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

Designed by renowned naval architect Philippe Briand and built by French manufacturer Kirie starting in 1984, this 31-foot sailboat represents European performance cruising at its finest. With her sleek lines and modern fin keel configuration paired with a spade rudder, the Elite 30S delivers responsive handling and impressive sailing characteristics for her size. The boat's specifications reveal a well-balanced design optimized for spirited coastal cruising and club racing. Her moderate displacement of 5,750 pounds combined with 388 square feet of sail area creates a lively sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 19.4, indicating good performance in light to moderate conditions. The substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio of 40% provides excellent stability and stiffness under sail. At 24.5 feet of waterline length, she achieves a theoretical hull speed of 6.63 knots, while her comfortable beam of nearly 11 feet offers reasonable interior volume without compromising sailing performance. The moderate draft of 5.6 feet allows access to most harbors while providing good upwind ability. Philippe Briand's influence is evident in the boat's clean, purposeful lines that prioritize sailing efficiency. This makes the Elite 30S well-suited for sailors seeking a responsive, seaworthy boat capable of weekend cruising and competitive sailing alike.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 24.50 ft / 7.47 m
Beam 10.83 ft / 3.30 m
Max Draft 5.60 ft / 1.71 m
Displacement 5,750.00 lb / 2,608 kg
Ballast 2,300.00 lb / 1,043 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 388.00 ft² / 36.05 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Philippe Briand
Builder Kirie (FRA)
First Built 1984
Related Sailboats ["Elite 30" · "Hughes 31" · "Bristol 311" · "Inferno 31" · "Cr 310"]
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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
 153
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
 19.4
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
 174.55
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
 14.07
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
 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. 6.63 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
 3.33
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. 948.07 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. 19.39
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 38.30 ft / 11.67 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 32.80 ft / 10.00 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.80 ft / 3.29 m
SA Fore 210.65 ft² / 19.57 m²
SA Main 177.12 ft² / 16.45 m²
SA Total (100%) 387.77 ft² / 36.03 m²
Est. Forestay Length 39.85 ft / 12.15 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model 2001
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 10
Fuel Capacity 15 gals / 57 L
Water Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
How It Compares

vs. Bristol 311, Hughes 31, Inferno 31

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