The Bayfield 29 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages.
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 21.8′, the Bayfield 29 tops out around 6.3 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √21.8′ 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
237s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
SA / Displacement
18.0
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
35.3%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
369
Heavy displacement — a slow, steady, seakindly hull.
Comfort Ratio
25.0
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
2.00
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
16.2
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
5lbs
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
25.0
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.00
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 Bayfield 29 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
C&C 29
159s/nm
Tanzer 29
174s/nm
Cal 29
183s/nm
Northern 29
192s/nm
Bayfield 29
237s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
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° |
2.6 |
3.2 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.1 |
3.9 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
| Run150–180° |
2.8 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.3 kts),
SA/D (18.0), 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 Bayfield 29 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ 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 Bayfield 29.
|
Bayfield 29 |
C&C 29 |
Cal 2 29 |
Cal 29 |
Northern 29 |
Tanzer 29 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
| LWL |
21.8 |
— |
24.0 |
24.0 |
21.3 |
24.3 |
| Beam |
10.2 |
— |
9.3 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
10.3 |
| Displacement |
8 |
— |
8 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
| Ballast |
3 |
— |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
| Sail Area |
468 |
— |
422 |
422 |
— |
403 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
237 |
159 |
— |
183 |
192 |
174 |
| SA/Disp |
18.0 |
— |
16.9 |
16.9 |
— |
18.6 |
| Bal/Disp |
35.3 |
— |
41.9 |
41.9 |
51.7 |
37.3 |
| Comfort |
25.0 |
— |
25.0 |
25.0 |
— |
17.6 |
| Capsize |
2.00 |
— |
1.85 |
1.85 |
— |
2.20 |
| Hull Speed |
6.3 |
— |
6.6 |
6.6 |
— |
6.6 |