The Discovery 55 is a semi-custom bluewater cruising yacht designed by Ron Holland and built by Discovery Yachts in England beginning in 2001. Conceived as a true circumnavigation yacht, she features a powerful cutter rig, skeg-hung rudder, and a spacious interior with high-quality joinery optimized for long-distance shorthanded cruising by a couple. Construction is resin-infused GRP with a foam-cored deck and extensive structural reinforcement for offshore loads. The design has been continually refined through several mark versions (including the Discovery 55 MkII), and the 55 has built a strong reputation on the ocean rally circuit, particularly in the ARC and World ARC — she is the most-entered model in ARC history.
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What is the Discovery 55's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Discovery 55 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 20.18. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Discovery 55's comfort ratio?
The Discovery 55 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 40.45. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Discovery 55 safe for offshore sailing?
The Discovery 55 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.71. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Discovery 55?
The theoretical hull speed of the Discovery 55 is 8.96 knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Discovery 55 weigh?
The Discovery 55 has a displacement of 49,500 and a length overall (LOA) of 55.75.
Who designed the Discovery 55?
The Discovery 55 was designed by Ron Holland, first built in 2001.