catamaran prout sirocco 26

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• Sailboat Guide

Prout Sirocco 26

Prout Sirocco 26 is a 25 ′ 11 ″ / 7.9 m catamaran sailboat designed by Prout and built by Prout & Sons starting in 1982.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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Prout Sirocco 26 for sale in Gillingham United Kingdom

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Make & Model

Prout Sirocco 26

MEASUREMENTS

Description.

• Anchor (CQR)
• Kedge anchor
• Windlass (electric Quick Ravenna)
• Mainsail cover
• 6 x Fenders
• 6 x Mooring warps
• Cockpit cushions
• Depth (Raymarine)
• Speed/Log (Raymarine)
• Windspeed/Direction (Autohelm)
• VHF Radio (Simrad)
• Integrated Radar/AIS (Raymarine)
• Autopilot (Autohelm)
• Navigation lights
• Masthead light
• Paper charts
• Clock/Barometer
• 1 x Fire extinguisher
• Fire blanket
• Horseshoe lifebuoy
• Floating light
• 2 x Manual bilge pumps

4 x Cockpit cushions , good condition

All manuals for instruments.

2 x gas cylinders, full. 

Genoa roller reefing.

240v ashore lead.

1 x 12 volt socket.

2 x USB sockets

Box of assorted spares and gaskets..

Box of assorted charts/almanacs.

Purpose built bring ashore trailer if required.

Built in 1983 by Prout Catamarans to their own design. White GRP hull with style stripes. Rubbing strakes. White GRP superstructure with moulded non-slip to deck. Aft self-draining cockpit. Twin transom hung rudders. Wheel steering.

Masthead rigged sloop. Anodised aluminium mast and boom. Stainless steel standing rigging. Terylene running rigging. Slab reefing mainsail with lazyjacks. Headsail furling system. Two sheet winches.

1 x Mainsail (Jeckles good condition)

1 x Genoa (Jeckles good condition)

1 X Staysail (Jeckles good condition)

1 x Cruising Chute with Snuffer

Located in cockpit a Yanmar 2GM20 twin cylinder 19hp diesel engine,   Electric start. Direct cooling system.  Steerable and lifting outdrive with three bladed propeller. Single lever control. 45 litre fuel capacity. 6 knot cruising speed. Maximum speed under power 8 knots.  The engine was last serviced in 2021. Last out of water maintenance May 2021

2 x 12-volt 110Ah batteries (2020) charging from the engine alternator and deck mounted solar panel, 240-volt shore power connection.

Engine Count

Engine Horse Power

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Hull Material

ABOUT PROUT SIROCCO 26

The Prout Sirocco 26 is a 26 feet long that boasts a 12 feet beam. This 1983 diesel Prout Sirocco 26, with 19 horsepower. The Prout Sirocco 26 is made of grp.

SIMILAR LOCATIONS

• Prout in United Kingdom
• Catamaran Boats in United Kingdom
• Boats in United Kingdom

Prout Sirocco 26

Performance, accomodation.

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Sirocco 26 prout

The sirocco 26 prout is a 25.92ft cutter designed by prout and built in fiberglass by prout & sons since 1982..

The Sirocco 26 prout is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. The fuel capacity is originally very small. There is a short water supply range.

Sirocco 26 prout for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Review of Sirocco 26

Basic specs., sailing characteristics.

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Sorry, we have no sailing characteristics available for this boat.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Sorry, we do not have sufficient statistical information available for this boat to provide a significant reliable analysis.

Maintenance

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Search our catalog, go direct, enter a boat reference, prout sirocco 26, £ 0 sold / unavailable.

• Boat REF#  ·  3442
• Length  ·  7.92m
• Year  ·  1981
• Construction  ·  GRP
• Underwater profile  ·  Multihull
• Sleeping berths  ·  6
• Engine  ·  1 x diesel 13hp, Yanmar (1981)
• Lying  ·  Essex

Boatshed Essex

This boat is off the market but here are some boats that are still for sale.

• Specification
• Additional Information

Extra Details

Sloop rigged Proust Aluminium spars () with Stainless Steel standing rigging ()

Electrical Systems

12 volt battery, 2 batteries charged by: engine, shore power

Construction

Accommodation.

2 burner propane Stove

4 halyard winches 2 sheet winches Manual windlass 1 anchors (Danforth)

Nav Equipment

Safety equipment.

3 bilge pumps (3 manual / 0 electric)

Broker's Comments

Preliminary Details: awaiting confirmation by owner. Prout is synonymous with quality catamaran, and this is a nice example of the 26 foot Sirocco. She has good accommodation, good sized heads, plenty of space at the navigation station and opposite in the galley. This is a tidy boat with a good level of equipment and is an ideal family cruiser.See "more photos" to view 35 internal and external photos of this vessel. Photographs, analysis and comments by Chris Allan of Boatshed Essex. Note: Offers on the asking price may be considered.

Please note this comments section is public . Please do not post your personal details here. To enquire about purchasing this boat, please contact the broker directly at [email protected] Please read our commenting guidelines before posting.

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Cost Of Ownership

Prout Sirocco

The Sirocco 26 was the product of over 35 years design and development by Prout Catamarans.   She employs all the best construction techniques combined with amazing accommodation making a fantastic robust cruising catamaran.

She has the special Prout ' Minsail ' rig, with the mast stepped well aft, which ensures that the centre of effort is kept low, preventing the depression of the leeward bow and giving lift from the large furling genoa.

Deck areas are uncluttered and expansive with enough space for stowing a dinghy on board.

The low aspect ratio keels and skeg hung rudder give excellent windward performance, beachability , strength and reliability.

