm yacht. Pair these with our eBook guide for a fast, easy, and affordable home build RC yacht.

Racing Sparrow model yachts, orange rg65 and a black 750 in the background

RS-RG65 - 650mm plans, measures to international RG65 rules

A full forward hull and a straight stern. This boat has proven to be a very fast and competitive racer.

RacingSparrow RG65 v2 RG65 sail logo EPS
Racing Sparrow model yacht, red hull sailing upwind with a 45 degree heel angle. looks fast

Racing Sparrow 750 plans

The plans that come with the eBook.

RacingSparrow 750 RS750 A1 fullsize v2 Vinyl sticker sheet
Racing Sparrow model yacht - 1 meter

Racing Sparrow 1000 plans

A one metre version, scaled up lines. Bulkhead only plans. Look at the 750 for full schematics.

RS 1000
Racing Sparrow model yacht RS1500

Racing Sparrow 1500 plans - A scaled up Racing Sparrow

A larger size model yacht. I haven't seen many of these surface. It's a good challenge to build.

RS 1500
Racing Sparrow model yacht being held by a woman who is about to launch the boat for a sail

Racing Sparrow 375 plans - The smallest sparrow

A miniature RacingSparrow. A great introduction to building with balsa.

RS 375
Racing Sparrow model yacht tool set

Free Book Sample - PDF

A few pages from the eBook absolutely free. Download from the Builders Book page.

Peoples boats made from these plans!

Deniz Kuşadası RS RG

Deniz's RS-RG65

Kuşadası, Türkiye,
Hi Bryn, thank you so much for sharing this and bringing together people who share a love for sailing. The boy in the picture is my friend's son. I built him the RS65 as a birthday present. He'll be a great sailor in the future. He loves boats very much. I would be very happy if you shared a picture of him.
Mike Aston 750

Mike Aston's RS750 Balsa Build

Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK,
MikeSohner

Mike Sohner, RS1000

USA,
Here is the first RC boat I built. I used your 1000 mm Sparrow templates to build this one.
Chip 2

Chip Hackley

Illinois USA,
Read this blog post about the boat with more photos.
peter hill auckland racing sparrow

Peter Hill - RS750

Henderson, Auckland,
Racing Sparrow Fanie Nel

Fanie Nel - RS750

Krugerdorp, South Africa,
Jerry Cashmans Racing Sparrow sailing on a still lake

Jerry Cashman's RS750

Canberra, Australia,
Hello! Here a couple of pix of my Sparrow. She’s been finished for a year or so now but the lockdowns has kept her out of the water largely. She’s a beaut. Sails beautifully on just the lightest air. Thanks for the design!  
A Racing Sparrow model yacht in white livery

Graham Royle RS750

Cheshire, UK,
Great model plan and book. Here is my recently completed RS. Based in Cheshire, UK, Best wishes, Graham
Andy Saunders and son holding a model yacht, balsa construction

Andy Saunders + Son

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

Glue me down!

Bright coloured sails on this Racing Sparrow model yacht with a striped wooden deck

Julian Anthony

Kohuwala, Sri Lanka,
Jerome Declerck's model yacht butterfly

Jerome Declerck - 2 750s

Jerome Declerck's model yacht pink and purple hull sitting in a cradle

Jerome Declerck - 750

A model yacht posing by a swimming pool

Alan Brown

Perth, West Australia,
Hi Bryn

I purchased your plans in February (Perth, West Australia) and just thought you may be interested in my first build. Plans are brilliant and so easy to follow. Attached is a pic of my first attempt. Have already finished my second hull. Just waiting on RC to arrive. I planked with 2.
A radio controlled model yacht of a paper tiger catamaran. The hulls are both blue and it looks very much to scale of the real dinghy sailboat. It is sitting on a cradle next to a swimming pool

Alan Brown Catamaran Racing Sparrow derivitive

Perth, Western Australia,
A red to blue gradient paint job on a model yacht hull, the boat sitting against a wall on display with a large lead bulb keel

'Sparrow' based RG 65

Gwyn Alway's green racing sparrow model yacht hull sitting on the work bench

Gwyn Alway

I bought the racing sparrow book about 18 months ago, didn’t ever think it would take an awful pandemic to prompt me to build it. Now can’t wait to rig and sail it. I opted for flush hatches to run the sheets over the top.
Racing sparrow model yacht sailing, the deck is made up from lego bricks

LegoC 750

A model yacht sitting on a cradle on the beach, golden sand. The boat has lovely blue wavy graphics at the bow and faux-wood at the back in a swirly transition

