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Performance

Rawson 26 Performance

How the Rawson 26 performs on the water — racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort.

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The Rawson 26 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

6.0 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 20.0′, the Rawson 26 tops out around 6.0 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √20.0′ LWL = 6.0 kts

Performance Ratios

Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.

SA / Displacement
18.5
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Comfort Ratio
21.4
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
1.77
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Hull Speed
6.0kts
S# (Speed Number)
2.5
Pounds/Inch Immersion
506lbs
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
21.4
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.77
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters

PHRF Fleet Position

Where the Rawson 26 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Bristol 26 219s/nm

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 3.7
Close Reach60° 3.0 3.8 4.2 4.4
Beam Reach90° 3.7 4.7 5.2 5.4
Broad Reach120–135° 3.4 4.3 4.8 5.0
Run150–180° 2.7 3.4 3.9 4.0
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.0 kts), SA/D (18.5), 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 Rawson 26 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.

Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts 6–18 kts 18–26 kts 26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ 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 Rawson 26.

Rawson 26 Bristol 26 Centaur 26 Westerly Chrysler 26 Fk Commander 26 Pearson Ericson 26 Crealock
Dimensions
LOA 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0
LWL 20.0 21.8 21.3 22.0 18.5 21.4
Beam 7.1 8.0 8.4 8.0 8.0 7.8
Displacement 4 5 6 5 5 4
Ballast 1 2 2 2 2 1
Sail Area 295 327 324 257 311 300
Performance
PHRF — 219 — — — —
SA/Disp 18.5 16.5 14.6 13.2 16.2 17.9
Bal/Disp — 42.1 41.8 43.6 46.3 38.6
Comfort 21.4 23.9 26.7 23.0 25.2 19.5
Capsize 1.77 1.79 1.79 1.82 1.83 1.89
Hull Speed 6.0 6.3 6.2 6.3 5.8 6.2