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Ovni 28
Designer: Philippe Briand  ·  Builder: Alubat (Fra)  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Ovni 28

Philippe Briand's Ovni 28 represents an innovative approach to bluewater cruising, combining the legendary French designer's expertise with Alubat's pioneering aluminum construction techniques. Built from 1978 to 1986, this 28-footer established the foundation for what would become one of sailing's most respected offshore cruising lines. The centerboard trunk configuration sets the Ovni 28 apart from conventional deep-keel cruisers, allowing access to shallow anchorages and beaching capabilities while maintaining excellent offshore performance. With a displacement of 6,800 pounds and aluminum construction, she strikes an impressive balance between strength and weight, contributing to her reputation for seaworthiness in challenging conditions. Her masthead sloop rig carries 536 square feet of sail area, providing adequate power for her displacement while remaining manageable for short-handed crews. The moderate beam of 9.84 feet ensures comfortable interior volume without sacrificing sailing performance, while the 6.40-foot draft provides good directional stability when the board is deployed. The Ovni 28's comfort ratio of 20.14 indicates excellent motion characteristics in seaways, making her particularly well-suited for extended offshore passages. Her capsize screening formula of 2.08 reflects solid stability margins, reinforcing her reputation as a capable ocean-going vessel despite her modest size.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.38 ft / 8.65 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.29 ft / 7.10 m
Beam 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
Max Draft 6.40 ft / 1.95 m
Min Draft 1.64 ft / 0.50 m
Displacement 6,800.00 lb / 3,084 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 536.00 ft² / 49.80 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard (Trunk)
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Aluminum
Designer Philippe Briand
Builder Alubat (FRA)
First Built 1978
Last Built 1986
Associations Alubat Ovni Club
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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
23.97
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
240.3
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
20.14
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
2.08
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. 6.47 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. 818.86 pounds/inch
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