Budi Santoso

Indonesia,
Jonathon Gillham's Racing Sparrow model yacht in bright red colour scheme with an old 90's styled graphics and logo font in bold white

Jonathon Gillham

New Zealand,
Foxy lady the orange model yacht, an RG65 design by Bryn Heveldt from New Zealand

Royal Declerk's - RG65(Foxy Lady) Sisters: 650 & 750

Mount Martha, Victoria, Australia,
A white model racing sparrow yacht, sitting on a cradle inside against a white wall and wooden floor

Racing Sparrow 750 - Terry Plumridge

Vienna, Austria,
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. "
A white and blue model yacht, racing sparrow design

Sparkly

England,
Black Pearl Model yacht - was lost at sea

Royal Declerks' Black Pearl

Mount Martha, Victoria, Australia,
The original black pearl rc yacht with a black hull and wooden decking with wooden hatch

Royal Declerks' Black Pearl

Australia,
Hi Bryn, let me introduce you to “Jack Sparrows” sister, Black Pearl, yet to have sail markings done and some rig adjustments.  Regards Royal.
DKM247 holding his racing sparrow model yacht

DKM247 - Proud RacingSparrow Builder/Owner

Melbourne, Australia,
declerks black catamaran model yacht

Royal Declerk's cool Multi-Hull

Australia,
Dear Bryn, I felt I had to tell you, my beautiful 75, "Jack Sparrow" got away from me due to a radio malfunction and sailed off into the distance across Port Phillip bay to be not heard of again, probably on its way to China? ?
An 80% RG65 model yacht with black sails and wooden hull natual

80% RG65

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

Matt - Fly Girl 750

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.

Build a sparrow in less than 3 hours!

Take a look at the blog section for a full write up about this model.
two rc model yachts, one blue, the other grey and yellow. They are both racing sparrow 750s

Hamish Coubrey

Auckland,
Hi Bryn, I recently finished building these 2 Racing Sparrow RS750s which i really enjoyed, it was a great project and kept me busy for a few months. They have been for a successful maiden voyage and sail great and now just need a few tweaks in the sail department to get them sailing even better. Thanks.
Bill Cobb standing with his two grandkids who are holding model yachts each

Bill Cobb

Zurich,
Hi Bryn,
I built an RS1000 and had so much fun building and sailing it I decided to build a couple of RS750's for my grandchildren in Zurich. Bit of juggling to get them into a suitcase but the whole project worked well and the boys just love them. Bill Cobb. - what an awesome Grandad! (Bryn).
Kevins bright green RG65 Racing Sparrow designed yacht looking side on to the yacht sitting in a cradle

Kevins stunning RG65

New Zealand,
Mel Kitson holding up his white racing sparrow 750 model yacht

Mel Kitson's 750

Watford UK,
Hi, Bryn, I enjoyed the build immensely. There were areas where I had some uncertainties, some of which were assisted through the forum posts, and some of which I improvised. All in all I am truly delighted with the end result and now look forward to learning to sail and enjoying many happy hours "playing". Kind regards, Mel Kitson
Kevins rg65 model yacht with stripy wood in dark light alternating pattern

Kevins stunning RG65

New Zealand,
Hi all, Just finished an RG65 racing Sparrow. (I made an 80% size one a while ago, it's in the gallery). Standard hull with 1 layer of 50g glass and epoxy. Deck is 1. 5mm balsa with veneer strips on top. Single hatch with rubber seals and 3 hold down screws. as I fitted the rudder servo into the recessed rear deck.
A beautiful model yacht called miss sunshine, white hull with blue accents sitting on a polished wooden floor

Racing Sparrow 750 - Plumridge

Vienna, Austria,
A yellow model yacht sitting in a cradle on a green field with controller leaning up against the cradle

Rod Patterson

Christchurch, New Zealand,
A yellow model yacht with the hatch open showing the internal workings and servos

Rod Patterson

Christchurch, New Zealand,
Two racing sparrow model yachts, one red, one black sitting on cradles inside a white room

John Sterland

Australia,
One red and one yellow model yacht sitting on a pontoon about to go sailing

Mathew Vanderhorst

Australia,
Looking down at a model yacht with pinned striped deck and blue hull sitting on a cradle

Martin Whittle, RS750

UK,
A woman holding a tiny radio controlled sailboat, a Racing Sparrow 375mm. It looks cold as she is wearing a thick jacket with a hood and scarf.

