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Annapolis 26 Holmes
Designer: John Holmes  ·  Builder: Tidewater Boats Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1970
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About the Annapolis 26 Holmes

Built during the 1970s, this 26-foot sailboat represents a period when smaller cruising sailboats were designed to maximize both comfort and sailing performance within compact dimensions. The Holmes design reflects the era's emphasis on traditional sailing characteristics while providing accommodations suitable for weekend cruising and coastal exploration. With her moderate displacement and conventional fin keel configuration, the Annapolis 26 Holmes offers predictable handling characteristics that make her well-suited for newer sailors developing their skills, while still providing enough performance to keep experienced sailors engaged. Her size makes her an ideal choice for coastal cruising, day sailing, and short-term cruising adventures in protected waters. The boat's reputation centers around her solid construction and straightforward sailing characteristics. While not designed for offshore passage-making, she excels in her intended role as a capable small cruiser that can handle a variety of sailing conditions with confidence. Her compact size makes her relatively easy to maintain and trailer, expanding cruising possibilities beyond a single home port. For sailors seeking a traditional sailing experience without the complexity of larger vessels, this design offers an appealing balance of sailing performance and cruising capability.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.58 ft / 7.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 5,000.00 lb / 2,268 kg
Ballast 2,000.00 lb / 907 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer John Holmes
Builder Tidewater Boats Inc. (USA)
First Built 1970
Related Sailboats Irwin 25 · Helms 27 · Coronado 28 · Sagitta 26 · New Horizons 26
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
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
40.0
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
279.02
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. 3.43 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 12.35
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 225.00 ft² / 20.90 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Petter
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 5
How It Compares

vs. Coronado 28, Helms 27, Irwin 25, New Horizons 26, Sagitta 26

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
25.6 ft
Coronado 28
28.0 ft
Helms 27
26.8 ft
Irwin 25
25.4 ft
New Horizons 26
25.4 ft
Sagitta 26
25.5 ft
LWL
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
20.0 ft
Coronado 28
22.2 ft
Helms 27
21.6 ft
Irwin 25
20.5 ft
New Horizons 26
21.3 ft
Sagitta 26
19.7 ft
Beam
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
8.0 ft
Coronado 28
8.5 ft
Helms 27
9.7 ft
Irwin 25
8.0 ft
New Horizons 26
7.8 ft
Sagitta 26
8.3 ft
Displacement
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
5 lbs
Coronado 28
6 lbs
Helms 27
6 lbs
Irwin 25
5 lbs
New Horizons 26
6 lbs
Sagitta 26
4 lbs
Ballast
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
2 lbs
Coronado 28
2 lbs
Helms 27
2 lbs
Irwin 25
2 lbs
New Horizons 26
1 lbs
Sagitta 26
2 lbs
Sail Area
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
Coronado 28
Helms 27
Irwin 25
315 sq ft
New Horizons 26
333 sq ft
Sagitta 26
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
Coronado 28
216 s/nm
Helms 27
210 s/nm
Irwin 25
207 s/nm
New Horizons 26
225 s/nm
Sagitta 26
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
Coronado 28
Helms 27
Irwin 25
16.4
New Horizons 26
16.1
Sagitta 26
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
40.0 %
Coronado 28
41.2 %
Helms 27
38.7 %
Irwin 25
40.7 %
New Horizons 26
26.5 %
Sagitta 26
48.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
Coronado 28
Helms 27
Irwin 25
23.8
New Horizons 26
27.1
Sagitta 26
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
Coronado 28
Helms 27
Irwin 25
1.83
New Horizons 26
1.71
Sagitta 26
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
279
Coronado 28
278
Helms 27
275
Irwin 25
279
New Horizons 26
280
Sagitta 26
278
Hull Speed
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
Coronado 28
Helms 27
Irwin 25
6.1 kts
New Horizons 26
6.2 kts
Sagitta 26
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Annapolis 26 Holmes ★
Coronado 28
Helms 27
Irwin 25
1.9
New Horizons 26
1.8
Sagitta 26
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