What beautiful hull !  Many already sailing including one that cruised from UK to Australia

Hello Bruce,   I am Luis Herrador (from Gipuzkoa, Spain), who built a steel R-345 in 1989-1992 (I send a photo of the boat). The boat have give me very good service, I sold her last year, and the new owner is very satisfied too. For my next boat I have been thinking some time is is to be 53 ft, the R532, to be build in steel radius chine. Now I have decided for the R532. Sincerely, Luis Herrador

There are several alternate sail boat plans including sloop (shown) or ketch or cutter etc.

Hello Bruce – My girlfriend and I just purchased a used Roberts 345; it is going to be our home for a circumnavigation.

On the delivery from Boston to New York, we encountered some rather rough conditions, and had to bring our dinghy aboard while hove-to in steep 6-8 foot seas, and let me just say, she performed wonderfully. We felt completely safe, and comfortable – which I never would have aboard my former boat – a Swan 39! 

J. Anton Elmquist Information Technology, etc.

ROBERTS 345 - ADVENTURE !
Dear Bruce,  An acquaintance who sailed to the Antarctic (from Tasmania Australia) in a steel Roberts 345. In our local paper "The Mercury" it was reported that the family had returned from their adventure safe and sound.
A rather extraordinary testament to the design I should think!

"Ice caps off family's Antarctic adventure"
The Mercury, SAILING to one of the coldest places on earth in a 10.3m yacht might not be everyone's idea of a fun holiday, but for three members of the Tucker family it was the adventure of a lifetime. ``I've always had this idea to travel down to Antarctica,''

Matt Tucker was a lecturer at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston.  He sailed with his brother and father,  I believe it was a 6 week voyage with no unexpected mishaps.  Brave fellas!

The same week those guys came home the Aurora Australis returned from a 10 week voyage.  I was sailing on the Derwent at the time and had to get out of it's way.  Looking up at that big red ship gave me a little perspective on what you would normally go to the Antarctic in and some sense of what the Tuckers had done. Kind Regards, Aidan Bindoff

TWICE AROUND THE WORLD - PLUS UK YACHTSMAN OF THE YEAR !  Leslie Powles letter

Dear Mr Roberts, I last corresponded with you during March 77 from Gladstone Australia, having sailed single-handed half way around the world in my Roberts 34.  The voyage was completed on 1st May 1978, when I sailed into Lymington Harbour, the total distance 34,000 miles.

No big problems, my engine gave out in Darwin and a few of the Islands I'd intended visiting had to be missed. I sailed non stop Darwin to Durban 6,000 miles in 56 days, when I would have preferred to call at Cocos and Christmas Islands. The odd gale on the way home but nothing to worry about.

I found Solitaire very easy to sail and completed the trip single-handed.

The only work I have to carry out is to paint, and to fit extra fuel and water tanks for my next voyage, which I'm hoping to make of a longer duration after the shake down cruise. Since my return I've been asked to write articles, and to be honest I'm not interested.

However, I have been on BBC radio and TV; some very good film was taken of the yacht for this programme. Perhaps you could acquire copies by contacting the BBC. Many thanks for a first class boat.

Sincerely,  Leslie T. Powles

ROBERTS 345

Profile view of the standard accommodation plan; several other layouts are possible in this versatile design.

Plan view of the standard accommodation plan; several other layouts are possible in this versatile design.

SAFETY SKEG IS AVAILABLE ON THIS BOAT.
The Roberts safety skeg is designed to take the best features from the LONG FIN / SKEG combination and add a SAFETY FACTOR.  Many of you may be aware that skegs in general are vulnerable to damage so here is our answer to this problem. EMAIL Bruce to more details of this development.

This accommodation plan may be varied to suit your own personal and family needs.