An icy looking spot for a 375!

bow of a model yacht, sitting on the lawn. The boat is white

John Goodyear with his RacingSparrow 750

United Kingdom,
A blue one meter racing sparrow model yacht, sails look rustic and the boat is sailing fast on the lake

Andrew Scott - RS1000

Ayrshire, Scotland,
A cream coloured model yacht with a wooden deck sitting on a cradle

Kendal Allcott

Nelson, New Zealand,
A large green rc yacht with a finned lead keel sits in a cradle in the living room. The sails are almost touching the ceiling it is so tall

Sparrow I found on the net, looks like an rs1500

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

Graham Long

Auckland, New Zealand,
A side on view of a white model yacht, sitting on a cradle on a green lawn

Graham Long

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

John Sheehan's 750 - stunner!

Geoff Lewis's racing sparrow sailing upwind on a greenish lake

Geoff Lewis

Isle of Wight,
A one meter yacht, a racing sparrow design, cream coloured hull with yellow appendages and semi see-through sails

One Meter RacingSparrow - Garry Angel

France,
A racing sparrow sailing downwind on a flat water lake, sails winged either side

Eric Rosenbaum

USA,
Sparrow Day 1 E 01

Eric Rosenbaum - A fine fine model yacht

USA,
Weighing a model one meter rc yacht.

Weighing up the options - Garry Angel

France,
John Goodyear sitting on the grass with his two model yachts, one on each side

John Goodyear

England,
A perfect example of a Racing Sparrow model yacht. The sail plan looks to be exactly to the plans given by the designer. Fantastic lines. The boat is sailing upwind with sails in tight and a 30 degree heeling angle

Eric Rosenbaum

USA,
a red model yacht sailing upwind on flat waters

John Clark

Perth, Western Australia,
Jonathan Daniels Racing Sparrow 75 full side shot sitting in the lounge

Jonathan Daniel

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

Terry Raggett's - RS750

Portsmouth, England,
A sparkly blue model yacht hull with red and translucent sails

Peter Knox

Canterbury, New Zealand,
RS1000 model yacht, dark green hull with white translucent sails, smoothly sailing fast through the calm green water. Looks almost like a vintage photograph from times gone by

Racing Sparrow 1000 - Larry Kin

Sydney, Australia,
A cyan blue model yacht sailing on a lake

Bradley

Kaiapoi, New Zealand,
A young lad Woodwards launching a model yacht on it's maiden sail

The woodwards Father & Son team on launch day.

New Zealand,
A small rc yacht red in colour sitting in a small styrene cradle on a table

Little RS375

a shiney red radio controlled yacht called a Racing Sparrow sailing upwind and leaning over 45 degrees

Bryn the Authors 750

A silver and purple model yacht with a white keel sitting on a work bench. Behind this can be seen a blue model yacht hull, the prototype model used for racing sparrow testing

Racing Sparrow #1 and #2(front)

A nearly finished model yacht sitting on a work bench

Racing Sparrow #3 - rigging

Auckland, New Zealand,

3D Print an RC yacht!

You can print your own or buy one of our printed kit set.

New
rs footy 305 side on 3

RS-Footy-305-3D

Length: 305mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $16 USD
This photo shows the versatile RG65 from RacingSparrow that can be built in two styles. This boat is mostly 3D printed and is designed by New Zealander Bryn Heveldt.

RS-RG65-3D

Length: 650mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $22 USD
RS Ranger 695 3D printed RC sailboat in green with white sail, shown fully assembled with keel and rudder, standing upright on wooden floor next to a radio controller.

RS-Ranger-695-3D

Length: 695mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $25 USD
A red 3D printed model yacht from Racing Sparrow in New Zealand. An ideal project for the 3D printing enthusiast. The image shows a rc controller and a two sailed model sailboat.

RS760-3D

Length: 760mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $19 USD
A yellow, one meter Racing Sparrow made with 3D printing technology. The boat is powerful, fast and easy to control with 2 servos. This is a really cheap way to build a large model sailboat.

RS1000-3D

Length: 1000mm
Skill Level: Intermediate
STL Files: $26 USD

Racing Sparrow Blog

We share tips and stories from the model boat building community. Read all blog posts

RS footy v1 hero

Racing Sparrow Footy Design V1

The V1 design had her maiden sail and I was really happy with how she sails. Tracks nicely and is really easy to build.
…
2025 11 09 16.18.26 Large

Introducing the RS-Ranger: 3D-printable sailboat

Our latest design is robust, easy to build, and super fun to sail. It features several innovative ideas and is the perfe…
3d printing mouse ears

3D Printing RC Sailboats: What I’ve Learnt from Daily Printing

After daily printing for the past few years I have learnt a lot about successfully 3D printing RC yachts. It's really ea…
2025 06 17 15.55.12

3D Printable RG65 Prototype Update - Video

Prototypes are sailing and refinement is underway with our newly designed RG65 Racing Sparrow. This design comes with va…

Builders eBook

Dive into the world of boat building with our eBook. Discover the craft of hull planking, fibreglass strengthening, and lead keel ballast casting.

