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Reliance 12
Designer: Steve Killing  ·  Builder: Reliance Sailing Craft Co., Ltd. (Can)  ·  First built: 1987
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About the Reliance 12

Designed by Steve Killing and built briefly by Reliance Sailing Craft Co. in Canada, this 39-foot fractional sloop represents a sophisticated approach to performance cruising from the late 1980s. With only five hulls completed during its short production run from 1987-1988, the Reliance 12 stands as a rare example of contemporary yacht design executed with racing-inspired efficiency. The hull configuration features a modern fin keel with bulb and spade rudder arrangement, delivering excellent upwind performance while maintaining reasonable stability for extended cruising. Her moderate displacement of 8,900 pounds, combined with 5,000 pounds of ballast, creates a stiff platform that should handle coastal and offshore conditions confidently. The comfort ratio of 24.9 suggests a boat optimized more for performance than interior volume, while the capsize screening value of 1.61 indicates good stability characteristics for serious ocean sailing. With 488 square feet of working sail area on her fractional rig, this design should appeal to sailors seeking responsive handling and respectable speed potential. The limited production numbers make finding one challenging, but the Steve Killing pedigree suggests solid engineering and seaworthiness for those pursuing serious coastal cruising or club racing applications.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 39.33 ft / 11.99 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
Beam 8.33 ft / 2.54 m
Max Draft 6.08 ft / 1.85 m
Displacement 8,900.00 lb / 4,037 kg
Ballast 5,000.00 lb / 2,268 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 488.00 ft² / 45.34 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Steve Killing
Builder Reliance Sailing Craft Co., Ltd. (CAN)
First Built 1987
Last Built 1988
Number Built 5
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 102
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
 18.24
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 56.18
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
 147.16
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
 24.9
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
 1.61
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. 7.34 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 3.59
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. 892.92 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 18.24
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 38.00 ft / 11.58 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 40.00 ft / 12.19 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
SA Fore 228.00 ft² / 21.18 m²
SA Main 260.00 ft² / 24.15 m²
SA Total (100%) 488.00 ft² / 45.34 m²
Est. Forestay Length 39.85 ft / 12.15 m
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