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Performance

Reactor 25 Performance

How the Reactor 25 performs on the water — racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort.

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The Reactor 25 is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, 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.

6.1 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 21.0′, the Reactor 25 tops out around 6.1 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √21.0′ LWL = 6.1 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
14.8
Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.
Ballast / Displacement
40.0%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
241
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
19.5
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.04
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Hull Speed
6.1kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
653lbs
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
19.5
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
2.04
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 Reactor 25 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Olson 25 162s/nm
Schock 25 222s/nm
Coronado 25 231s/nm
South Coast 25 258s/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° 2.3 2.9 3.2 3.4
Close Reach60° 2.8 3.5 3.9 4.1
Beam Reach90° 3.4 4.3 4.8 5.0
Broad Reach120–135° 3.1 4.0 4.4 4.6
Run150–180° 2.5 3.2 3.6 3.7
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.1 kts), SA/D (14.8), 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 Reactor 25 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.

Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–7 kts 7–22 kts 22–32 kts 32+ kts
Ghosting
0–7 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
7–22 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
22–32 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
32+ 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 Reactor 25.

Reactor 25 Coronado 25 Olson 25 Peterson 25 14 Ton Schock 25 South Coast 25
Dimensions
LOA 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0
LWL 21.0 20.1 21.2 20.3 16.3 20.5
Beam 8.7 8.0 9.0 8.0 7.0 7.5
Displacement 5 4 2 4 2 4
Ballast 2 2 1 1 1 1
Sail Area 270 299 294 262 236 299
Performance
PHRF 231 162 222 258
SA/Disp 14.8 17.6 23.2 15.0 22.3 18.4
Bal/Disp 40.0 47.8 44.8 40.4 42.9
Comfort 19.5 20.2 10.8 21.0 13.5 20.3
Capsize 2.04 1.94 2.53 1.91 2.15 1.86
Hull Speed 6.1 6.0 6.2 6.0 5.4 6.1