The Cheetah 30 is aggressively canvassed for its weight, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, and competitive on the racecourse.
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 27.0′, the Cheetah 30 tops out around 7.0 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √27.0′ LWL = 7.0 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
77s/nm
Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.
SA / Displacement
32.3
Performance-oriented — carries a lot of canvas for its weight.
Ballast / Displacement
43.5%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
52
Ultralight — responsive and fast, but carries less stores.
Comfort Ratio
8.0
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.43
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
772lbs
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
8.0
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
2.43
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 Cheetah 30 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Cheetah 30
77s/nm
Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.
J/92
117s/nm
X 95
147s/nm
Pearson 303
198s/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° |
3.3 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
4.8 |
| Close Reach60° |
4.0 |
5.0 |
5.6 |
5.8 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.9 |
6.1 |
6.9 |
7.4 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.5 |
5.7 |
6.3 |
6.9 |
| Run150–180° |
3.6 |
4.5 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.0 kts),
SA/D (32.3), 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 Cheetah 30 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–5 kts
5–18 kts
18–28 kts
28+ kts
Ghosting
0–5 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
5–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–28 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 Cheetah 30.
|
Cheetah 30 |
Elan 31 Humphreys |
Farr 920 |
J/92 |
Pearson 303 |
X 95 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
30.3 |
30.2 |
30.3 |
30.2 |
30.3 |
30.3 |
| LWL |
27.0 |
26.9 |
23.5 |
25.4 |
25.4 |
26.3 |
| Beam |
8.0 |
10.5 |
10.0 |
10.8 |
10.9 |
10.5 |
| Displacement |
2 |
8 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
6 |
| Ballast |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
351 |
586 |
— |
450 |
459 |
450 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
77 |
— |
— |
117 |
198 |
147 |
| SA/Disp |
32.3 |
22.8 |
— |
20.4 |
15.8 |
20.3 |
| Bal/Disp |
43.5 |
34.2 |
39.0 |
42.3 |
34.7 |
47.5 |
| Comfort |
8.0 |
20.2 |
13.8 |
23.8 |
24.1 |
16.5 |
| Capsize |
2.43 |
2.07 |
2.36 |
1.71 |
2.02 |
2.23 |
| Hull Speed |
7.0 |
7.0 |
6.5 |
7.7 |
6.8 |
6.9 |