The Contessa 39 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages, 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 33.2′, the Contessa 39 tops out around 7.7 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √33.2′ LWL = 7.7 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
84s/nm
Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.
SA / Displacement
19.4
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
49.0%
Race-oriented ballast ratio — very stiff and powerful.
Displacement / Length
174
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
22.5
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
2.02
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
9lbs
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
22.5
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
2.02
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 Contessa 39 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
X 382
78s/nm
Contessa 39
84s/nm
Performance racer — quick around the cans and offshore.
Dehler 38
93s/nm
Baltic 39
102s/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 |
6.2 |
6.9 |
7.5 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.5 |
5.7 |
6.4 |
6.9 |
| Run150–180° |
3.6 |
4.5 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.7 kts),
SA/D (19.4), 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 Contessa 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 Contessa 39.
|
Contessa 39 |
Baltic 39 |
Dehler 38 |
Sabre 38 Mkii |
Sweden Yachts 38 |
X 382 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
38.7 |
38.8 |
38.7 |
38.7 |
38.7 |
38.5 |
| LWL |
33.2 |
32.7 |
31.5 |
31.4 |
31.2 |
31.8 |
| Beam |
12.3 |
12.6 |
12.5 |
12.3 |
12.7 |
12.3 |
| Displacement |
14 |
18 |
12 |
16 |
16 |
14 |
| Ballast |
6 |
7 |
2 |
6 |
— |
6 |
| Sail Area |
709 |
732 |
627 |
691 |
741 |
702 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
84 |
102 |
93 |
— |
— |
78 |
| SA/Disp |
19.4 |
17.1 |
19.1 |
16.9 |
18.5 |
19.1 |
| Bal/Disp |
49.0 |
43.3 |
23.1 |
39.1 |
— |
43.1 |
| Comfort |
22.5 |
27.7 |
19.4 |
27.4 |
25.7 |
23.3 |
| Capsize |
2.02 |
1.92 |
2.17 |
1.93 |
2.00 |
2.02 |
| Hull Speed |
7.7 |
7.7 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.6 |