UFO 34 is a cruising and racing fibreglass monohull sailboat class. It is a sloop based on a design by Holman and Pye. The design features a spade rudder and a Bermuda rig with a large, overlapping headsail. Over 150 UFO 34s have been built both in the United Kingdom and Australia. The UFO 34 is a seaworthy yacht for offshore voyages, including extreme weather conditions, which also performs well in yacht racing. UFO 34 yachts competed both in the disastrous 1979 Fastnet and 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht races, where lives and yachts were lost in the extreme conditions. UFO 34s performed effectively in both races, winning class IV in the Fastnet race and retiring without incident in the Sydney to Hobart. Production history Unidentified Flying Object won the Royal Yacht Squadron's de Maas Cup at Cowes in 1974 and many other races. This first yacht was designed for Richard Matthews by the British naval architects Holman and Pye as a 32 ft prototype for the Three-Quarter Ton class in the International Offshore Rule. The design was developed into the UFO 34, which became the first yacht produced by Matthew's company Oyster Marine. Over 150 were built, both in the United Kingdom and Australia. In the United Kingdom builders included Colvic Craft (hull & deck), Landamores Yacht Builders (fitout) plus a number were completed by owners. A mark II version was also released by Oyster Marine incorporating an external ballast keel with either a racing/cruising keel (5,000 lbs) or a racing keel (6,000 lbs). In Western Australia builders included Durben Marine, AYC Yacht Construction and Sea Craft Marine. Racing achievements UFO 34s are raced at club level both in the United Kingdom and Australia. By modern standards a UFO 34 is a moderate to heavy yacht with good performance, particularly to windward. Racing performance is similar to S&S 34s with both rated the same and slightly faster than a Contessa 32. UFO 34s also regularly compete in offshore races in Western Australia. A UFO 34 based in Australia called Not Negotiable had a number of good results in offshore racing, including 2000 Melbourne - King Island. PHD (1st Overall) & IMS (2nd Overall), 2001 Melbourne - Low Head (Tasmania) 2nd PHD Overall, the 1998, 1999 & 2000 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races, the 2004 Australian Three Peaks Race the 2009 Launceston to Hobart and more recently the 2013 Fremantle