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Flying Dutchman 12
Designer: Eva Hollman  ·  Builder: Ta Yang (Taiwan)  ·  First built: 1973
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About the Flying Dutchman 12

Designed by Eva Hollman and built by Ta Yang in Taiwan between 1973 and 1985, this substantial 50-footer represents classic cruising yacht design from the era when robust offshore capability took precedence over racing performance. With only 23 hulls produced during its twelve-year production run, the Flying Dutchman 12 remains a relatively rare find on the used boat market. The yacht's impressive displacement of over 35,000 pounds and generous beam of 14.25 feet create exceptional interior volume and seaworthiness for extended cruising. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides good directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability. Her cutter rig offers versatile sail handling options, particularly valuable for shorthanded offshore passages or challenging weather conditions. With a comfort ratio of 35.51, this yacht prioritizes stability and motion comfort over speed, making her well-suited for serious blue-water cruising rather than coastal day sailing or racing. The capsize screening formula of 1.74 indicates good stability characteristics for offshore work. Her substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio and conservative sail area suggest a forgiving, predictable sailing character that appeals to cruisers planning extended voyages or those who value safety margins over performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 50.33 ft / 15.34 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
Beam 14.25 ft / 4.34 m
Max Draft 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Displacement 35,175.00 lb / 15,955 kg
Ballast 14,350.00 lb / 6,509 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,062.00 ft² / 98.66 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Eva Hollman
Builder Ta Yang (TAIWAN)
First Built 1973
Last Built 1985
Number Built 23
Related Sailboats Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee · Swan 50 Ss · Columbia 50 · Tatoosh 51 · Stevens 50
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 87
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
 15.89
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
 40.8
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
 211.95
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
 35.51
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
 1.74
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. 8.68 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
 2.49
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. 2,138.51 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. 16.27
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 58.67 ft / 17.88 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 22.67 ft / 6.91 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 53.87 ft / 16.42 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.67 ft / 4.78 m
SA Fore 665.02 ft² / 61.78 m²
SA Main 422.07 ft² / 39.21 m²
SA Total (100%) 1,087.09 ft² / 100.99 m²
Est. Forestay Length 62.90 ft / 19.17 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Lehman
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 61
How It Compares

vs. Columbia 50, Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee, Stevens 50, Swan 50 Ss, Tatoosh 51

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
50.3 ft
Columbia 50
50.0 ft
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
50.3 ft
Stevens 50
50.0 ft
Swan 50 Ss
50.2 ft
Tatoosh 51
50.6 ft
LWL
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
42.0 ft
Columbia 50
33.3 ft
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
34.7 ft
Stevens 50
37.8 ft
Swan 50 Ss
37.3 ft
Tatoosh 51
42.1 ft
Beam
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
14.3 ft
Columbia 50
12.0 ft
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
13.2 ft
Stevens 50
14.3 ft
Swan 50 Ss
13.6 ft
Tatoosh 51
15.4 ft
Displacement
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
35 lbs
Columbia 50
32 lbs
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
34 lbs
Stevens 50
31 lbs
Swan 50 Ss
36 lbs
Tatoosh 51
44 lbs
Ballast
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
14 lbs
Columbia 50
14 lbs
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
14 lbs
Stevens 50
12 lbs
Swan 50 Ss
14 lbs
Tatoosh 51
14 lbs
Sail Area
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
1 sq ft
Columbia 50
—
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
1 sq ft
Stevens 50
1 sq ft
Swan 50 Ss
1 sq ft
Tatoosh 51
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
87 s/nm
Columbia 50
96 s/nm
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
—
Stevens 50
—
Swan 50 Ss
—
Tatoosh 51
120 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
15.9
Columbia 50
—
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
17.7
Stevens 50
18.7
Swan 50 Ss
15.2
Tatoosh 51
15.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
40.8 %
Columbia 50
45.6 %
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
—
Stevens 50
38.5 %
Swan 50 Ss
39.2 %
Tatoosh 51
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
35.5
Columbia 50
—
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
43.1
Stevens 50
33.6
Swan 50 Ss
41.8
Tatoosh 51
39.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
1.74
Columbia 50
—
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
1.63
Stevens 50
1.82
Swan 50 Ss
1.65
Tatoosh 51
1.75
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
211
Columbia 50
388
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
—
Stevens 50
258
Swan 50 Ss
310
Tatoosh 51
—
Hull Speed
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
8.7 kts
Columbia 50
—
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
7.9 kts
Stevens 50
8.2 kts
Swan 50 Ss
8.2 kts
Tatoosh 51
8.7 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Flying Dutchman 12 ★
2.5
Columbia 50
—
Offshore 50 Cheoy Lee
1.1
Stevens 50
—
Swan 50 Ss
1.5
Tatoosh 51
—
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