Red Jacket

In 1965, Canadian yachtsman Perry Connolly commissioned the Cuthbertson and Cassian design group to create the “meanest, hungriest 40-footer afloat.” The racing sloop, named Red Jacket, was built by Bruckmann Manufacturing in fiberglass with a balsa core and is the first sailboat engineered with a cored hull. The resulting structure was strong, stiff, and significantly lighter than the wood or solid fiberglass yachts that were sailing at the time. Launched in May 1966, she took 11 out of 13 starts that summer.

That winter, Red Jacket headed south and became the first Canadian boat to win the famed Southern Ocean Racing Circuit (SORC), competing against more than 85 of the best international racers of the day.

Now, Harris & Ellis Yachts is honoured to present this veritable Canadian sailing icon for sale. She is in good condition with many upgrades and refits throughout the years. Her most recent major refit was in 2007, at Bruckmann Yachts, when most electrical and electronic systems were updated. She has a favourable appraisal survey from 2020.

Truly launch-ready and able to start racing with little to no prep, Red Jacket offers a rare opportunity to own a remarkable piece of Canadian sailing history.

See The Red Jacket Listing