The Prout central nacelle gives great reserves of buoyancy and immense girder-like strength to take the forestay loads also providing additional headroom without extra windage or bridge deck slam.

Her hulls are epoxy coated.

(Please note that the details on this website are believed to be correct but do not form any sort of contract or inventory in the event of the sale of Sassy)

 Email us: [email protected] | Phone: (510) 215 - 2010

Prout Sirocco 26 catamaran

Here are two photos and the owner's letter from a recent Monitor installation.

Images of Monitor: 3

Prout Sirocco 26 catamaran Monitor "Doublet of Dale" - Cornwall, United Kingdom. A tidy installation on a small catamaran - note the Monitor just clearing the raised motor drive.

Prout Sirocco 26 catamaran Monitor "Doublet of Dale" - Cornwall, United Kingdom

Prout Sirocco 26 catamaran Monitor Letter received from Michael Higham, Commander, Royal Navy, July 1, 2004

Prout Prout Sirocco 26 Boat for Sale

• accommodation
• mechanical and rigging
• Manufacturer: Prout
• Location: Swale Marina, Conyer
• LOA: 26'2" (7.98m)
• Beam: 12' 6'' (3.81m)
• Keel: Bilge Keel
• ID no.: 3836
• Heating: No
• Watertank Size: 200 Litres
• Engine Make: Mercury
• Horsepower: 15hp
• Drive Type: Outboard
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Fuel Tank Size: 25 Gallons
• Cruise Speed: 5.0 Knots
• Top Speed: 6.0 Knots

Broker Remarks

The Prout Sirocco 26 is of white GRP construction with white superstructure, self draining cockpit. Francis and Roland Prout were at the forefront of the development of the catamaran as a successful cruising boats. This yacht has a Prout approved larger rig to give increased sailing performance.  Owned by the current owner for the last year, selling as he is not using the boat. Cosmetically will require some tidying up, but the major jobs have been done. This has been priced to reflect that time and money that will be required to bring the boat up to a good standard.

Accommodation

Accommodation: The Prout Sirocco 26 offers 5 berths in 3 cabins, 1 double, 3 singles 5'6" headroom in Saloon, and 6'1" in Galley. The galley equipped with 2 ring gas burner & grill, stainless steel sink manually pumped water supply from 2 x 100ltr tanks. Heads with marine sea toilet and stainless-steel sink. Blue upholstery throughout.

Mechanical and Rigging

The Prout Sirocco is masthead sloop rig, with a deck stepped aluminium mast and boom. Furling headsail with slab reefing to the mainsail.

• 2 x Sheet winches
• 1 x Mainsail (Dacron good condition)
• 1 X Genoa (Dacron good condition)
• 1 x Spinnaker (condition very good condition)
• 2 x anchors
• Swim ladder
• Inflatable dinghy (Avon 2 man)
• 3 x Fenders

Navigation Equipment:

• VHF Radio (ICOM DSC)
• Echo sounder
• GPS/Chartplotter (Garmin)
• Navigation lights
• Masthead Tricolour

Safety Equipment;

• Fire extinguisher
• Fire blanket
• 4 x Life jackets
• Horseshoe lifebuoy
• Floating light
• Emergency tiller
• Bilge pump (electric)
• Radar reflector

Contact NYB Kent

• Address: Network Yacht Brokers Kent Chatham Maritime Marina Leviathan Way, Chatham, Kent ME4 4LP
• Telephone: [+44] [0] 1634 571605 --> [+44] [0] 1634 571605
• Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer : Network Yacht Brokers Kent offers the details of this vessel for sale but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of the information contained in the specification or warrant the condition of the vessel or equipment. A buyer should instruct his agents, or surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered for sale subject to no prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

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Prout Catamarans

Unfortunately, Prouts are no longer made. For a time, new owners of the name kept the story going, but for now the brand seems to have hit the buffers. But who knows?

If you are looking for a second hand boat, check out our Prout Catamaran for Sale page.

First Steps, Shearwater

2 Canoes In the late 1940s and early ’50s, 2 brothers, Francis and Roland Prout were the UK´s top canoeists, and represented Britain in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

The brothers worked in the family boat building business, G. Prout & Sons Ltd, making folding canoes and dinghies. The firm had been formed by Geoffrey Prout and his sons, Roland and Francis, in 1935. After the war, Roland and Francis and their father and mother started up again in a factory at Smallgains Corner. The company grew and hundreds of folding dinghies and canoes were sold all over the world.

Two Hulls Were Faster than One Roland and Francis had a “Eureka” moment in 1947. What if you lashed two canoes together? Prout catamarans were born. The Polynesians had thought about it a long time before that, but hey, we’re talking Essex remember! In any case, they weren’t too advanced in yacht manufacturing in the South Seas at that time.

The brothers started experimenting with two Kl racing kayaks tied together with a bamboo platform and adding a mast and sails. The experiment was so successful that the brothers decided to design and build a catamaran, which was called “Shearwater”.

“We shot out of that creek and reached about 15 knots,” said Francis Prout at the time. “It was as if we were on tram lines, turning was difficult because we were going so fast.”

Shearwater: the Legend This catamaran was known as Shearwater 1, it raced locally and won every race. In 1954 the boat was entered in a “D” class handicap in the Isle of Wight and Burnham regatta week, and won outright. The Duke of Edinburgh was so impressed with its performance he subsequently bought a Prout catamaran.

This generated lots of interest in catamarans which led to the Prouts designing more models until they hit on the smaller and more easily trailed Shearwater III.