Master the art of electrics installation, spray painting, sail making, and tuning of sails. Download a sample today and embark on a rewarding journey of boat construction.

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

Common questions about the plans

What tools do I need to build a RacingSparrow?

1. Chisel
2. Craft-knife
3. Drill Bit - 2mm (5/64in)bit
4. Drill Bit - 5mm (3/16in) bit
5. Electric Drill
6. Felt Marker
7. File
8. Hacksaw
9. Hammer
10. Hole Punch
11. Lighter
12. Pen
13. Pencil
14. Pins
15. Pliers
16. Ruler (steel)
17. Sanding Block
18. Scissors
19. Screwdriver
20. Spirit Level (optional)
21. Sponge Brush (several)
22. Vice Grips

 

Do I need the eBook to build this cool rc sailboat?

No you don't. The book is designed for the newcomer to model yacht building. The book does make it a much simpler process with every detail figured out and covered in the book. Seasoned builders can simply have a go with the free plans.

Are the plans really free?

Yes all the plans are free to download and use as you see fit. The most comprehensive plans are the RS750 A1 full size.

Are there CAD files or 3D files?

Yes there is a 3D printable version of the racing sparrow. Read the page about that model.

What the builders and sailors say:

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

Build It Yourself - Racing Sparrow

  • PDF download
  • Detailed plans
  • Clear illustrations and photos
  • Lists all tools & materials
  • Shows centimeters & inches
Purchase eBook $14.99 USD PayPal, Google Pay, Credit Card
DKM247 holding his racing sparrow model yacht v2

Look at all these cool boats folk have made at home

There is also a full gallery with a boat load of photos of Racing Sparrow's

Pete's RS760-3D, South Wales, UK

I sailed the model for the first time this morning and it performed faultlessly, several members of our club were well impressed.

His friend Ian did the 3D printing and helped with the shroudless mast modification. Bravo!

peter gray rs760 2

Jerome Declerck - 750

Jerome Declerck's model yacht pink and purple hull sitting in a cradle

Eric Rosenbaum, USA

A racing sparrow sailing downwind on a flat water lake, sails winged either side

John Clark, Perth, Western Australia

a red model yacht sailing upwind on flat waters

Kevins stunning RG65, New Zealand

Hi all, Just finished an RG65 racing Sparrow. (I made an 80% size one a while ago, it's in the gallery).
Standard hull with 1 layer of 50g glass and epoxy. Deck is 1.5mm balsa with veneer strips on top. Single hatch with rubber seals and 3 hold down screws.as I fitted the rudder servo into the recessed rear deck. Corona servos DS339HV digital for the sails and CS939 analogue for the rudder, I fitted a greased cork gasket under the rudder servo arm to waterproof the servo. Battery is a 2S 1000mAh lipo with a regulator for the Rx and rudder servo. Radio is Flysky CT6B. laminated ply fin with 2 layers of 50g glass, rudder from balsa with 1 layer of glass. Ballast and fin is 680g. Mast is slightly taller at 1050 so the sails are slightly different to fit within the 2250cm max. All up weight is 1150g.
I'll get sailing pix very soon.

Kevins rg65 model yacht with stripy wood in dark light alternating pattern

Julian Anthony, Kohuwala, Sri Lanka

Bright coloured sails on this Racing Sparrow model yacht with a striped wooden deck

Hamish Coubrey, Auckland

Hi Bryn, I recently finished building these 2 Racing Sparrow RS750s which i really enjoyed, it was a great project and kept me busy for a few months. They have been for a successful maiden voyage and sail great and now just need a few tweaks in the sail department to get them sailing even better. Thanks.

two rc model yachts, one blue, the other grey and yellow. They are both racing sparrow 750s

Chip Hackley, Illinois USA

Read this blog post about the boat with more photos.

Chip 2

Mathew Vanderhorst, Australia

One red and one yellow model yacht sitting on a pontoon about to go sailing

Racing Sparrow #3 - rigging, Auckland, New Zealand

A nearly finished model yacht sitting on a work bench