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Courier 26 Sailstar
Designer: Halsey Herreshoff  ·  Builder: Sailstar Boats (Usa)  ·  First built: 1966
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About the Courier 26 Sailstar

Designed by the renowned Halsey Herreshoff and built by Sailstar Boats from 1966 to 1968, this 26-footer represents a brief but notable chapter in American sailboat manufacturing. The Courier 26 carries the distinctive design DNA of the Herreshoff legacy, featuring thoughtful proportions and seaworthy characteristics that reflect decades of yacht design expertise. With a displacement of 5,500 pounds and 2,200 pounds of ballast, the Courier 26 offers substantial stability for coastal cruising and weekend adventures. The keel/centerboard configuration with spade rudder provides versatility, allowing access to shallow anchorages while maintaining good windward performance when the board is deployed. Her masthead sloop rig carries 327 square feet of sail area, delivering respectable performance without being overpowering for small crews. The boat's comfort ratio of 23.07 suggests a relatively stiff, quick motion that experienced sailors will appreciate, while the capsize screening formula of 1.82 indicates good stability margins for coastal sailing. Her hull speed of 6.26 knots makes for pleasant day sailing and short coastal hops. Though production was limited to just three years, the Courier 26 represents solid fiberglass construction from sailing's golden era, making surviving examples sought after by sailors who appreciate classic design and proven seaworthiness.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.83 ft / 6.65 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 5.92 ft / 1.80 m
Min Draft 2.83 ft / 0.86 m
Displacement 5,500.00 lb / 2,495 kg
Ballast 2,200.00 lb / 998 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 327.00 ft² / 30.38 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/CB & spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Halsey Herreshoff
Builder Sailstar Boats (USA)
First Built 1966
Last Built 1968
Associations Boatbrochure.com (orig. brochures and manuals)
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.84
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 40
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 236.02
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 23.07
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.82
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.26 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.29
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 624.01 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.82
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 32.00 ft / 9.75 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
SA Fore 168.00 ft² / 15.61 m²
SA Main 158.63 ft² / 14.74 m²
SA Total (100%) 326.63 ft² / 30.34 m²
Est. Forestay Length 33.68 ft / 10.27 m
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