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Santa Cruz 33
Designer: Bill Lee  ·  Builder: Bill Lee Yachts Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Santa Cruz 33

Designed by the legendary Bill Lee in 1978, this Santa Cruz 33 represents the pioneering spirit of California's performance cruising movement. Lee, known for his innovative approach to yacht design, created a boat that embodies the classic fin keel and spade rudder configuration that would become his trademark. With its relatively light displacement of 7,000 pounds and generous sail area of 476 square feet, this masthead sloop delivers an impressive sail area-to-displacement ratio of 20.88, indicating strong performance potential in light to moderate conditions. The 43 percent ballast ratio provides adequate stability for coastal sailing while maintaining the responsive handling characteristics that made Santa Cruz boats famous. Built by Bill Lee Yachts for just four years with only 15 hulls produced, this model remains a rare find in today's market. The fiberglass construction and 28-foot waterline length generate a theoretical hull speed of 7.09 knots, making it well-suited for coastal cruising and club racing. The boat's low comfort ratio of 17.08 reflects its performance-oriented design philosophy rather than luxurious accommodations. For sailors seeking a piece of West Coast sailing history with spirited performance characteristics, the Santa Cruz 33 offers an authentic taste of Bill Lee's influential design legacy.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 33.00 ft / 10.06 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 28.00 ft / 8.53 m
Beam 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 7,000.00 lb / 3,175 kg
Ballast 3,000.00 lb / 1,361 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 476.00 ft² / 44.22 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bill Lee
Builder Bill Lee Yachts Inc. (USA)
First Built 1978
Last Built 1981
Number Built 15
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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
 111
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
 20.88
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
 42.86
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
 142.36
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
 17.08
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
 2.09
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. 7.09 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
 4.04
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. 1,000.47 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. 20.88
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 41.25 ft / 12.57 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 33.50 ft / 10.21 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.80 ft / 3.60 m
SA Fore 278.44 ft² / 25.87 m²
SA Main 197.65 ft² / 18.36 m²
SA Total (100%) 476.09 ft² / 44.23 m²
Est. Forestay Length 43.40 ft / 13.23 m
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