Roland and Francis entered the No I Shearwater III in the first Cross-Channel Dinghy Race from Folkestone to Boulogne in 1956, and beat all of the best racing dinghy helmsmen of the day by over one hour. This publicity built good demand for the Shearwater III, the world’s first production catamaran. They built over 2000 of them.

The brothers followed up Shearwater with its smaller sister the Swift. And then in 1955, they started to build the 36ft Flamingo cruisers followed by a series of vacuum-bagged, cold-moulded cruisers, including the original SNOWGOOSE built for Don Robertson, chief Test Pilot for de Havilland. When eleven years old, this boat finished second in the Round Britain Race.

Bigger Cats

In the meantime, the Prout Brothers continued to work on new designs, mostly larger craft, including:

The Cougar, a 19ft 2 man catamaran, 27ft and 31ft Ranger Class cruisers, a 45ft Ocean Ranger, and 35 and 37ft cruisers, such as the “Taranga” Class. Prout was the first company to produce fiberglass catamarans.

In 1966, a 77 footer called ‘Tsulamaran’, was built:  the largest catamaran ever. Prout were ahead of their time on this one. Prout built the first ever catamaran to sail around the world. Dr. David Lewis’ ‘Rehu Moana’ competed in the 1964 OSTAR , and then went on to complete a circumnavigation.

Snowgoose 35

The first of the more modern designs was the Snowgoose 35, a real innovation at the time in 1971. The Snowgoose 35 was produced by Thames Marine under license from G. Prout & Sons

Prout Catamarans Ltd is Born

In 1976 a new company was launched with the Prout brothers: Roland and Francis Prout, John and Tom Lawrence, Rodney Hall and Robert Underwood. The company was known as Prout Catamarans and Robert Underwood was appointed managing director.

Canvey Island The new company, based on Canvey Island (some seven square miles lying off the South Coast of Essex in the Thames Estuary) was licensed by the Prouts to manufacture, promote and sell their catamaran designs, starting with the Quest 31 and taking on the production of the Snowgoose 35.

In the seventies, the Prout brothers focused on design and soon came up with the Prout Snowgoose 37, Sirocco 26,  Quasar 50, Quest 33CS, Quasar 50 S2 and Espace, Snowgoose 37 Elite, Scamper 26 trailer/sailer, Event 34, Escale 39, Prout 45 and finally the Prout 38. Add to that the Panther 44, 61, and 64 power yachts.

It was a time of tremendous growth for the company, but this is also an indication of their inability to streamline their range. This would come to haunt them later (more on that below).

Prout Models, Canvey Island

The following yachts were designed and built by the company through the Prout “Golden Years”. Sorted in order of length, not launch date.

• Prout Swift 14’ 6″ racing catamaran (1958)
• Apollo 18 (1969)
• Prout Cougar (1962)
• Prout Ranger 27 – the world’s first all GRP cat (1962)
• Ranger 31 (1963)
• Prout Scirocco 26 (1982)

Prout Scamper 26 (1983)

• Prout Quest 31 & 33CS (1976 & 1985)

Prout Event 34 (1989)

• Prout Snowgoose 35 (1969)
• Prout Snowgoose 37 (1978)
• Prout Snowgoose Elite (1986)
• Prout 38 (1998)
• Prout Escale 39 (1990)
• Prout Ranger 45 (1966)
• Prout 45 (1995)
• Prout 46 Ken Freivokh Design (1998)
• Prout Quasar 50 (1979)
• Prout Quasar 50 Espace with high volume hull (1988)

Prout Scirocco 26 (1980)

The smallest of the range (Prout did manufacture a Ranger 27 back in the early sixties), the Scirocco had low-aspect-ratio fixed keels and what they called an “ant-slam nacelle” – something that you can see on modern Lagoon cats to this day.

She had the mast stepped back with a big headsail in the Prout fashion – that kept the pressure off the lee bow.

A 26 foot open bridge deck cat, the hulls were built with the Scirocco molds but they added a bigger sail area, a rotating mast and a fully battened sail. She’s a fast coastal cruiser that can be taken apart for trailing.

Many thanks to Martijn from Edam in the Netherlands for sharing his information on the Scamper. Martijn owns one of these coastal cruisers and reckons that Prout built 8 of them. They went for £9,995 + VAT at the time. An extra £1500 got you a trailer.

Practical Boat Owner Feb 1985: Scamper 26 Review Yachting World Sep 1984: Scamper 26 Test

Prout Quest 31 (1976) & 33CS (1983)

The Quest 31 launched in 1976 and the new design philosophy was used in the famous Snowgoose 37 launched 2 years later. The Prout brothers often commented that the 31 was the best catamaran they ever made, a decent sailing cat if you keep the weight off, although prone to slamming upwind.

Prout Quest 31 Brochure

The 33CS was the upgraded design launched in the eighties. I have a soft spot for these Prouts as the first cruising cat I ever sailed on was a Quest 33: “Shady Lady”

The 33CS has extensions to make the aft berths almost doubles, but it is heavier.

The Quest is strong and seaworthy, a very easy yacht for soloing. They don’t have much headroom though…

Check out Wolf Hoffman´s blog on “IDA” where he takes her through the Corinth Canal in Greece.

This model evolved from the popular Quest 33 and came out in ’89. In fact both models were produced at the same time for a while as the Quest 33 had a lower spec and price tag.

A 34 Footer with More Space She was conceived as a smaller version of the Snowgoose 37 elite, with a similar design philosophy – better load carrying than the Quest and the bump out for a bigger aft cabins. That did slow her down a bit, but she can carry more gear for long passages.

