The Cc 50 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore.
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 39.0′, the Cc 50 tops out around 8.4 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √39.0′ LWL = 8.4 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
SA / Displacement
20.7
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Comfort Ratio
32.3
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.85
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
2lbs
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
32.3
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.85
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 Cc 50 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Santa Cruz 50
9s/nm
Columbia 50
96s/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° |
3.7 |
4.7 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
| Close Reach60° |
4.5 |
5.6 |
6.3 |
6.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
5.5 |
6.9 |
7.7 |
8.0 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
5.0 |
6.4 |
7.1 |
7.4 |
| Run150–180° |
4.0 |
5.1 |
5.7 |
5.9 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (8.4 kts),
SA/D (20.7), 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 Cc 50 — 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 Cc 50.
|
Cc 50 |
Columbia 50 |
Nautor 50 |
Santa Cruz 50 |
Swan 50 Ms |
Swan 50 Ss |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
49.8 |
50.0 |
49.7 |
50.0 |
49.6 |
50.2 |
| LWL |
39.0 |
33.3 |
37.5 |
46.4 |
37.5 |
37.3 |
| Beam |
14.5 |
12.0 |
15.1 |
12.0 |
15.1 |
13.6 |
| Displacement |
31 |
32 |
50 |
16 |
51 |
36 |
| Ballast |
15 |
14 |
14 |
8 |
14 |
14 |
| Sail Area |
1 |
— |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
96 |
— |
9 |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
20.7 |
— |
13.0 |
26.5 |
13.0 |
15.2 |
| Bal/Disp |
— |
45.6 |
28.6 |
50.0 |
28.4 |
39.2 |
| Comfort |
32.3 |
— |
51.5 |
19.0 |
51.7 |
41.8 |
| Capsize |
1.85 |
— |
1.63 |
1.91 |
1.63 |
1.65 |
| Hull Speed |
8.4 |
— |
8.2 |
9.1 |
8.2 |
8.2 |