The Etap 39S is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages, and respectable in club 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 33.5′, the Etap 39S tops out around 7.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √33.5′ LWL = 7.8 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
90s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
17.1
Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.
Ballast / Displacement
33.1%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
179
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
22.5
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
2.05
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
22.5
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.05
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 Etap 39S sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Elan 40
66s/nm
Dehler 39
75s/nm
Etap 39S
90s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
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° |
3.1 |
3.9 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.7 |
4.7 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.6 |
5.8 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.2 |
5.4 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
| Run150–180° |
3.4 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
5.0 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.8 kts),
SA/D (17.1), 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 Etap 39S — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–7 kts
7–20 kts
20–28 kts
28+ kts
Ghosting
0–7 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
7–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–28 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
28+ 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 Etap 39S.
|
Etap 39S |
Dehler 39 |
Elan 40 |
Grand Soleil 38 Finot |
Sun Odyssey 39 Ds Perf Jeanneau |
Sun Odyssey 39I Jeanneau |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
39.0 |
39.0 |
39.0 |
39.0 |
38.9 |
38.9 |
| LWL |
33.5 |
35.1 |
33.6 |
31.2 |
35.2 |
35.2 |
| Beam |
12.6 |
12.5 |
12.6 |
12.3 |
12.8 |
12.7 |
| Displacement |
14 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
17 |
16 |
| Ballast |
4 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Sail Area |
649 |
1,032 |
780 |
656 |
829 |
670 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
90 |
75 |
66 |
— |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
17.1 |
26.7 |
19.8 |
17.3 |
19.9 |
16.8 |
| Bal/Disp |
33.1 |
42.1 |
35.5 |
35.3 |
29.0 |
31.1 |
| Comfort |
22.5 |
22.7 |
23.9 |
24.5 |
24.9 |
23.3 |
| Capsize |
2.05 |
2.02 |
2.00 |
1.99 |
1.97 |
2.02 |
| Hull Speed |
7.8 |
7.9 |
7.8 |
7.5 |
8.0 |
7.9 |