The Feeling 39 is aggressively canvassed for its weight, 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 32.6′, the Feeling 39 tops out around 7.7 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √32.6′ LWL = 7.6 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
138s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
22.0
Performance-oriented — carries a lot of canvas for its weight.
Ballast / Displacement
26.8%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
204
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
22.9
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
2.11
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
22.9
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
2.11
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 Feeling 39 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
X 382
78s/nm
Feeling 39
138s/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° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
| Close Reach60° |
4.2 |
5.3 |
5.9 |
6.2 |
| Beam Reach90° |
5.2 |
6.5 |
7.3 |
7.6 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.8 |
6.0 |
6.7 |
7.0 |
| Run150–180° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.7 kts),
SA/D (22.0), 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 Feeling 39 — 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 Feeling 39.
|
Feeling 39 |
Bavaria Ocean 38 |
Catalina 385 |
Feeling 396 Di |
Oceanis 381 Beneteau |
X 382 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
38.4 |
38.6 |
38.5 |
38.4 |
38.2 |
38.5 |
| LWL |
32.6 |
33.1 |
33.5 |
33.8 |
32.8 |
31.8 |
| Beam |
13.2 |
12.8 |
13.3 |
12.5 |
12.8 |
12.3 |
| Displacement |
15 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
16 |
14 |
| Ballast |
4 |
6 |
6 |
14 |
5 |
6 |
| Sail Area |
861 |
710 |
720 |
654 |
667 |
702 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
138 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
78 |
| SA/Disp |
22.0 |
17.0 |
17.4 |
15.5 |
16.4 |
19.1 |
| Bal/Disp |
26.8 |
35.9 |
40.0 |
83.3 |
33.3 |
43.1 |
| Comfort |
22.9 |
25.4 |
21.8 |
27.0 |
24.7 |
23.3 |
| Capsize |
2.11 |
1.99 |
2.10 |
1.92 |
2.01 |
2.02 |
| Hull Speed |
7.7 |
7.7 |
7.9 |
7.8 |
7.7 |
7.6 |