The Indian is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, 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.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 16.8′, the Indian tops out around 5.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √16.8′ LWL = 5.5 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
303s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
SA / Displacement
21.8
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
25.7%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
166
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
13.0
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.08
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
374lbs
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
13.0
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
2.08
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 Indian sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Indian
303s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
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° |
2.5 |
3.1 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.7 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
5.6 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.4 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
5.2 |
| Run150–180° |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (5.5 kts),
SA/D (21.8), 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 Indian — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–16 kts
16–24 kts
24+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–16 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
16–24 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
24+ 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 Indian.
|
Indian |
Boothbay Harbor One Design |
Cap Horn |
Great South Bay Shore Bird |
Muscadet |
Splinter 21 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
21.2 |
21.0 |
21.3 |
21.1 |
21.3 |
21.2 |
| LWL |
16.8 |
19.8 |
19.7 |
14.0 |
18.4 |
17.0 |
| Beam |
6.3 |
5.5 |
7.1 |
6.3 |
7.4 |
6.8 |
| Displacement |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| Ballast |
450 |
900 |
880 |
350 |
1 |
900 |
| Sail Area |
197 |
227 |
240 |
250 |
205 |
163 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
303 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
21.8 |
22.2 |
24.3 |
27.1 |
17.2 |
13.2 |
| Bal/Disp |
25.7 |
42.9 |
44.0 |
19.4 |
43.3 |
— |
| Comfort |
13.0 |
16.6 |
11.3 |
14.8 |
14.8 |
18.2 |
| Capsize |
2.08 |
1.72 |
2.25 |
2.08 |
2.15 |
1.95 |
| Hull Speed |
5.5 |
6.0 |
5.9 |
5.0 |
5.7 |
5.5 |