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

Racing Sparrow Gallery

The Racing Sparrow 750mm Model yacht was designed by New Zealander Bryn Heveldt. It's a fun build and a fun sail. Easy to transport, cheap to build. Sails like it's on rails.

All the rc sailboats you see on this page are home built by amateurs with the help of our boat plans, construction book or STL files.

Boat building eBook

This video features the new 1000mm 3D printed Racing Sparrow in a lovely light-medium wind.

You've built all of these stunning model boats!

If you've completed a new Racing Sparrow or even have one that's old send us in a photo and we'll feature it here! Email your images to info@racingsparrow.co.nz

The images are in chronological order. Email us some photos and you'll be at the top of the gallery! We would also like to congratulate everyone on all these fabulous builds. Amazing work on display.

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, Location: Nelson, New Zealand

Ralf's RS760-3D, Germany

You really have designed a great boat and the assembly was easy and I had a lot of fun.

hero 20250510 080544, Location: Germany

RS1000 #3 Final Prototype, Nelson, New Zealand

2025 03 0118.34.39 (1), Location: Nelson, New Zealand

3D Printed RS1000 - Pinky - Prototype #2, Nelson, New Zealand

rs1000 p2 pinky, Location: Nelson, New Zealand

Bryn the Authors Official 3D Printed Model 760, Nelson, New Zealand

You can 3D print this exact boat yourself! The files are available in the shop. It's really easy to print and super easy to build, all parts have special joins modelled into each part. Even the rig fittings are small sturdy printed parts. The keel has carbon strips inside the prints and the printed bulb shell is filled with lead shot balls. A super simple but cool radio control model. It sails just so well, very fast for its size.

RS 3d 760 radio controlled sailboat 5, Location: Nelson, New Zealand

Mike Sohner, 3D printed RS760, Texas, USA

This is the first official customer complete 3D printed Racing Sparrow. Mike helped me improve the strength of the mast crane with his engineering experience. Super helpful. Thanks Mike!

MikeSohner 3d 760, Location: Texas, USA

Mike Sohner, RS1000, USA

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

MikeSohner, Location: USA

Chip Hackley, Illinois USA

Read this blog post about the boat with more photos.

Chip 2, Location: Illinois USA

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

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

P2 - The successor of the first 3D printed RacingSparrow, Nelson, New Zealand

Bryn's Second 3D printed yacht.

2024 08 29 09.46.42, Location: Nelson, New Zealand

Bryns first 3D printed RacingSparrow, Nelson, New Zealand

The first official prototype 3D printed RacingSparrow.

complete 3d printed Racing Sparrow, Location: Nelson, New Zealand

Peter Hill - RS750, Henderson, Auckland

peter hill auckland racing sparrow, Location: Henderson, Auckland

Fanie Nel - RS750, Krugerdorp, South Africa

Racing Sparrow Fanie Nel, Location: Krugerdorp, South Africa

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! 

Jerry Cashmans Racing Sparrow sailing on a still lake, Location: Canberra, Australia

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, Location: Cheshire, UK

Andy Saunders + Son, New Zealand

Andy Saunders and son holding a model yacht, balsa construction, Location: New Zealand

Glue me down!

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

Julian Anthony, Kohuwala, Sri Lanka

Bright coloured sails on this Racing Sparrow model yacht with a striped wooden deck, Location: Kohuwala, Sri Lanka

Jerome Declerck - 2 750s

Jerome Declerck's  model yacht butterfly

Jerome Declerck - 750

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

Alan Brown Catamaran Racing Sparrow derivitive, Perth, Western Australia

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, Location: Perth, Western Australia

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 2.5mm balsa this time and achieved a really smooth hull, no filling required before fiberglassing..
Thanks for the plans 
Regards
Alan.
A model yacht posing by a swimming pool, Location: Perth, West Australia

'Sparrow' based RG 65

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

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.

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

LegoC 750

Racing sparrow model yacht sailing, the deck is made up from lego bricks

Budi Santoso, Indonesia

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, Location: Indonesia

Jonathon Gillham, New Zealand

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, Location: New Zealand

Royal Declerk's - RG65(Foxy Lady) Sisters: 650 & 750, Mount Martha, Victoria, Australia

Foxy lady the orange model yacht, an RG65 design by Bryn Heveldt from New Zealand, Location: Mount Martha, Victoria, Australia

A 650 build

IMG 0235 1024x768

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 model racing sparrow yacht, sitting on a cradle inside against a white wall and wooden floor, Location: Vienna, Austria

Sparkly, England

A white and blue model yacht, racing sparrow design, Location: England

Royal Declerks' Black Pearl, Mount Martha, Victoria, Australia

Black Pearl Model yacht - was lost at sea, Location: Mount Martha, Victoria, Australia

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.