Prout developed the Event 34 from scratch with yacht designer David Feltham. The Event is higher, wider  and broader in the stern sections which means more room down below. The extra volume in the sterns (which end in transoms rather than being canoe shaped) reduce pitching. That trademark Prout nacelle is well developed, almost touching the water at the stern of the boat.

She’s Strong The hull is a one piece solid molding. It’s a strong, seaworthy boat.

The sail plan is typically Prout with a large low aspect genoa and a small main set (Mainsail) well aft.

She came in the Family Layout with a large double berth at the forward end of the saloon accessed through a dressing room forward in the starboard hull, or the Open Plan Layout with a larger saloon that could be converted into a double berth.

This Prout Event 34 blog is good – a guy sailed his 34 around the British Isles with his dog.

We have heard from Peter Zabell who bought one of the first Event 34 kits from Prout in 1988/1989. His 34, Salt Peter was launched in 1991. He left the UK on her in 1992 to sail around the world and sold her in Australia in 2006.

Prout Event 34 Brochure

Snowgoose One Off (1955)

The original Prout Snowgoose was built in 1955 as a one off for Don Robertson, the chief Test Pilot for de Havilland. This was a vacuum-bagged, cold-moulded cruiser.

In 1961, she won the Multihull Round the Island race in a record time of 7 hrs. 46 mins. 51 secs. Then in 1966, Don’s 36′ Snowgoose came second in the Round Britain Race behind the 42’ ‘Tomi’.

‘Snowgoose’ was the inspiration for the later production series: the 35.

Prout Snowgoose 35 (1969 – 77)

The first production Prout Snowgoose was launched in 1969. Originally it was called a Snowgoose 34, but I guess someone got around to measuring one with the rudders on and they renamed it the Snowgoose 35!

It was the first catamaran to launch with the now famous canoe shaped Prout Nacelle giving you more living space and headroom inside and it allowed an inboard engine with an outdrive leg to be installed. The all fibreglass Snowgoose 34/35 design was introduced with an Prout offshore rig and low aspect ratio keels.

The Prout 35 was the first version of the Snowgoose range, at first manufactured by Thames Marine under license from G. Prout & Sons until 1976, and then by Prout Catamarans. She has slender hulls and narrow berths, and is a good sailer but easy to overload.

In 1976, the 35 was replaced with the Snowgoose 37, developed alongside the Quest 31.

Again, this boat had a cutter rig well aft with a low centre of pressure from the sail which resulted in good stability.

The secluded owner’s berth was in the forecabin (something that Privilege cats continue with to this day). She even had flush hatches on the foredeck.

The older Snowgoose cats had slimmer hulls than the 37s and sail faster and point higher. But there is less living space and can´t carry so much weight. If you keep the weight down (particularly off the ends) she will sail well.

With thick, strong hulls and over engineered rigging, she’s another tough boat.

Prout Snowgoose 37 (1978 – 1986 )

The Circumnavigator The Snowgoose 37 is probably Prout’s most famous boat and the model that has completed the most circumnavigations. If you sail across the Atlantic from Europe to the Caribbean, there’s a pretty good chance that you will bump into a Snowgoose in a bay or marina somewhere. More than 500 were built, mostly in the eighties. I believe the #1 hull is a yacht called “Cavalier”.

Most Snowgoose 37s have single engines with a rotating, retractable sonic drive gear, typically between 30 and 40HP.

The ‘new’ design was launched in 1978 had more standing headroom and living space with a redesigned berth and galley. The sail plan was improved – the large genoa and small mainsail concept continued.

Read our full Snowgoose 37 review.

Prout Snowgoose 37 Brochure

Prout Snowgoose 37 Elite (1986 – 2002)

Prout Snowgoose customers had been asking the company for a boat that could carry more weight for longer passages and that had more room down below, especially in the aft cabins, so in 1986, Prout launched an upgraded version of the design called the Snowgoose 37 Elite which was beamier.

This helped reduce pitching, but she was also heavier and did not perform quite as well up wind as the original 37 (unless the older boat was overloaded).

The 37 Elite has a low bridge deck with a center “nacelle” like many Prouts and there is some “slamming” in rough weather, but you can minimise this with good weight distribution: take off the weight from her ends and she will sail well.

The hull shape of the Elite is slightly different to the original 37. Whereas the standard Snowgoose has two transom-hung outboard rudders, the Elite has slightly smaller rudders below the waterline.

An example of one of these boats is Snowgoose Elite #340 Wildgoose Too (formerly Double Vision) that was launched in 1989

In 1996, Prout announced that they had delivered their 400th Snowgoose.

You can also read our Snowgoose 37 Owner´s Review here.

Prout Snowgoose 37 Elite Brochure

Prout 38 (1998 – 2002)

The Prout 38 was launched in 1998, just 3 years before Prout Catamarans Ltd went into receivership for the first time. Which is a shame, because with this model the UK company really started to find their design feet. You can see a lot of design cues from the larger 45 that was launched 3 years earlier.

Unlike more modern French designs, you still have to step down to the saloon from the aft cockpit, but on the flip side, it´s pretty cosy when you get in there, and she is a strong, sturdy boat that can handle a blow.

The Prout 38 is not a light boat but follows on in their tradition of strong, sturdy yachts that are easy to sail short handed thanks to the aft position of the mast.

The interior is designed for three couples with one head in the port hull and a “Down Galley” is sunken in the starboard hull with a Cool Box in the forward berth. She´s a good looking catamaran with a high quality, traditional interior finish.

