The Elite 29 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, designed for cruising comfort rather than racing.
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 24.7′, the Elite 29 tops out around 6.7 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √24.7′ LWL = 6.7 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
170s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
SA / Displacement
18.5
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
37.4%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
184
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
15.3
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.37
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
955lbs
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
15.3
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.37
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 Elite 29 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Frers 30
132s/nm
Elite 29
170s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Dufour 29
171s/nm
Elite 286
183s/nm
Seidelmann 295
183s/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° |
2.8 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.3 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
4.9 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.1 |
5.2 |
5.8 |
6.3 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.8 |
| Run150–180° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.7 kts),
SA/D (18.5), 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 Elite 29 — 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 Elite 29.
|
Elite 29 |
Dufour 29 |
Elite 286 |
Frers 30 |
Hallberg Rassy 29 |
Seidelmann 295 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
29.3 |
29.3 |
29.3 |
29.5 |
29.2 |
29.4 |
| LWL |
24.7 |
25.1 |
23.4 |
26.0 |
23.8 |
24.4 |
| Beam |
10.8 |
9.7 |
10.0 |
10.9 |
9.3 |
10.2 |
| Displacement |
6 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
| Ballast |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
388 |
364 |
462 |
458 |
538 |
408 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
170 |
171 |
183 |
132 |
— |
183 |
| SA/Disp |
18.5 |
15.6 |
23.8 |
20.3 |
20.9 |
17.6 |
| Bal/Disp |
37.4 |
36.5 |
31.6 |
37.7 |
46.1 |
44.4 |
| Comfort |
15.3 |
20.7 |
15.7 |
16.3 |
26.2 |
19.6 |
| Capsize |
2.37 |
2.00 |
2.27 |
2.30 |
1.83 |
2.11 |
| Hull Speed |
6.7 |
6.7 |
6.5 |
6.8 |
6.5 |
6.6 |