The Black Soo is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, and respectable in club 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 25.9′, the Black Soo tops out around 6.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √25.9′ LWL = 6.8 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
144s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
20.0
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
49.1%
Race-oriented ballast ratio — very stiff and powerful.
Displacement / Length
103
Ultralight — responsive and fast, but carries less stores.
Comfort Ratio
17.1
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
1.77
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
648lbs
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
17.1
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
1.77
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Black Soo sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Olson 29
99s/nm
Black Soo
144s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Carter 30
174s/nm
Pearson 30
174s/nm
Grampian 30
192s/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° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.6 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.3 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.4 |
5.5 |
6.2 |
6.7 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.0 |
5.1 |
5.7 |
6.2 |
| Run150–180° |
3.2 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
4.8 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.8 kts),
SA/D (20.0), 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 Black Soo — 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 Black Soo.
|
Black Soo |
Carter 30 |
Formosa 30 |
Grampian 30 |
Olson 29 |
Pearson 30 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
29.7 |
29.8 |
29.6 |
29.8 |
29.7 |
29.8 |
| LWL |
25.9 |
23.0 |
25.0 |
25.5 |
27.5 |
25.0 |
| Beam |
7.0 |
10.1 |
10.5 |
9.5 |
9.3 |
9.5 |
| Displacement |
4 |
7 |
10 |
8 |
3 |
8 |
| Ballast |
1 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
314 |
384 |
484 |
425 |
365 |
445 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
144 |
174 |
— |
192 |
99 |
174 |
| SA/Disp |
20.0 |
16.4 |
15.9 |
16.3 |
24.9 |
17.4 |
| Bal/Disp |
49.1 |
40.8 |
37.0 |
45.0 |
— |
42.8 |
| Comfort |
17.1 |
20.8 |
27.6 |
24.7 |
10.1 |
24.3 |
| Capsize |
1.77 |
2.08 |
1.90 |
1.86 |
2.44 |
1.88 |
| Hull Speed |
6.8 |
6.4 |
6.7 |
6.8 |
7.0 |
6.7 |