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Barbican 30
Designer: John B Sharp  ·  Builder: Barbican Yachts Constructions Ltd.  ·  First built: 1989
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About the Barbican 30

Built during the 1970s, this British sailboat emerged from an era when affordable family cruising was becoming increasingly popular among recreational sailors. With limited documentation available today, the Barbican 30 represents one of those intriguing production boats that served many owners well but never achieved widespread recognition in sailing literature. Based on its 30-foot length and British origins, this design likely embodies the practical cruising philosophy common to boats of its era—emphasizing comfort and seaworthiness over racing performance. The Barbican 30 would have been sized perfectly for coastal cruising and short offshore passages, offering enough interior volume for extended weekends or week-long adventures while remaining manageable for couples or small families. Like many boats from this period, the Barbican 30 probably features a traditional fin keel configuration and moderate sail plan that prioritizes steady, predictable handling over exciting performance. These characteristics would make it well-suited for sailors seeking a reliable coastal cruiser rather than a racing machine. Today, finding detailed information about the Barbican 30 requires detective work, making any well-maintained example an interesting piece of sailing history for enthusiasts who appreciate lesser-known designs from Britain's boatbuilding heritage.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.50 ft / 8.99 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.83 ft / 6.96 m
Beam 9.50 ft / 2.90 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 10,080.00 lb / 4,572 kg
Ballast 5,040.00 lb / 2,286 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer John B Sharp
Builder Barbican Yachts Constructions Ltd.
First Built 1989
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
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
31.27
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
1.76
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. 6.4
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. 774.95
How It Compares

vs. Arcadia 30 Jeanneau, Frers 30, Golden Gate 30, Halmatic 30, Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Barbican 30 ★
29.5 ft
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
29.5 ft
Frers 30
29.5 ft
Golden Gate 30
29.5 ft
Halmatic 30
29.5 ft
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
29.5 ft
LWL
Barbican 30 ★
22.8 ft
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
24.4 ft
Frers 30
26.0 ft
Golden Gate 30
22.5 ft
Halmatic 30
22.8 ft
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
24.6 ft
Beam
Barbican 30 ★
9.5 ft
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
10.3 ft
Frers 30
10.9 ft
Golden Gate 30
9.4 ft
Halmatic 30
9.5 ft
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
10.6 ft
Displacement
Barbican 30 ★
10 lbs
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
6 lbs
Frers 30
6 lbs
Golden Gate 30
9 lbs
Halmatic 30
9 lbs
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
5 lbs
Ballast
Barbican 30 ★
5 lbs
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
2 lbs
Frers 30
2 lbs
Golden Gate 30
4 lbs
Halmatic 30
4 lbs
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
2 lbs
Sail Area
Barbican 30 ★
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
378 sq ft
Frers 30
458 sq ft
Golden Gate 30
406 sq ft
Halmatic 30
430 sq ft
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
370 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Barbican 30 ★
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
Frers 30
132 s/nm
Golden Gate 30
246 s/nm
Halmatic 30
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Barbican 30 ★
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
18.0
Frers 30
20.3
Golden Gate 30
14.8
Halmatic 30
16.0
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
18.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Barbican 30 ★
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
43.5 %
Frers 30
Golden Gate 30
43.5 %
Halmatic 30
50.0 %
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
40.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Barbican 30 ★
31.3
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
16.4
Frers 30
16.3
Golden Gate 30
29.1
Halmatic 30
27.9
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
15.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Barbican 30 ★
1.76
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
2.26
Frers 30
2.30
Golden Gate 30
1.80
Halmatic 30
1.83
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
2.34
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Barbican 30 ★
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
188
Frers 30
Golden Gate 30
360
Halmatic 30
337
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
178
Hull Speed
Barbican 30 ★
6.4 kts
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
6.6 kts
Frers 30
6.8 kts
Golden Gate 30
6.4 kts
Halmatic 30
6.4 kts
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
6.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Barbican 30 ★
Arcadia 30 Jeanneau
3.0
Frers 30
3.4
Golden Gate 30
Halmatic 30
Sun Dream 28 Jeanneau
3.1
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