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Elite 30
Designer: Philippe Briand  ·  Builder: Kirie (Fra)  ·  First built: 1984
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About the Elite 30

Designed by renowned naval architect Philippe Briand and built by French manufacturer Kirie from 1984 to 1990, this 31-footer represents solid European craftsmanship from the height of the production boat era. With 300 hulls launched during its six-year production run, the Elite 30 found favor among sailors seeking a well-balanced coastal cruiser with respectable performance characteristics. The boat's fractional sloop rig and fin keel with spade rudder configuration delivers responsive handling and decent upwind ability, while the moderate displacement of 5,732 pounds strikes a nice balance between stability and speed potential. A sail area to displacement ratio of 20.54 suggests spirited performance in moderate conditions, though the design leans more toward comfortable cruising than pure racing. The comfortable beam of nearly 11 feet provides good interior volume for a boat this size, while the moderate draft makes it suitable for exploring varied cruising grounds. With a low comfort ratio of 13.96 and reasonable capsize screening value of 2.42, the Elite 30 demonstrates seaworthy characteristics appropriate for coastal passages and protected offshore work. The fiberglass construction and compact 9-horsepower auxiliary make it a practical choice for weekend cruising and small family adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 24.67 ft / 7.52 m
Beam 10.83 ft / 3.30 m
Max Draft 5.58 ft / 1.70 m
Displacement 5,732.00 lb / 2,600 kg
Ballast 2,370.00 lb / 1,075 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 410.00 ft² / 38.09 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Philippe Briand
Builder Kirie (FRA)
First Built 1984
Last Built 1990
Number Built 300
Associations Half Ton Class
Related Sailboats Elite 30S · Inferno 31 · Bristol 311 · Hughes 31 · Cr 310
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 150
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
 20.54
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
 41.35
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
 170.43
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
 13.96
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
 2.42
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. 6.66 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
 3.53
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. 954.65 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. 20.54
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 32.32 ft / 9.85 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 36.80 ft / 11.22 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
SA Fore 161.60 ft² / 15.01 m²
SA Main 248.40 ft² / 23.08 m²
SA Total (100%) 410.00 ft² / 38.09 m²
Est. Forestay Length 33.83 ft / 10.31 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 9
Fuel Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
Water Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 311, Cr 310, Elite 30S, Hughes 31, Inferno 31

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Elite 30 ★
31.0 ft
Bristol 311
31.0 ft
Cr 310
31.0 ft
Elite 30S
31.0 ft
Hughes 31
31.0 ft
Inferno 31
31.0 ft
LWL
Elite 30 ★
24.7 ft
Bristol 311
24.8 ft
Cr 310
25.6 ft
Elite 30S
24.5 ft
Hughes 31
24.0 ft
Inferno 31
25.6 ft
Beam
Elite 30 ★
10.8 ft
Bristol 311
10.2 ft
Cr 310
9.8 ft
Elite 30S
10.8 ft
Hughes 31
9.7 ft
Inferno 31
9.8 ft
Displacement
Elite 30 ★
5 lbs
Bristol 311
11 lbs
Cr 310
9 lbs
Elite 30S
5 lbs
Hughes 31
9 lbs
Inferno 31
9 lbs
Ballast
Elite 30 ★
2 lbs
Bristol 311
4 lbs
Cr 310
3 lbs
Elite 30S
2 lbs
Hughes 31
3 lbs
Inferno 31
2 lbs
Sail Area
Elite 30 ★
410 sq ft
Bristol 311
455 sq ft
Cr 310
520 sq ft
Elite 30S
388 sq ft
Hughes 31
—
Inferno 31
512 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Elite 30 ★
150 s/nm
Bristol 311
—
Cr 310
—
Elite 30S
153 s/nm
Hughes 31
191 s/nm
Inferno 31
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Elite 30 ★
20.5
Bristol 311
14.6
Cr 310
19.0
Elite 30S
19.4
Hughes 31
—
Inferno 31
18.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Elite 30 ★
41.4 %
Bristol 311
40.2 %
Cr 310
41.7 %
Elite 30S
40.0 %
Hughes 31
36.8 %
Inferno 31
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Elite 30 ★
14.0
Bristol 311
29.6
Cr 310
25.0
Elite 30S
14.1
Hughes 31
—
Inferno 31
25.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Elite 30 ★
2.42
Bristol 311
1.82
Cr 310
1.88
Elite 30S
2.42
Hughes 31
—
Inferno 31
1.86
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Elite 30 ★
170
Bristol 311
329
Cr 310
246
Elite 30S
174
Hughes 31
293
Inferno 31
—
Hull Speed
Elite 30 ★
6.7 kts
Bristol 311
6.7 kts
Cr 310
6.8 kts
Elite 30S
6.6 kts
Hughes 31
—
Inferno 31
6.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Elite 30 ★
3.5
Bristol 311
1.4
Cr 310
—
Elite 30S
3.3
Hughes 31
—
Inferno 31
2.3
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