What is the Blue Chip 30's sail area to displacement ratio?

The Blue Chip 30 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 19.21. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.

What is the Blue Chip 30's comfort ratio?

The Blue Chip 30 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 23.03. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.

Is the Blue Chip 30 safe for offshore sailing?

The Blue Chip 30 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.88. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.

What is the hull speed of the Blue Chip 30?

The theoretical hull speed of the Blue Chip 30 is 6.45 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.

How much does a Blue Chip 30 weigh?

The Blue Chip 30 has a displacement of 7,000.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 29.83 ft.

Who designed the Blue Chip 30?

The Blue Chip 30 was designed by Sidney Herreshoff, first built in 1961.

Blue Chip 30 Performance — PHRF, SA/D, Hull Speed & Sailing Characteristics

The Blue Chip 30 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.

6.5 kts

A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 23.2′, the Blue Chip 30 tops out around 6.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.

1.34 × √23.2′ LWL = 6.4 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

216s/nm

Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.

SA / Displacement

19.2

Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.

Ballast / Displacement

46.4%

Race-oriented ballast ratio — very stiff and powerful.

Displacement / Length

252

Moderate-heavy — carries provisions well, deliberate in light air.

Comfort Ratio

23.0

Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.

Capsize Screening

1.88

Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.

Hull Speed

6.5kts

S# (Speed Number)

2.4

Pounds/Inch Immersion

745lbs

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

23.0

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

1.88

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 Blue Chip 30 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Cruiser/Racer 90–150

Cruiser 150–210

Heavy Cruiser 210–300

Tartan 30 171s/nm

Pearson 30 174s/nm

Blue Chip 30 216s/nm Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.

Baba 30 222s/nm

Cape Dory 300 Ms 293s/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°	2.7	3.5	3.9	4.0
Close Reach60°	3.3	4.2	4.7	4.9
Beam Reach90°	4.1	5.1	5.7	6.0
Broad Reach120–135°	3.7	4.7	5.3	5.5
Run150–180°	3.0	3.8	4.2	4.4

These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.5 kts), SA/D (19.2), 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 Blue Chip 30 — 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 Blue Chip 30.

	Blue Chip 30	Baba 30	Bristol 299	Cape Dory 300 Ms	Pearson 30	Tartan 30
Dimensions
LOA	29.8	29.8	29.9	29.9	29.8	29.9
LWL	23.2	24.5	24.0	26.5	25.0	24.3
Beam	9.0	10.3	10.2	11.4	9.5	10.0
Displacement	7	12	8	11	8	8
Ballast	3	5	3	4	3	3
Sail Area	438	504	391	442	445	449
Performance
PHRF	216	222	—	293	174	171
SA/Disp	19.2	15.0	14.9	13.9	17.4	17.0
Bal/Disp	46.4	40.0	41.6	39.1	42.8	41.1
Comfort	23.0	33.4	23.6	25.2	24.3	24.3
Capsize	1.88	1.77	1.98	2.03	1.88	1.94
Hull Speed	6.5	6.6	6.6	6.9	6.7	6.6