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Freedom 39
Designer: Ron Holland/Garry Hoyt  ·  Builder: Tillotson Pearson Inc, (Usa)  ·  First built: 1983
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About the Freedom 39

Designed by the renowned duo of Ron Holland and Garry Hoyt, this distinctive 39-footer represents one of the most successful implementations of the unstayed cat ketch rig concept. Built by Tillotson Pearson from 1983 onward, the Freedom 39 carved out a devoted following among cruising sailors who appreciated its unique approach to sail handling and performance. The boat's most notable characteristic is its unstayed cat ketch rig with fully-battened sails, eliminating the need for shrouds and stays while providing excellent sail shape control. This configuration offers significant advantages for shorthanded sailing, as the smaller individual sails are easier to manage than a conventional main and jib combination. The carbon fiber masts are freestanding, reducing maintenance while providing clean airflow across the sails. With a displacement of 18,500 pounds and moderate ballast ratio, the Freedom 39 strikes a comfortable balance between performance and stability. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration provides good directional stability while maintaining reasonable maneuverability. Her comfortable 28.61 comfort ratio and conservative 1.94 capsize screening value make her well-suited for coastal cruising and protected offshore passages, particularly appealing to couples or small crews who value ease of handling over maximum performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 39.00 ft / 11.89 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
Beam 12.83 ft / 3.91 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Min Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 18,500.00 lb / 8,391 kg
Ballast 5,300.00 lb / 2,404 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 818.00 ft² / 75.99 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cat Ketch (unstayed)
Construction FG
Designer Ron Holland/Garry Hoyt
Builder Tillotson Pearson Inc, (USA)
First Built 1983
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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
156
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
18.78
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
28.65
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
277.23
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
28.61
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
1.94
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. 7.46 kn
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. 1,421.13 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. 8.94
Rig Dimensions
P (Mainsail Luff) 44.50 ft / 13.56 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.50 ft / 5.33 m
SA Main 389.38 ft² / 36.17 m²
SA Total (100%) 389.38 ft² / 36.17 m²
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4-108
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 50
Fuel Capacity 80 gals / 303 L
Water Capacity 130 gals / 492 L
How It Compares

vs. Cal 39 Mk Iii, Offshore 39 Tanton, Pearson 39

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Freedom 39 ★
39.0 ft
Cal 39 Mk Iii
39.0 ft
Offshore 39 Tanton
39.3 ft
Pearson 39
39.3 ft
LWL
Freedom 39 ★
31.0 ft
Cal 39 Mk Iii
32.1 ft
Offshore 39 Tanton
35.2 ft
Pearson 39
30.0 ft
Beam
Freedom 39 ★
12.8 ft
Cal 39 Mk Iii
12.0 ft
Offshore 39 Tanton
12.8 ft
Pearson 39
11.7 ft
Displacement
Freedom 39 ★
18 lbs
Cal 39 Mk Iii
19 lbs
Offshore 39 Tanton
18 lbs
Pearson 39
17 lbs
Ballast
Freedom 39 ★
5 lbs
Cal 39 Mk Iii
7 lbs
Offshore 39 Tanton
7 lbs
Pearson 39
7 lbs
Sail Area
Freedom 39 ★
818 sq ft
Cal 39 Mk Iii
719 sq ft
Offshore 39 Tanton
Pearson 39
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Freedom 39 ★
156 s/nm
Cal 39 Mk Iii
Offshore 39 Tanton
Pearson 39
132 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Freedom 39 ★
18.8
Cal 39 Mk Iii
16.2
Offshore 39 Tanton
Pearson 39
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Freedom 39 ★
28.7 %
Cal 39 Mk Iii
36.8 %
Offshore 39 Tanton
38.5 %
Pearson 39
42.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Freedom 39 ★
28.6
Cal 39 Mk Iii
31.4
Offshore 39 Tanton
Pearson 39
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Freedom 39 ★
1.94
Cal 39 Mk Iii
1.80
Offshore 39 Tanton
Pearson 39
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Freedom 39 ★
277
Cal 39 Mk Iii
256
Offshore 39 Tanton
186
Pearson 39
281
Hull Speed
Freedom 39 ★
7.5 kts
Cal 39 Mk Iii
7.6 kts
Offshore 39 Tanton
Pearson 39
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