The Contest 29 is modestly canvassed and unhurried, 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 24.0′, the Contest 29 tops out around 6.6 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √24.0′ LWL = 6.6 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
234s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
SA / Displacement
6.9
Modestly canvassed — a comfortable, unhurried cruiser.
Ballast / Displacement
38.8%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
275
Moderate-heavy — carries provisions well, deliberate in light air.
Comfort Ratio
31.0
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.62
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
14.3
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
4lbs
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
31.0
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
1.62
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 Contest 29 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Cal 29
183s/nm
Bristol 29
195s/nm
Islander 29
210s/nm
Cascade 29
230s/nm
Contest 29
234s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
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° |
2.0 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
3.0 |
| Close Reach60° |
2.4 |
3.1 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
2.8 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
| Run150–180° |
2.2 |
2.8 |
3.1 |
3.3 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.6 kts),
SA/D (6.9), 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 Contest 29 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–8 kts
8–22 kts
22–30 kts
30+ kts
Ghosting
0–8 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
8–22 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
22–30 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 Contest 29.
|
Contest 29 |
Bristol 29 |
Cal 2 29 |
Cal 29 |
Cascade 29 |
Islander 29 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.1 |
| LWL |
24.0 |
22.7 |
24.0 |
24.0 |
24.0 |
23.3 |
| Beam |
8.3 |
9.2 |
9.3 |
9.3 |
8.2 |
8.8 |
| Displacement |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
| Ballast |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| Sail Area |
— |
400 |
422 |
422 |
417 |
392 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
234 |
195 |
— |
183 |
230 |
210 |
| SA/Disp |
6.9 |
15.5 |
16.9 |
16.9 |
17.5 |
16.0 |
| Bal/Disp |
38.8 |
41.1 |
41.9 |
41.9 |
31.7 |
32.1 |
| Comfort |
31.0 |
27.6 |
25.0 |
25.0 |
27.7 |
26.4 |
| Capsize |
1.62 |
1.81 |
1.85 |
1.85 |
1.67 |
1.78 |
| Hull Speed |
6.6 |
6.4 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
6.5 |