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Etchells Class
Designer: E. W. Etchells  ·  Builder: David Heritage Racing Yachts  ·  First built: 1966
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About the Etchells Class

Designed by E.W. Etchells in 1966, this fractional sloop represents one of sailing's most successful one-design racing classes. With its sleek 30.50-foot hull and efficient 301 square feet of sail area, the Etchells delivers exceptional performance in keelboat racing while remaining manageable for competitive sailors. The boat's fin keel design with rudder mounted on a skeg provides responsive handling and predictable sailing characteristics that have made it a favorite among yacht clubs worldwide. At 3,325 pounds displacement with substantial ballast of 2,175 pounds, the Etchells offers excellent stability and upwind performance that rewards skilled crew work and tactical sailing. Built by David Heritage Racing Yachts using fiberglass construction, these boats maintain remarkable consistency across the fleet, ensuring fair competition. The class has earned a stellar reputation for close, tactical racing where boat handling and strategy matter more than equipment advantages. With a comfort ratio of 15.66 and capsize screening formula of 1.88, the Etchells is primarily suited for protected waters and coastal racing rather than offshore cruising. The Etchells' enduring popularity in competitive sailing circles stems from its perfect balance of performance, durability, and one-design integrity, making it an excellent choice for serious racing enthusiasts.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 30.50 ft / 9.30 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
Beam 7.00 ft / 2.13 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 3,325.00 lb / 1,508 kg
Ballast 2,175.00 lb / 987 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 301.00 ft² / 27.96 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer E. W. Etchells
Builder David Heritage Racing Yachts
First Built 1966
Associations Etchells Class - International
Related Sailboats ["Cc 12 Ton" · "Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau" · "First 30 E Beneteau Berret" · "Chance 30 30 Allied" · "Nicholson 31"]
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Performance Ratios
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
 21.68
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
 65.41
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
 139.4
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
 15.66
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
 1.88
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. 6.29 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
 4.16
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. 550.26 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. 21.41
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 27.60 ft / 8.41 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 32.50 ft / 9.91 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
SA Fore 110.40 ft² / 10.26 m²
SA Main 186.88 ft² / 17.36 m²
SA Total (100%) 297.28 ft² / 27.62 m²
Est. Forestay Length 28.74 ft / 8.76 m
How It Compares

vs. Chance 30 30 Allied, First 30 E Beneteau Berret, Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Etchells Class ★
30.5 ft
Chance 30 30 Allied
30.6 ft
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
30.5 ft
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
30.5 ft
LWL
Etchells Class ★
22.0 ft
Chance 30 30 Allied
25.0 ft
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
27.0 ft
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
26.6 ft
Beam
Etchells Class ★
7.0 ft
Chance 30 30 Allied
10.0 ft
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
10.7 ft
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
10.5 ft
Displacement
Etchells Class ★
3 lbs
Chance 30 30 Allied
11 lbs
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
7 lbs
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
7 lbs
Ballast
Etchells Class ★
2 lbs
Chance 30 30 Allied
6 lbs
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
2 lbs
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
3 lbs
Sail Area
Etchells Class ★
301 sq ft
Chance 30 30 Allied
483 sq ft
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
—
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
484 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Etchells Class ★
21.7
Chance 30 30 Allied
15.5
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
—
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
19.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Etchells Class ★
65.4 %
Chance 30 30 Allied
—
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
40.6 %
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
40.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Etchells Class ★
15.7
Chance 30 30 Allied
30.2
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
—
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
19.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Etchells Class ★
1.88
Chance 30 30 Allied
1.79
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
—
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
2.11
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Etchells Class ★
139
Chance 30 30 Allied
—
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
160
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
188
Hull Speed
Etchells Class ★
6.3 kts
Chance 30 30 Allied
6.7 kts
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
—
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
6.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Etchells Class ★
4.2
Chance 30 30 Allied
1.5
First 30 E Beneteau Berret
—
Sun Fast 30 Od Jeanneau
—
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