Prout 39 Escale (1991 – 2002 )

The Escale 39 was proportionally wider and roomier than previous Prout designs: the length:beam ratio is about 2:1, similar to most modern cats. This made her more stable, but you lose some of those other Prout benefits like cheaper marina fees and the ability to motor down inland canals. She´s a good load carrier.

The bridgedeck extends almost to the bows to improve rigidity and living space and she has buoyancy chambers fore and aft for safety.

The Big Nacelle The famous Prout nacelle was developed further on this boat to increase accommodation and reduce slamming – it’s almost a third hull.

The rig again is comprised of a small high aspect main and large low aspect headsails. The centre of effort is kept low and aft. She’s a fine world cruiser.

Prout 39 Escale Brochure

Prout 45 (1995) & 46 (1998)

The sleek looking Prout 45 was launched in 1995 following on from the 50 Quasar and was one of their prettiest boats. 3 years later, the Prout 46 was launched with the new 38 which was basically an extended, upgraded version with a high end pack. Read our full Prout 45 Review here.

Strong and Sturdy The 45 is a well made, solid boat. The low bridge deck clearance means there can be a bit of slamming going up wind and the displacement is on the heavy side. You won’t be breaking any speed records, but this is a  catamaran that will take you anywhere safely.

The flip side with that lower profile, is that windage is significantly reduced versus other designs. Up front, she looks a bit like a Privilege on the foredeck with those small trampolines and the nacelle. They are very popular boats still that hold their value very well in the second hand market. All the lines come down the aft side of the mast – and because this is positioned aft in the Prout position, your sheets, halyards and reefing lines are all to hand in the cockpit.

Galley Down With the galley down in the starboard hull, the saloon is very comfortable. In fact the interior design is pretty innovative, an idea that has been continued by Privilege and Lightwave from Australia.

The saloon stops short of the forward bulkhead, so there is space for an owner´s cabin forward in the center of the boat. The Prout nacelle that runs fore and aft along the main deck, adds living space and headroom as well as buoyancy.

The 46 was an interior upgrade. Prout teamed up with Ken Freivokh on this relaunch – these are rare but worth looking out for.

You can also read our Prout 45 Owner’s Review from Sailing Zarafet.

Prout Quasar 50 1979 and Espace (1988)

The Prout Quasar is not the prettiest boat in my personal opinion, but she’s comfortable, stable, and can go through anything. The design evolved from the older Prout Ranger Ocean class, and I have been told that they can move nicely if you keep the weight down and  off the ends. They also suffer from wave slam, but these are tough boats that will safely cross oceans.

Plenty of Interior Space If you are looking for a great value, safe and solid world cruiser, the Prout Quasar 50 is worth a look, especially if you are planning on sailing in colder climes. This boat has pretty much maxed out its interior living space- it´s BIG inside, and even in warmer climes there is plenty of space outside with that solid foredeck.

From 1988 onwards, Prout launched the Quasar 50 Espace which added 3 foot onto the beam- that means even more living space, so bear that in mind if you are looking for a good second hand example. Like their other models that had an XL version (eg the Snowgoose Elite), this affected the performance, but it means that the boat can soak up more weight for longer passages.

The Bankruptcy of Prout (2001)

In the late nineties, Prout Catamarans were running into headwinds with currency exchange rates, increased competition and falling demand. Looking at the list of models on sale, it would seem that they weren’t that great at rationalising their product range and increasing production efficiency.

The Quest Years, Limping On In July 2000, Prout Catamarans was bought by the Quest group, a Canadian company. The plan was to put capital into the business and use Prout Catamarans as the preferred builder for their charter fleet.

They couldn’t turn the loss making business around, however, and Prout Catamarans went into receivership in September 2001, just a year after the purchase. A new Quest subsidiary called Prout UK bought the latest molds, 11 boats under contract, and the employees that they needed. Robert Underwood left towards the end of the year.

In 2002, Prout folded again, this time for good. The company was liquidated and its assets sold, the most valuable of which were the molds.

Broadblue and the South African Connection

After Prout UK went bust, the assets of the company were sold off. Most of the value was in the molds and the brand.

The Molds Travel The 34, 37, and 39 molds were sold and shipped to South Africa. The newer 38 molds were kept in England and later turned up as the Broadblue 38. One of the directors of Broadblue is Robert Underwood, so I am guessing some kind of deal was done there. There must be more to the story, I might try and bend his ear if I ever see him at a show. Broadblue also got hold of the 46 mold as well, as they sold those in the early 2000s.

You might see 38′ Prout Mantas on the market built in South Africa. They are basically the same boat as the 39 Escale but with shorter sugar scoops. They built around 35 of them, good quality builds in the main.

Prout International

The 45 molds and the Prout brand were bought by a company called Prout International who marketed their boats out of Hong Kong. The company was ultimately owned by a Chinese-Canadian consortium called the Winfair Group I believe. Quest was a subsidiary of the Winfair Group….the plot thickens! I imagine that there was a lot of musical chairs going on so that then assets were offloaded without any debts attached.

The Asian Connection Manufacturing was initially moved to Thailand (Concordia Yachting Limited), and then to China where Prout International were still selling 60ft+ models until around 2012.

The yard in China was owned by Winfair Marine Ltd in Zhuhai: probably owned by the same person as Prout International: Jack Tse.

They marketed and sold later versions of the 45 called the Prout 45S. They seemed to have ceased trading around 2013 following disputes with both shipyards and customers.

They also built a fifty footer sold as a Prout 50SW and a Dixon designed Prout 72.

Serenity Shipyard in Thailand also seems to have built a few of these Prout International designs (or adaptations)- I am not sure whether they just finished them off here, or they were built from scratch here.

