03/07/2026
Pen Duick III – The Yacht That Changed Offshore Racing
If Pen Duick II established Éric Tabarly as one of the great pioneers of offshore sailing, Pen Duick III cemented his reputation as one of the sport's greatest competitors. More than simply a successful racing yacht, she became the benchmark against which an entire generation of ocean racers was measured.
Launched in 1967, the striking black schooner quickly earned a reputation as the yacht every competitor feared.
A Season of Total Dominance
Few yachts have ever enjoyed a season as commanding as Pen Duick III in 1967. She won every major race she entered, including the Morgan Cup, Gotland Runt, Channel Race, and the legendary Fastnet Race, completing an extraordinary undefeated campaign that secured the RORC Championship and firmly established her place in offshore racing history.
Conquering the Southern Ocean
Later that same year, Tabarly arrived in Australia with a crew whose average age was just 22. In the gruelling Sydney–Hobart Yacht Race, Pen Duick III crossed the finish line first to claim Line Honours, an achievement that stunned the Australian sailing community. For a French skipper and his young crew to defeat the world's best offshore sailors on their home waters was a remarkable accomplishment.
A Design Ahead of Its Time
At 17.45 metres, Pen Duick III was among the first major offshore racing yachts to be built in aluminium—a bold and unconventional choice in the 1960s. Equally innovative was her schooner rig, conceived by Tabarly himself. Together, these features produced a yacht of exceptional speed, balance and seaworthiness.
Her advantage proved so significant that the Royal Ocean Racing Club eventually revised its rating rules, effectively penalising schooner rigs and bringing an end to one of the most dominant designs of the era.
More Than a Racing Yacht
Pen Duick III has logged more than 300,000 nautical miles during a remarkable lifetime at sea. Beyond her racing victories, she has served as a sail-training vessel, competed in events including the Route du Rhum and the inaugural Vendée Globe, and today continues to sail under the care of the Association Pen Duick.
Nearly six decades after her launch, Pen Duick III remains far more than a historic yacht. She is a symbol of innovation, courage and uncompromising performance—a reminder of an era when bold ideas reshaped offshore racing and legends were forged at sea.
