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North Wind 47
Designer: Marcelo Penna  ·  Builder: North Wind Yachts  ·  First built: 1988
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About the North Wind 47

Designed for serious bluewater cruising, the North Wind 47 is a capable offshore sailboat built to handle demanding passages with confidence. As its name suggests, this vessel carries the spirit of high-latitude sailing, offering the kind of robust construction and seakeeping ability that long-distance cruisers look for when planning extended voyages far from sheltered waters. While detailed specifications for this model are limited in available records, the North Wind 47 falls into a class of substantial cruising yachts that prioritize safety, stability, and liveability at sea. Boats of this size and cruising orientation typically feature a deep, comfortable interior suited to extended time aboard, along with deck layouts designed for shorthanded sailing — a practical consideration for couples or small crews tackling ocean passages. For prospective buyers, the North Wind 47 represents a compelling option worth investigating further through direct inspection and documentation review. Researching individual hull histories and any surviving builder records will be essential to forming a complete picture of what a specific example has to offer.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 46.75 ft / 14.25 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 37.34 ft / 11.38 m
Beam 13.88 ft / 4.23 m
Max Draft 6.56 ft / 2.00 m
Displacement 28,660.00 lb / 13,000 kg
Ballast 10,362.00 lb / 4,700 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 1,216.32 ft² / 113.00 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/rudder on partial skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction GRP
Designer Marcelo Penna
Builder North Wind Yachts
First Built 1988
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Performance Ratios
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
20.86
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
33.2
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
1.82
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. 8.19
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. 1.0
How It Compares

vs. Kelly Peterson 46, Passport 47, Valiant 47

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
North Wind 47 ★
46.8 ft
Kelly Peterson 46
46.3 ft
Passport 47
46.6 ft
Valiant 47
47.0 ft
LWL
North Wind 47 ★
37.3 ft
Kelly Peterson 46
40.8 ft
Passport 47
39.0 ft
Valiant 47
40.0 ft
Beam
North Wind 47 ★
13.9 ft
Kelly Peterson 46
13.3 ft
Passport 47
13.5 ft
Valiant 47
13.8 ft
Displacement
North Wind 47 ★
28 lbs
Kelly Peterson 46
33 lbs
Passport 47
34 lbs
Valiant 47
30 lbs
Ballast
North Wind 47 ★
10 lbs
Kelly Peterson 46
11 lbs
Passport 47
12 lbs
Valiant 47
11 lbs
Sail Area
North Wind 47 ★
1 sq ft
Kelly Peterson 46
1 sq ft
Passport 47
1 sq ft
Valiant 47
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
North Wind 47 ★
Kelly Peterson 46
Passport 47
117 s/nm
Valiant 47
92 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
North Wind 47 ★
20.9
Kelly Peterson 46
17.1
Passport 47
15.3
Valiant 47
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
North Wind 47 ★
33.2
Kelly Peterson 46
38.5
Passport 47
39.8
Valiant 47
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
North Wind 47 ★
1.82
Kelly Peterson 46
1.66
Passport 47
1.67
Valiant 47
Hull Speed
North Wind 47 ★
8.2 kts
Kelly Peterson 46
8.6 kts
Passport 47
8.4 kts
Valiant 47
Speed Number (higher = faster)
North Wind 47 ★
Kelly Peterson 46
2.1
Passport 47
2.0
Valiant 47
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