The Bluenose is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.
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 16.0′, the Bluenose tops out around 5.4 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √16.0′ LWL = 5.4 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
255s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
SA / Displacement
21.7
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
39.0%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
223
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
15.1
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
1.97
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
22.4
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
357lbs
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
15.1
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
1.97
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 Bluenose sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Moore 24
158s/nm
Santana 23 K
186s/nm
Ranger 23
222s/nm
Hunter 23
243s/nm
Pearson 24
252s/nm
Bluenose
255s/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° |
2.4 |
3.1 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.6 |
4.5 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.3 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
4.9 |
| Run150–180° |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (5.4 kts),
SA/D (21.7), 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 Bluenose — 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 Bluenose.
|
Bluenose |
Hunter 23 |
Moore 24 |
Pearson 24 |
Ranger 23 |
Santana 23 K |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
23.4 |
23.3 |
23.8 |
23.5 |
23.7 |
23.3 |
| LWL |
16.0 |
20.3 |
21.8 |
18.5 |
20.0 |
20.6 |
| Beam |
6.3 |
8.3 |
7.2 |
8.0 |
7.9 |
8.8 |
| Displacement |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
| Ballast |
800 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Sail Area |
218 |
238 |
247 |
— |
244 |
272 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
255 |
243 |
158 |
252 |
222 |
186 |
| SA/Disp |
21.7 |
16.2 |
24.6 |
— |
17.3 |
24.0 |
| Bal/Disp |
39.0 |
37.5 |
48.8 |
41.9 |
— |
— |
| Comfort |
15.1 |
11.5 |
10.3 |
— |
15.8 |
9.7 |
| Capsize |
1.97 |
2.38 |
2.26 |
— |
2.11 |
2.62 |
| Hull Speed |
5.4 |
5.9 |
6.3 |
— |
6.0 |
6.1 |