Built for ocean races – which gives extra confidence when you sail with the family

Nardi’s Nods – By Federico Nardi of Cantiere Navale Dell Argentario. Translated by James Robinson Taylor

With the IW 31 I would like to dispel the cliché that older boats do not perform well in light airs. Designed by S&S in 1968 for the Swedish boat builders I.W. Varvet (over 350 were built in their Orust Island yard), in the same period that this design was also built, with minor differences, by Derek and Simon Fitzgerald’s South Hants Engineering (hence named their She 31, see CS5).
With his usual finesse, Olin Stephens once again managed to make the most of the IOR and this half-tonner is a living example. In light airs the IW 31 is nimble and points well; and although known as a submarine, she performs well when it blows. Today she still cuts a fine figure in club racing.
The IW 31 is steered by tiller, while the rudder blade is supported by a skeg; the deep fine hull has a quick shape. Very elegant with a compact and streamlined superstructure and varnished wooden toe-rail, her low freeboard comes at the expense of headroom, but it’s a sacrifice that we can happily live with if we prefer beauty to space. Nevertheless the IW 31 is nicely fitted out in mahogany disposed in a classic layout: five berths and a walk-through head that leads to the V-berths in the bow cabin.
The relatively low ballast to displacement ratio of 43.58% (with a total displacement of 7,800 lbs) is probably a consequence of having a keel bulb in cast iron and is the only false note in this design; changing the keel bolts would give us one less thing to worry about. The dimensions of the boat are quite limited, but her excellent sea-keeping qualities permit demanding deep water sailing, while the original brochure from the yard defines her as “Built for ocean races – which gives extra confidence when you sail with the family”.
Versions built before 1980 (the Mk I and the Mk II) are surely preferable – later versions have a perforated aluminium toe-rail! The properly sized mast is single spreader above deck and keel stepped below. There are many available on the market, from €15-20,000. ★

 

IW 31 Varvet
LOA 30ft 5in (9.3m)
Beam 8ft 10in (2.7m)
Draught 5ft 6in (1.7m)
Sail Area 357sq ft (33m2)
Displacement 3,538 kgs

The IW 31, tilller-steered has a ‘quick shape’ and low freeboard which means a sacrifice of headroom. The toe-rail is varnished hardwood. Note bronze fittings