The high water mark for Prout International was the launch of a Prout 77SM in 2013 now called Blue Gryphon. She is available for charter.

Other Brands

Did you enjoy this history of Prout? Please contact us if you have any further information on Prout, we’d love to hear from you. You might also like the following catamaran brand histories:

Balance Bali Catana Dazcat Fountaine Pajot Gunboat HH Kinetic Lagoon Leopard Marsaudon Composites Nautitech Outremer Privilege Sunreef

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1982 Prout Sirocco 26 , £ 26 .950,-

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PROUT SIROCCO 26 foot CATAMARAN !

• Thread starter Blackie
• Start date 18 Mar 2004
• 18 Mar 2004

Hello, My girlfriend and I are in our early 30's - we both bought houses dirt cheep years ago and now feel like million airs! We both sail a bit, I own a Wayfarer and have sailed with friends on bigger boats on and off for 10 years. With equity in our house’s and a small windfall, our intention is to take some time out and sail the Med. I'm in love with this 26 Foot Prout Sirocco Cat because it offers sooooooo much room below and on deck compared to a mono hull. Its also quite cheep at £19.000, Question. Assuming I get her shipshape is this boat big and safe enough to cross the channel, sail to the Med and further? Am I missing something? Why don’t more people sail Cats? I have never sailed a Cat but even if it does bang a bit to windward all that extra space must surely make up for it. Thanks in advance for your replies. Blackie <hr width=100% size=1>  

timevans2000

Go for it! It is well up to crossing open sea. I had a Prout Ranger 27. Did lots of cruising in her over a 5 year period. I sold her to get a Prout Snowgoose 37 for the extra space and comfort. We are heading off for a year in her in a couple of months <hr width=100% size=1>  

Sounds a steal at that price. Handy size for marinas too. Better keep quiet about it. Should go anywhere and gear will be easy to handle - even cruising chute etc. Best of luck Rick(Snowgoose) <hr width=100% size=1>  

• 19 Mar 2004

JPGruntfuttock

I know absolutely nothing about sailing cats, but, did meet a very nice couple in Preveza, Greek Ionion, who had sailed a smallish (8 metre?) cat from UK to the Med via the canals and had a great time, if you are interested in going that way. Sorry that I cannot recall her name, but she wrote a book about the trip which was published in the last couple of years, for some reason the Cruising Association comes to mind in respect of the book. May be worth trying them for the name. Also recall it being said that by the time it was loaded for livaboard cruising it wasn't significantly faster than a mono of that size, but more than made up for that in comfort and living space. The only other titbit was that many Med marinas charge extra for cats because of the beam and that Gouvia Marina on Corfu is a favoured haunt for cats laying up because they don't. Whichever, good luck and happy sailing, wish I'd had the wisdom to do it at your age ..... heaves sigh...collects walking stick ... shuffles off into the sun contemplating half sucked Werthers original.... <hr width=100% size=1>  

charles_reed

Active member.

No reason at all that you shouldn't be able to take the scenic route to the Med - I've met 2 couples who've done just that (one twice in a Scirocco). The one thing you'll probably need to do is to put in a decent diesel engine. You'll have to do a lot of motoring, especially in the Med where there's always too little or too much wind for comfort. I certainly wouldn't consider going via the canals - you miss far too much superb scenery and a cat is quite a handful in the locks. <hr width=100% size=1>  

snowleopard

for the money, an ideal cruising boat. far better for living aboard in a hot climate. you have the benefit that larger cats don't of going through the french canals. stability in cats increases with the 4th power of the length so small ones need to be sailed conservatively but plenty pf people have sailed small cats long distances, notably colin & rosie swale taking a 30-footer round cape horn. <hr width=100% size=1>  

Hi......What state is this Prout in? What motor does it have? Can the electrics stand a useful sized fridge? I've been sailing cats in the Aegean for 15 years now, starting with a Wharram...fun sailing sideways, but no real room, and my present Dean with it's cavernous interior and too much storage space...keep losing things.. But a good motor(s) is/are a must, I had a Yamaha 9,9 outboard on the Wharram 28, excellent motor, but slow, and no matter what you think now, at some time during your wonderful year, you'll want to get from A to B in a hurry with contrary conditions....I had two 10 hp yanmars on the Dean, but am fitting two 20s for many reasons, but mostly the certainty of getting where we want, when we want. After the boat, the fridge is the source of the greatest satisfaction, and probably the biggest electrical power drain. If you can reliably and comfortably maintain power enough for that, then I think everything else will be OK. Remember too in the Med, if you don't ask, they won't tell you "No"! Go for it! Cheers....R <hr width=100% size=1>  

I've also sailed a mutli in the med for 15years. presently based in Preveza marine. A Prout is a reliable cat although the 26 is a bit on the small side, but when your young supple and childless...... Does this boat have a diesel engine? I don't think outboards are suitable auxilliaries. I agree you must sort out a decent fridge, which may well mean solar panels to supplement charging. A bimini which can be up while you're sailing is great, and essential in harbour,you can do serious damage to your skin. Carry a sea anchor in case you get caught out in a Mistral/Bora/Meltemi and need to take a breather. I've never used mine but it gives peace of mind. Treat thunderstorms with more respect than they are accorded in the channel. You may need to get a larger anchor to cope with the windage in bad weather. Or set two small ones. Go for it. If you like it you can always trade up. David. visit themutihull.com and noonsite.com <hr width=100% size=1>  

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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• Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation, Moscow
• Guide to Russia

What is the history of Gorky Park?

