The Albin Express is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, designed for cruising comfort rather than racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 21.6′, the Albin Express tops out around 6.2 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √21.6′ LWL = 6.2 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
174s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
SA / Displacement
20.3
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
44.5%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
176
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
16.3
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.07
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
632lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
16.3
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.07
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Albin Express sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Albin Express
174s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Contessa 26
219s/nm
Ericson 25 1
234s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.3 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
4.8 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.0 |
5.1 |
5.7 |
6.2 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.7 |
4.7 |
5.2 |
5.7 |
| Run150–180° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.2 kts),
SA/D (20.3), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Albin Express — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–20 kts
20–30 kts
30+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–30 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
30+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Albin Express.
|
Albin Express |
Cc 26 |
Contessa 26 |
Ericson 25 1 |
First Class 8 Beneteau |
Hunter 255 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
25.5 |
25.6 |
25.5 |
25.4 |
25.4 |
25.6 |
| LWL |
21.6 |
23.6 |
20.0 |
21.8 |
21.7 |
22.1 |
| Beam |
8.2 |
10.4 |
7.5 |
9.3 |
8.2 |
9.1 |
| Displacement |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
| Ballast |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
| Sail Area |
317 |
331 |
233 |
325 |
316 |
282 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
174 |
— |
219 |
234 |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
20.3 |
17.3 |
12.2 |
17.8 |
23.8 |
16.6 |
| Bal/Disp |
44.5 |
37.8 |
42.6 |
40.0 |
37.1 |
40.0 |
| Comfort |
16.3 |
15.2 |
26.3 |
17.4 |
12.8 |
15.9 |
| Capsize |
2.07 |
2.38 |
1.71 |
2.17 |
2.24 |
2.20 |
| Hull Speed |
6.2 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
6.3 |