What is the Cal 39's sail area to displacement ratio?

The Cal 39 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 19.84. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.

What is the Cal 39's comfort ratio?

The Cal 39 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 25.56. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.

Is the Cal 39 safe for offshore sailing?

The Cal 39 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.91. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.

What is the hull speed of the Cal 39?

The theoretical hull speed of the Cal 39 is 7.49 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.

How much does a Cal 39 weigh?

The Cal 39 has a displacement of 14,600.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 38.67 ft.

How much does a used Cal 39 cost?

Based on 5 recent market listings, used Cal 39 sailboats typically sell for between $17,000 and $89,500, with a median asking price of $45,000. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.

Who designed the Cal 39?

The Cal 39 was designed by C. William Lapworth, first built in 1970.

Cal 39 Performance — PHRF, SA/D, Hull Speed & Sailing Characteristics

The Cal 39 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages, and respectable in club racing.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

7.5 kts

A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 31.3′, the Cal 39 tops out around 7.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.

1.34 × √31.3′ LWL = 7.5 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

114s/nm

Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.

SA / Displacement

19.8

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

Ballast / Displacement

45.2%

Race-oriented ballast ratio — very stiff and powerful.

Displacement / Length

214

Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.

Comfort Ratio

25.6

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

Capsize Screening

1.91

Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.

Hull Speed

7.5kts

S# (Speed Number)

2.9

Pounds/Inch Immersion

1lbs

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

25.6

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

1.91

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 Cal 39 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Racer 0–90

Cruiser/Racer 90–150

Cruiser 150–210

Frers 39 78s/nm

Baltic 39 102s/nm

Cal 39 114s/nm Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.

Columbia 39 129s/nm

Corbin 39 Cc 150s/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°	3.2	4.1	4.6	4.7
Close Reach60°	3.9	4.9	5.5	5.7
Beam Reach90°	4.8	6.0	6.8	7.0
Broad Reach120–135°	4.4	5.6	6.2	6.5
Run150–180°	3.5	4.5	5.0	5.2

These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.5 kts), SA/D (19.8), 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 Cal 39 — 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 Cal 39.

	Cal 39	Baltic 39	Columbia 39	Corbin 39 Cc	Frers 39	Gulf 39
Dimensions
LOA	38.7	38.8	38.6	38.8	38.8	38.8
LWL	31.3	32.7	31.5	31.9	31.5	33.5
Beam	11.7	12.6	11.3	12.0	12.5	12.0
Displacement	14	18	18	22	17	17
Ballast	6	7	9	9	8	—
Sail Area	738	732	—	—	638	689
Performance
PHRF	114	102	129	150	78	—
SA/Disp	19.8	17.1	—	—	15.3	16.4
Bal/Disp	45.2	43.3	49.7	40.4	49.1	—
Comfort	25.6	27.7	—	—	27.5	28.2
Capsize	1.91	1.92	—	—	1.94	1.85
Hull Speed	7.5	7.7	—	—	7.5	7.8