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Adagio 27
Designer: Lars Olof Norlin  ·  First built: 1968
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About the Adagio 27

Swedish designer Lars Olof Norlin created this thoughtful pocket cruiser during the late 1960s, and it remained in production for nearly fifteen years with 350 hulls launched. Built with traditional fiberglass construction around a long keel configuration, this masthead sloop represents classic Scandinavian design philosophy emphasizing seaworthiness over pure speed. The generous beam of 9.19 feet provides respectable interior volume for a sub-27-footer, while the substantial displacement of 6,614 pounds and healthy ballast ratio contribute to excellent stability and sea-kindly motion. Her long keel design tracks beautifully and offers predictable handling characteristics that novice sailors will appreciate, though it does sacrifice some pointing ability compared to modern fin keel designs. With a comfort ratio of 21.49 and capsize screening formula of 1.96, this boat demonstrates the conservative approach that made Norlin's designs popular among serious cruising sailors. The moderate sail area of 313 square feet and SA/Displacement ratio of 14.26 indicate a well-balanced sailplan suited for coastal cruising and short offshore passages rather than racing. Hull speed potential reaches 6.56 knots, perfectly adequate for relaxed cruising adventures. The Adagio 27 appeals to sailors seeking traditional sailing qualities, solid construction, and proven offshore capability in a manageable size.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.71 ft / 8.14 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.95 ft / 7.30 m
Beam 9.19 ft / 2.80 m
Max Draft 4.10 ft / 1.25 m
Displacement 6,614.00 lb / 3,000 kg
Ballast 2,866.00 lb / 1,300 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 313.00 ft² / 29.08 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Lars Olof Norlin
First Built 1968
Last Built 1982
Number Built 350
Related Sailboats ["Ericson 27" · "Coronado 27" · "Islander 27" · "Cal 2 27" · "Nicholson 26"]
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 14.26
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 43.33
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 214.93
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 21.49
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.96
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.56 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.21
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 786.44 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 14.26
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 32.71 ft / 9.97 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.24 ft / 3.12 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 27.40 ft / 8.35 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.63 ft / 3.24 m
SA Fore 167.48 ft² / 15.56 m²
SA Main 145.63 ft² / 13.53 m²
SA Total (100%) 313.11 ft² / 29.09 m²
Est. Forestay Length 34.28 ft / 10.45 m
How It Compares

vs. Cal 2 27, Coronado 27, Islander 27

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Adagio 27 ★
26.7 ft
Cal 2 27
26.6 ft
Coronado 27
26.7 ft
Islander 27
26.6 ft
LWL
Adagio 27 ★
24.0 ft
Cal 2 27
22.1 ft
Coronado 27
22.0 ft
Islander 27
20.0 ft
Beam
Adagio 27 ★
9.2 ft
Cal 2 27
9.3 ft
Coronado 27
8.5 ft
Islander 27
8.0 ft
Displacement
Adagio 27 ★
6 lbs
Cal 2 27
6 lbs
Coronado 27
6 lbs
Islander 27
4 lbs
Ballast
Adagio 27 ★
2 lbs
Cal 2 27
3 lbs
Coronado 27
2 lbs
Islander 27
1 lbs
Sail Area
Adagio 27 ★
313 sq ft
Cal 2 27
374 sq ft
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
325 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Adagio 27 ★
—
Cal 2 27
—
Coronado 27
231 s/nm
Islander 27
228 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Adagio 27 ★
14.3
Cal 2 27
16.9
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
20.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Adagio 27 ★
43.3 %
Cal 2 27
—
Coronado 27
40.8 %
Islander 27
41.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Adagio 27 ★
21.5
Cal 2 27
22.8
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
18.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Adagio 27 ★
1.96
Cal 2 27
1.97
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
2.00
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Adagio 27 ★
214
Cal 2 27
—
Coronado 27
262
Islander 27
228
Hull Speed
Adagio 27 ★
6.6 kts
Cal 2 27
6.3 kts
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Adagio 27 ★
2.2
Cal 2 27
1.9
Coronado 27
—
Islander 27
2.7
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