The Bombay Express 26 is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, 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 24.1′, the Bombay Express 26 tops out around 6.6 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √24.1′ LWL = 6.6 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
240s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
SA / Displacement
17.3
Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.
Ballast / Displacement
33.3%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
240
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
20.5
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
2.15
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
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
20.5
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
2.15
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 Bombay Express 26 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Impulse 26
135s/nm
Capri 26 Catalina
213s/nm
Yankee 26
228s/nm
Bombay Express 26
240s/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 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.2 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.9 |
4.9 |
5.5 |
5.8 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.6 |
4.6 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
| Run150–180° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.6 kts),
SA/D (17.3), 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 Bombay Express 26 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–7 kts
7–20 kts
20–28 kts
28+ kts
Ghosting
0–7 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
7–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–28 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
28+ 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 Bombay Express 26.
|
Bombay Express 26 |
Capri 26 Catalina |
Chrysler 26 Fk |
Impulse 26 |
S2 80 B |
Yankee 26 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
26.0 |
26.0 |
26.0 |
26.0 |
26.0 |
26.0 |
| LWL |
24.1 |
22.5 |
22.0 |
21.6 |
21.4 |
20.7 |
| Beam |
10.5 |
9.1 |
8.0 |
8.4 |
8.0 |
8.7 |
| Displacement |
7 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
| Ballast |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Sail Area |
412 |
268 |
257 |
327 |
282 |
— |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
240 |
213 |
— |
135 |
— |
228 |
| SA/Disp |
17.3 |
16.0 |
13.2 |
26.7 |
16.4 |
— |
| Bal/Disp |
33.3 |
37.5 |
43.6 |
47.5 |
— |
40.3 |
| Comfort |
20.5 |
15.2 |
23.0 |
10.9 |
19.5 |
— |
| Capsize |
2.15 |
2.22 |
1.82 |
2.41 |
1.93 |
— |
| Hull Speed |
6.6 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
— |