• In the pre-revolutionary period, Gorky Park was a city dump and wasteland, which was cleared in 1923 to host the All-Russian Agricultural and Artisan Industrial Exhibition
• In 1928, a huge park was planned on the former site of the exhibition. It would not just be a place of leisure, but a place to proudly display Soviet culture and daily life
• Gorky Park has remained a cultural hub ever since, and has been renovated and added to over the years to make it one of Moscow’s top attractions today

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation

Gorky Park is the most famous park of Moscow, created during the Soviet period as a hub for relaxation and cultural activities. The park is beloved by Muscovites and tourists alike, who visit in all seasons to stroll, enjoy sports, admire the park’s attractions, and attend cultural events. Gorky Park is the central part of an ensemble of four green spaces – Muzeon Park of Arts, Neskuchny Garden, and Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve – which curve around the southern bank of the Moskva River to the south-west of Moscow city centre. Here you may spend some time and enjoy nature and contemprary art during your vacation in Moscow .

History of Gorky Park

Imperial russia.

In the 17th century, the eastern bank of the Moskva River beyond Moscow’s city limits was home to floodplain meadows, where palace horses grazed. From the mid-1850s, events such as cockfights, fistfights, and races were held here, and by the 20th century this area had become a city dump where the unemployed and homeless people of Moscow lived, which remained this way until the Soviet period. This wasteland lay in stark contrast to the adjoining Neskuchny Sad – ‘merry garden’ – which lay to its south, an area of aristocratic country estates and elaborate gardens.

Soviet Russia

Photo from  https://parkseason.ru/

Following the October Revolution, Vladimir Lenin travelled around Moscow to find a suitable site for the first All-Russian Agricultural and Artisan Industrial Exhibition, which would reveal opportunities for socialist development of agriculture and industry. Lenin decided on the wasteland alongside the Moskva River, which was cleared with a programme of community work. In 1923, the exhibition began. It encompassed 250 pavilions dedicated to different themes of agriculture and industry, and was divided into thematic zones, such as villages, livestock, crops, engineering, railways, republics of the USSR, and foreign countries. The organisation of the exhibition demarcated the future layout and size of Gorky Park, and the paths, ‘zones’, and main square of the exhibition have been preserved until the present day. In March 1928, Moscow City Council decided to establish a park of culture and recreation on the site of the former exhibition, which would also encompass the Neskuchny Garden. Moscow’s residents were instrumental in the construction of the park – they voiced their desires for events spaces, physical education and leisure facilities, and gave up their weekends to build the park. The park’s main architect was Konstantin Melnikov.

Did you know? Konstantin Melnikov also helped to construct Lenin’s Mausoleum and the Rusakov Worker’s Club, one of Moscow’s Constructivist masterpieces .

Over 100,000 Muscovites flocked to the opening of the park on 12th August 1928. The brand-new park was equipped with two theatres, a cinema, nursery, reading room, restaurant and café, music stages, sports arenas, rowing boats, and even a giant helter-skelter slide. Unfortunately, because of the vast size of the crowd and the general excitement, the park was damaged and closed until September.

Did you know? The park was not named after Maxim Gorky, writer and founder of Socialist Realism, until 1933.

In 1929, Betty Glan – at the mere age of 26 – became director of the park. She decided to reconceptualise it, uniting leisure, design, and ideology with the help of Moscow’s most eminent architects, designers and artists. Over the next decade, more cultural venues were established in the park, the Pushkinskaya Embankment along the Moskva River was developed, and the landscaping of the park was carefully cultivated. Architect Alexander Vlasov was particularly influential, and won the Grand Prix at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris for his design of Gorky Park. This period under Glan’s directorship until 1937 was known as the ‘golden age’ of Gorky Park, which became not just a place for recreation, but a public space where Soviet culture and everyday life could be proudly displayed.

Did you know? During the Second World War topical events were held in Gorky Park, such as the championship in bayonet combat, grenade-throwing competitions, and air defence training. What’s more, an exhibition of captured enemy weapons – tanks, artillery, aeroplanes, and more – was organised in Gorky Park and continually updated throughout the war.

In the post-war decades new attractions were continually added to Gorky Park. These included the majestic 24-metre triumphal arch at the entrance to the park, an astronomical observatory (which remains open today), the famous Ferris wheel (unfortunately dismantled in 2008), and a fountain with lights and music.

Russia today

Photo from  https://countryscanner.ru/

The Gorky Park ensemble continued to flourish as a centre of culture and recreation in post-Soviet Russia. The adjoining Muzeon Park of Arts was founded in 1992, and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art was established in Gorky Park in 2008. The ensemble underwent serious reconstruction in 2011. Many new sports facilities were added, including centres for beach sports and extreme sports, bicycle paths and sports equipment rental hubs, and much effort was devoted to reviving original buildings, sculptures, and landscape compositions. Two years later, the embankment of the Moskva River from the southern tip of Zamoskvorechye Island all the way to Sparrow Hills was redeveloped and pedestrianised, making it possible to peacefully walk or cycle along the Moskva for many kilometres.

What can you do at Gorky Park today?

• Explore the park and see architectural attractions, fountains, and beautiful gardens
• Visit Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and the Gorky Park Museum
• Go boating on the lakes and stroll down the Pushkinskaya Embankment
• Rent bicycles or scooters, skateboard, and visit the sports centres

What can you do at Gorky Park?

Park attractions.

While exploring the treelined paths of Gorky Park, you’ll come across a number of attractions. To the west of the main entrance, near the river, is a beautiful geometric bandstand used for music and literary evenings in the Soviet period. As you head down the central alley of Gorky Park from the main entrance, you’ll see a statue of Maxim Gorky on your right, and discover the light and music fountain with its dancing jets of water – find the schedule of its performances here .

