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!

Terry Clynes RS375

Terry Clynes RS375 Free Sailing Model

Queensland, Australia,
Cheers for the plans mate! You've kept me entertained and im going to build some more.
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,

3D Print an RC yacht!

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

New

RS-Footy-305-3D

Length: 305mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $16 USD

RS-RG65-3D

Length: 650mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $22 USD

RS-Ranger-695-3D

Length: 695mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $25 USD

RS760-3D

Length: 760mm
Skill Level: Beginner
STL Files: $19 USD

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

The Story Behind Racing Sparrow Radio Controlled Yachts

I recently had the pleasure of joining Fresh FM's Community Conversations with host Renée Cocker to talk about Racing Sp…

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.

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 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…

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

Graham Royle RS750, Cheshire, UK

Great model plan and book. Here is my recently completed RS. Based in Cheshire, UK, Best wishes, Graham
A Racing Sparrow model yacht in white livery

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. It would be a keepsake for him from you all. His name is Deniz.

Deniz Kuşadası RS RG

Martin Whittle, RS750, UK

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

Péter Abay's RG65 Una, Budapest, Hungary

RG65 Mukla

John Sterland, Australia

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

Ian Owens RG65 3D, United Kingdom

Ian Owens RG65

3D - RG65 Racing Sparrow Prototype #4, Nelson, New Zealand

This is an upcoming design you will be able to purchase 3D STL files for. It's a great wee boat. It will come in two configurations. To read more about the design go visit the blog post. There is a cool sailing video too!

Racing Sparrow RG65   protoype #3

Mike Wilson's - RS1000 moulded hull and deck, Gold Coast, Australia

A white model yacht hull and deck molded from fibreglass

Bryn's fibreglass Racing Sparrow, Wellington, New Zealand

This red boat is the latest racing sparrow that we've built and put to the test. It has been built for wellington conditions. It has the maximum 1.3kg lead bulb. It has a basic deck structure, no plywood, 1 layer of balsa with a coat of resin-only to save on weight and budget. It uses the more basic hatch construction of plastic sheet taped on with ducktape, very effective and waterproof. The sails are maxed out, being cut very close to the plans, maybe a little bigger, there are no rules about max sail area in the class rules! Another difference on this boat is the mast has been painted black for a different look.

Red Racing Sparrow 750 model yacht lying on the grass with a wet hull

Mick Pitcher's RS-RG65, Chelmsford, United Kingdom

Mick Pitcher UK RS RG65