The original black pearl rc yacht with a black hull and wooden decking with wooden hatch, Location: Australia

DKM247 - Proud RacingSparrow Builder/Owner, Melbourne, Australia

DKM247 holding his racing sparrow model yacht, Location: Melbourne, Australia

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?? so have made three land yachts for the grandchildren, sail them at Sandy Point ( Gippsland)

My latest model is a foiling catamaran based on the AC45 (another brilliant NZ design)(very sad to see NZ beaten in the cup) and so "Black Mamba" has evolved.

Yet to do sea trials but if it works as intended will be amazing. Best wishes from Royal Declerck.

declerks black catamaran model yacht, Location: Australia

80% RG65, Auckland, New Zealand

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

Matt - Fly Girl 750

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

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

A white model yacht hull and deck molded from fibreglass, Location: Gold Coast, Australia

Build a sparrow in less than 3 hours!

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

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.

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, Location: Auckland

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).

Bill Cobb standing with his two grandkids who are holding model yachts each, Location: Zurich

Kevins stunning RG65, New Zealand

Kevins bright green RG65 Racing Sparrow designed yacht looking side on to the yacht sitting in a cradle, Location: New Zealand

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

Mel Kitson holding up his white racing sparrow 750 model yacht, Location: Watford UK

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, Location: New Zealand

Racing Sparrow 750 - Plumridge, Vienna, Austria

A beautiful model yacht called miss sunshine, white hull with blue accents sitting on a polished wooden floor, Location: Vienna, Austria

Rod Patterson, Christchurch, New Zealand

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

Rod Patterson, Christchurch, New Zealand

A yellow model yacht sitting in a cradle on a green field with controller leaning up against the cradle, Location: Christchurch, New Zealand

John Sterland, Australia

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

Mathew Vanderhorst, Australia

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

Martin Whittle, RS750, UK

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

An icy looking spot for a 375!

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.

John Goodyear with his RacingSparrow 750, United Kingdom

bow of a model yacht, sitting on the lawn. The boat is white, Location: United Kingdom

Andrew Scott - RS1000, Ayrshire, Scotland

A blue one meter racing sparrow model yacht, sails look rustic and the boat is sailing fast on the lake, Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Stephen Sutcliffe , Queensland, Australia

Stephen-Sutcliffe-one-meter-racing-sparrow, Location: Queensland, Australia

Kendal Allcott, Nelson, New Zealand

A cream coloured model yacht with a wooden deck sitting on a cradle, Location: Nelson, New Zealand

Sparrow I found on the net, looks like an rs1500, Internet

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, Location: Internet

Graham Long, Auckland, New Zealand

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

Graham Long, Auckland, New Zealand

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

John Sheehan's 750 - stunner!

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

Geoff Lewis, Isle of Wight

Geoff Lewis's racing sparrow sailing upwind on a greenish lake, Location: Isle of Wight

A reconditioned RS750 by the designer Bryn, New Zealand

A red racing sparrow model yacht looking at the bow of the boat, Location: New Zealand

One Meter RacingSparrow - Garry Angel, France

A one meter yacht, a racing sparrow design, cream coloured hull with yellow appendages and semi see-through sails, Location: France

Eric Rosenbaum, USA

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

Eric Rosenbaum - A fine fine model yacht, USA

Sparrow Day 1 E 01, Location: USA

Weighing up the options - Garry Angel, France

Weighing a model one meter rc yacht., Location: France

John Goodyear, England

John Goodyear sitting on the grass with his two model yachts, one on each side, Location: England

Eric Rosenbaum, USA

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, Location: USA

John Clark, Perth, Western Australia

a red model yacht sailing upwind on flat waters, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Jonathan Daniel

Jonathan Daniels Racing Sparrow 75 full side shot sitting in the lounge

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, Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Terry Raggett's - RS750, Portsmouth, England

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

Peter Knox, Canterbury, New Zealand

A sparkly blue model yacht hull with red and translucent sails, Location: Canterbury, New Zealand

Racing Sparrow 1000 - Larry Kin, Sydney, Australia

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, Location: Sydney, Australia

Bradley, Kaiapoi, New Zealand

A cyan blue model yacht sailing on a lake, Location: Kaiapoi, New Zealand

The woodwards Father & Son team on launch day., New Zealand

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

Little RS375

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

Bryn the Authors 750

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

Racing Sparrow #1 and #2(front)

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 #3 - rigging, Auckland, New Zealand

A nearly finished model yacht sitting on a work bench, Location: Auckland, New Zealand