Back to Search
Blue Chip 30
Designer: Sidney Herreshoff  ·  Builder: Cape Cod Shipbuilding  ·  First built: 1961
+ Add to Compare
About the Blue Chip 30

Designed by the renowned Sidney Herreshoff and built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding from 1961 to 1985, this classic 30-footer represents traditional New England craftsmanship at its finest. The Blue Chip 30's long keel configuration and substantial displacement of 7,000 pounds create a remarkably stable and seaworthy vessel that tracks beautifully in all conditions. With nearly half its weight in ballast and a comfort ratio of 23.03, this masthead sloop delivers the steady, predictable sailing characteristics that made it popular among serious cruising sailors for over two decades. The boat's conservative sail area to displacement ratio of 19.21 prioritizes stability and control over raw speed, making it an excellent choice for coastal cruising and offshore passages where reliability trumps performance. The long keel design provides exceptional directional stability and allows the boat to heave-to easily in heavy weather, though it sacrifices some maneuverability in tight quarters. Cape Cod Shipbuilding's reputation for solid fiberglass construction ensures these boats have aged well, with many examples still actively sailing today. The Blue Chip 30 appeals to sailors seeking a traditional, well-built cruiser capable of handling serious offshore work while remaining manageable for a small crew.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.83 ft / 9.09 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.16 ft / 7.06 m
Beam 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 7,000.00 lb / 3,175 kg
Ballast 3,250.00 lb / 1,474 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 438.00 ft² / 40.69 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sidney Herreshoff
Builder Cape Cod Shipbuilding
First Built 1961
Last Built 1985
Related Sailboats ["Cape Dory 300 Ms" · "Baba 30" · "Pearson 30" · "Tartan 30" · "Bristol 299"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 216
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 19.21
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
 46.43
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
 251.56
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
 23.03
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
 1.88
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. 6.45 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.36
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. 744.78 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 19.23
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 36.50 ft / 11.13 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.83 ft / 3.91 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 32.25 ft / 9.83 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.67 ft / 3.86 m
SA Fore 234.15 ft² / 21.75 m²
SA Main 204.30 ft² / 18.98 m²
SA Total (100%) 438.45 ft² / 40.73 m²
Est. Forestay Length 38.69 ft / 11.79 m
How It Compares

vs. Baba 30, Pearson 30, Tartan 30

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Blue Chip 30 ★
29.8 ft
Baba 30
29.8 ft
Pearson 30
29.8 ft
Tartan 30
29.9 ft
LWL
Blue Chip 30 ★
23.2 ft
Baba 30
24.5 ft
Pearson 30
25.0 ft
Tartan 30
24.3 ft
Beam
Blue Chip 30 ★
9.0 ft
Baba 30
10.3 ft
Pearson 30
9.5 ft
Tartan 30
10.0 ft
Displacement
Blue Chip 30 ★
7 lbs
Baba 30
12 lbs
Pearson 30
8 lbs
Tartan 30
8 lbs
Ballast
Blue Chip 30 ★
3 lbs
Baba 30
5 lbs
Pearson 30
3 lbs
Tartan 30
3 lbs
Sail Area
Blue Chip 30 ★
438 sq ft
Baba 30
—
Pearson 30
445 sq ft
Tartan 30
449 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Blue Chip 30 ★
216 s/nm
Baba 30
222 s/nm
Pearson 30
174 s/nm
Tartan 30
171 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Blue Chip 30 ★
19.2
Baba 30
—
Pearson 30
17.4
Tartan 30
17.0
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Blue Chip 30 ★
46.4 %
Baba 30
40.0 %
Pearson 30
42.8 %
Tartan 30
41.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Blue Chip 30 ★
23.0
Baba 30
—
Pearson 30
24.3
Tartan 30
24.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Blue Chip 30 ★
1.88
Baba 30
—
Pearson 30
1.88
Tartan 30
1.94
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Blue Chip 30 ★
251
Baba 30
379
Pearson 30
237
Tartan 30
273
Hull Speed
Blue Chip 30 ★
6.5 kts
Baba 30
—
Pearson 30
6.7 kts
Tartan 30
6.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Blue Chip 30 ★
2.4
Baba 30
—
Pearson 30
2.3
Tartan 30
2.0
Find a Blue Chip 30 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace