Owning a Sonata 8 with close friends was one of the most rewarding chapters of my sailing life. For nine years, the boat was shared between good sailing mates and our families, sailing and racing primarily out of Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron. It was never just about results \u2014 it was about time on the water together.<\/p>\n
The Sonata 8 became a constant presence through changing seasons of life. We raced her on club days, but just as often used her for relaxed bay sailing, picnics at anchor, and small adventures around Port Phillip. The simplicity and versatility of the boat made it easy to say yes \u2014 yes to an afternoon sail, yes to taking the kids out, yes to exploring somewhere new.<\/p>\n
What made those years special was sharing the boat with our young families. My two boys and our friends\u2019 two girls learned the rhythms of sailing almost without noticing \u2014 the sound of halyards, the feel of the boat heeling, the excitement of spotting seals or dolphins, and the quiet moments at anchor. Sailing wasn\u2019t something that needed explaining; it was simply part of their lives. In that way, the Sonata 8 helped cement a love of sailing for my boys from a very young age.<\/p>\n
The boat was forgiving, capable, and welcoming \u2014 a true family keelboat. It allowed racing to sit comfortably alongside cruising, learning alongside enjoyment. Looking back, the Sonata wasn\u2019t just a yacht we owned; it was a shared space where friendships deepened, our children grew up around sailing, and the simple joy of being on the water was reinforced again and again.<\/p>\n
Those nine years cemented something lasting: that sailing doesn\u2019t need to be complicated or competitive to be meaningful. Sometimes the most important sailing is done slowly, with good people, familiar waters, and a boat that feels like home.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]
About the Sonata 8<\/strong><\/p>\n The Sonata 8 is a classic 26-foot (8-meter) yacht that strikes a rare balance: it\u2019s agile enough for a couple to manage, yet robust enough for genuine coastal sailing.<\/p>\n Designed by Gary Mull and built in Australia by Investigator Yachts, its DNA is defined by a responsive hull and an efficient shape\u2014making it just as capable as a club racer as it is a weekend cruiser. The “Big Boat” Rig: Featuring a fractional rig, the Sonata 8 offers mast-bending “tunability” usually reserved for much larger racing yachts.<\/p>\n Slippery Hull: A clean underbody and 2.5m beam provide excellent stability and impressive speed for its size.<\/p>\n Built to Last: Constructed from solid GRP, these boats are a testament to Australian manufacturing, with many still racing in top condition decades later.<\/p>\n Life on Board<\/p>\n The interior maximizes space to create a bright, airy saloon that feels like a much larger vessel.<\/p>\n Sleeps Five: Includes a double V-berth, two settee berths, and a quarter berth.<\/p>\n Functional Galley: Equipped with a sink and stove, perfectly suited for long weekends at anchor.<\/p>\n Deep Cockpit: Ergonomically designed for a racing crew, yet deep and secure for young families.<\/p>\n The Community<\/p>\n The Sonata Yacht Association remains one of the most active in Australia. This offers owners a massive advantage: a deep pool of technical knowledge and competitive one-design racing, where skill and trim matter more than the size of your wallet.<\/p>\n Specifications<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Specifications” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] LOA: 8.0m (26.25 ft)<\/p>\n Beam: 2.5m (8.2 ft)<\/p>\n Displacement: 1,280 kg<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] \u00a0Draft: 1.55 m<\/p>\n Hull Speed: 6.0 knots<\/p>\n Rig: Fractional Sloop<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/sonatayacht.com\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Sonata Yacht Association of Victoria” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”fb06e0ca-54c2-4917-96d4-976d882d5b78″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Footer” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_module=”698″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” max_width=”none” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”e8f7c9fa-99e9-4120-a28d-ae5eb09e34d4″ header_2_font_size=”8vw” global_colors_info=”{}”] Australian Sailing number: 639334<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”0e81406c-c520-4049-91ea-87dba7258cfa” text_text_color=”#000000″ link_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”] World sailing ID: AUSSM76<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”37400340-c197-470e-b67e-4bab0a06f65d” header_4_text_color=”gcid-026ff79c-cfbd-4464-8301-81adff325a85″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-026ff79c-cfbd-4464-8301-81adff325a85%22:%91%22header_4_text_color%22%93}”] Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron (BYS) Safety & Sea Survival Certificate Sonata 8Owning a Sonata 8 with close friends was one of the most rewarding chapters of my sailing life. For nine years, the boat was shared between good sailing mates and our families, sailing and racing primarily out of Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron. It was never just about results \u2014 it was about time on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1602","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n
Performance & Design<\/p>\nGet in touch<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” max_width=”none” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”37400340-c197-470e-b67e-4bab0a06f65d” header_4_text_color=”gcid-026ff79c-cfbd-4464-8301-81adff325a85″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-026ff79c-cfbd-4464-8301-81adff325a85%22:%91%22header_4_text_color%22%93}”]
Contact<\/h4>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”0e81406c-c520-4049-91ea-87dba7258cfa” text_text_color=”#000000″ link_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]shaun@mediastrategy.com.au<\/a>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”0e81406c-c520-4049-91ea-87dba7258cfa” text_text_color=”#000000″ link_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]+61 431 110 377[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”37400340-c197-470e-b67e-4bab0a06f65d” header_4_text_color=”gcid-026ff79c-cfbd-4464-8301-81adff325a85″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-026ff79c-cfbd-4464-8301-81adff325a85%22:%91%22header_4_text_color%22%93}”]
Sailing body<\/h4>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”0e81406c-c520-4049-91ea-87dba7258cfa” text_text_color=”#000000″ link_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Member<\/h4>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”0e81406c-c520-4049-91ea-87dba7258cfa” text_text_color=”#000000″ link_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Offshore racing club of Victoria (ORCV)
Rosebud yacht club (RoYC)
RS Aero Class Association (Aust)
Australian National Hobie Class Association<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”37400340-c197-470e-b67e-4bab0a06f65d” header_4_text_color=”gcid-026ff79c-cfbd-4464-8301-81adff325a85″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-026ff79c-cfbd-4464-8301-81adff325a85%22:%91%22header_4_text_color%22%93}”]Certificates<\/h4>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”0e81406c-c520-4049-91ea-87dba7258cfa” text_text_color=”#000000″ link_text_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Powerboat Handling
Marine license, Victoria
First Aid
Introduction to Safety & Risk Management
Keelboat Instructor Endorsement<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"