The Elite 326 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 27.1′, the Elite 326 tops out around 7.0 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √27.1′ LWL = 7.0 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
150s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
SA / Displacement
18.6
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
35.8%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
162
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
16.1
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.28
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
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
16.1
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
2.28
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 326 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Elite 326
150s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Tartan 31
159s/nm
Bavaria 31
177s/nm
Hunter 31
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° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.3 |
5.4 |
6.1 |
6.6 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.0 |
5.0 |
5.6 |
6.1 |
| Run150–180° |
3.2 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.0 kts),
SA/D (18.6), 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 326 — 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 326.
|
Elite 326 |
Bavaria 31 |
Hunter 31 |
Stardust 311 Beneteau |
Sun Odyssey 31 Jeanneau |
Tartan 31 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
31.3 |
31.2 |
31.3 |
31.2 |
31.2 |
31.3 |
| LWL |
27.1 |
27.6 |
26.3 |
26.6 |
26.9 |
26.0 |
| Beam |
11.0 |
11.2 |
10.9 |
11.5 |
10.8 |
10.9 |
| Displacement |
7 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
| Ballast |
2 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
431 |
484 |
458 |
441 |
452 |
506 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
150 |
177 |
183 |
— |
— |
159 |
| SA/Disp |
18.6 |
17.5 |
16.2 |
15.3 |
16.9 |
18.7 |
| Bal/Disp |
35.8 |
35.7 |
41.2 |
33.3 |
35.0 |
43.2 |
| Comfort |
16.1 |
20.6 |
22.4 |
21.1 |
20.1 |
20.9 |
| Capsize |
2.28 |
1.96 |
2.05 |
2.14 |
2.10 |
2.10 |
| Hull Speed |
7.0 |
7.0 |
6.9 |
6.9 |
7.0 |
6.8 |