Did you know? Don’t be afraid to feed the red squirrels and birds you encounter on your walk around Gorky Park – there are even vending machines which sell special food for the animals!

The southern section of Gorky Park is occupied by the Golitsynsky Garden. In 1802, the Golitsyn Hospital was founded here as a hospital for the poor; it still adjoins Gorky Park today. Gardens were created as a relaxation place for patients, extending from the hospital building to the riverbank, and included landscaped gardens, a Chinese Bridge, and two ponds. On the riverbank is the Rotunda of the Golitsyn Hospital, which has been preserved since the 19th century. There is also a rose garden and fountain by the Bolshoi Golitsynsky Pond.

Did you know? In the Golitsynsky Garden is also located an unusual architectural monument – a public toilet designed by Alexander Vlasov in the 1930s, which is recognised as an ‘object of cultural heritage’!

Outdoor activities

Gorky Park’s extensive and varied grounds aren’t only good for walks! You can relax on the water by renting boats to sail on the Pionersky and Bolshoi Golitsynsky Ponds, or visiting the Olivkovy Beach on the Pushkinskaya Embankment to sunbathe. As well as this, you can hire bicycles, electric scooters, longboards or even roller skates to explore the park and embankments, play table tennis, visit the sports complex to play football, basketball, handball, badminton or volleyball, or visit the Vans skatepark or Nike sports centre for workouts and classes such as rooftop yoga.

Gorky Park Museum

Photo from  http://themedium.ru/

Visit the Gorky Park Museum, located in the left pier of the entrance arch. The current exhibition is dedicated to Gorky Park in the ‘golden age’ of the 1930s, and shows the development of Moscow’s central park through the eyes of Betty Glan. There is an observation deck on top of the arch, which offers a lovely view over the park and Moscow’s skyline.

Did you know? In the entrance arch there is also a gift shop where you can purchase balls, frisbees, blankets, and other items to enjoy your visit to Gorky Park.

Garage Museum of Contemporary Art

Photo from  https://muzeolog.com/

In Gorky Park you will find Garage Museum, Russia’s first philanthropic institution dedicated to contemporary art, founded in 2008 by Roman Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova. 10 major exhibitions are hosted each year to showcase the work of established and up-and-coming artists. Also organised are a rich programme of events including curator-led excursions, workshops, masterclasses, lectures, concerts, performances, festivals, and film screenings at Garage’s outdoor cinema. Read our article about Garage Museum of Contemporary Art to learn more.

Food and drink

There are plenty of excellent cafes and restaurants dotted around Gorky Park, where you can stop for a quick coffee or enjoy a long meal with a view. They include the stylish lakeside café Ostrovok (Little Island) and upmarket restaurant Vremena Goda (Seasons) which serve European and Russian food, colourful lakeside Thai restaurant Lebedinoe Ozero (Swan Lake), trattoria Merkato with its huge summer terrace, restaurant Syrovarnya (Cheese Factory) with a menu focused on its homemade cheese, food-truck court Restoparking which is stylised as a drive-in café, and ice-cream and tea shop Chaynaya Vysota.

What’s nearby?

Gorky Park is bordered by Muzeon Park of Arts, Neskuchny Garden, and Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve. This huge ensemble curves for eight kilometres along the bank of the Moskva River, providing a beautiful oasis of green in Europe’s biggest city.

Muzeon Park of Arts

Photo from  https://new-magazine.ru/

Muzeon Park of Arts is the largest open-air sculpture museum in Russia, home to 1,000 sculptures by Soviet and Russian sculptors, including those by famous artists. A large part of Muzeon is occupied by the New Tretyakov Gallery , which houses Russia’s most complete exhibition of national art from the 20th century to the present day. The pedestrianised Krymskaya Embankment which extends alongside Muzeon has recently undergone redevelopment, and is one of Moscow’s most popular spots to relax.

Neskuchny Garden

Neskuchny Garden is the oldest park in Moscow, founded in 1728 by Prince Nikita Trubetskoy, who threw fantastic festivities in his manor house and gardens – neskuchny means ‘merry’ in Russian. Many other noble families also built their country estates in this area, which became a public park and garden after being acquired by the royal family. Today, the Neskuchny Garden is home to historical buildings, fountains, and gardens from the 18th and 19th centuries, sports facilities, an open-air theatre, and a huge greenhouse which supplies flowers to Gorky Park.

Sparrow Hills

Sparrow Hills Nature Reserve is a huge forest park lining the steep bank of the Moskva River and the only specially protected nature area near the city centre. It is home to ecological trails, ponds, natural springs, rare species of plants and animals, many spots for picnicking, cafes, and a mini zoo. At the bottom of the park lie the Vorobyovskaya and Andreevskaya Embankments, with promenades along the Moskva River, a beach, and piers offering boat trips. As with Gorky Park, Sparrow Hills is hugely popular for sports and outdoor activities in all seasons. A new winter sports complex with snowboarding, ice skating, and ski tracks and jumps is currently under construction. When the weather is pleasant, you can rent a bicycle to ride the 8 kilometres along the river from Muzeon to Sparrow Hills.

Essential information for visitors Address and contact details Gorky Park, Krymsky Val, 9, Moscow, 119049 Website:  https://park-gorkogo.com/ Email:  [email protected] Telephone: +7 (495) 995-00-20 Nearest metro: Oktyabrskaya (570m), Park Kultury (860m) Opening hours and tickets

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