The Clipper 42 Cheoy Lee 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 30.0′, the Clipper 42 Cheoy Lee tops out around 7.3 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √30.0′ LWL = 7.3 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
18.2
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
38.3%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
389
Heavy displacement — a slow, steady, seakindly hull.
Comfort Ratio
39.0
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.69
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
15.1
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
8lbs
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
39.0
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
1.69
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 Clipper 42 Cheoy Lee sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Hans Christian 43
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° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.7 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.5 |
5.7 |
6.3 |
6.6 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.1 |
5.2 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
| Run150–180° |
3.3 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
4.9 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.3 kts),
SA/D (18.2), 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 Clipper 42 Cheoy Lee — 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 Clipper 42 Cheoy Lee.
|
Clipper 42 Cheoy Lee |
Hans Christian 43 |
Irwin Avanti 42 |
Pearson 424 Ketch |
Slocum 43 |
Spencer 42 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
42.4 |
42.6 |
42.5 |
42.3 |
42.5 |
42.3 |
| LWL |
30.0 |
36.8 |
35.1 |
33.7 |
35.8 |
30.0 |
| Beam |
12.1 |
13.8 |
13.3 |
13.0 |
12.9 |
11.3 |
| Displacement |
23 |
31 |
26 |
21 |
28 |
19 |
| Ballast |
9 |
12 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
| Sail Area |
928 |
894 |
852 |
723 |
810 |
755 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
150 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
18.2 |
14.4 |
15.6 |
15.3 |
14.1 |
17.0 |
| Bal/Disp |
38.3 |
39.1 |
30.8 |
36.4 |
32.0 |
42.1 |
| Comfort |
39.0 |
38.2 |
34.2 |
29.4 |
38.0 |
34.4 |
| Capsize |
1.69 |
1.76 |
1.80 |
1.89 |
1.70 |
1.70 |
| Hull Speed |
7.3 |
8.1 |
7.9 |
7.8 |
8.0 |
7.3 |