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Performance

Farr 92 Performance

How the Farr 92 performs on the water — racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort.

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The Farr 92 is aggressively canvassed for its weight, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

6.8 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 25.8′, the Farr 92 tops out around 6.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √25.8′ LWL = 6.8 kts

Performance Ratios

Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.

SA / Displacement
22.1
Performance-oriented — carries a lot of canvas for its weight.
Ballast / Displacement
27.8%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
122
Ultralight — responsive and fast, but carries less stores.
Comfort Ratio
13.6
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.24
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Hull Speed
6.8kts
S# (Speed Number)
4.6
Pounds/Inch Immersion
858lbs
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
13.6
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
2.24
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 Farr 92 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
J/92 117s/nm
X 95 147s/nm
Pearson 303 198s/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° 3.1 3.9 4.4 4.6
Close Reach60° 3.8 4.7 5.3 5.5
Beam Reach90° 4.6 5.8 6.5 7.1
Broad Reach120–135° 4.3 5.4 6.0 6.5
Run150–180° 3.4 4.3 4.8 5.0
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.8 kts), SA/D (22.1), 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 Farr 92 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.

Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–5 kts 5–14 kts 14–22 kts 22+ kts
Ghosting
0–5 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
5–14 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
14–22 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
22+ 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 Farr 92.

Farr 92 Farr 920 J/92 Pearson 303 Trio 92 X 95
Dimensions
LOA 30.3 30.3 30.2 30.3 30.2 30.3
LWL 25.8 23.5 25.4 25.4 24.4 26.3
Beam 9.3 10.0 10.8 10.9 10.5 10.5
Displacement 4 4 7 10 8 6
Ballast 1 1 3 3 3 3
Sail Area 385 450 459 450
Performance
PHRF 117 198 147
SA/Disp 22.1 20.4 15.8 20.3
Bal/Disp 27.8 39.0 42.3 34.7 48.7 47.5
Comfort 13.6 13.8 23.8 24.1 21.0 16.5
Capsize 2.24 2.36 1.71 2.02 2.09 2.23
Hull Speed 6.8 6.5 7.7 6.8 6.6 6.9