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Santa Cruz 52
Designer: Bill Lee/Bob Smith  ·  Builder: Santa Cruz Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 1992
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About the Santa Cruz 52

Born from the legendary Santa Cruz stable of high-performance designs, the Santa Cruz 52 carries the DNA of one of sailing's most celebrated racing pedigrees. Developed during an era when Santa Cruz designs were rewriting the rules of offshore performance, this sloop earned a reputation as a serious competitor capable of delivering exhilarating speed under the right conditions. Designed with a racing-focused philosophy, the Santa Cruz 52 is best suited to competitive offshore and bluewater passage making where its performance-oriented hull can truly shine. Like its siblings in the Santa Cruz lineup, the boat is built to prioritize speed and dynamic sailing characteristics, making it a compelling choice for sailors who want genuine performance rather than a purely comfortable cruiser. While detailed specification data remains limited, the Santa Cruz 52's reputation speaks largely for itself among performance sailing enthusiasts. Prospective buyers should seek out individual boat histories, as these vessels were often campaigned hard in offshore racing circuits. For those looking to balance competitive sailing with capable offshore passage making, the Santa Cruz 52 remains a respected and sought-after platform worth investigating further.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 53.00 ft / 16.15 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 46.50 ft / 14.17 m
Beam 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Max Draft 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Displacement 21,000.00 lb / 9,525 kg
Ballast 9,100.00 lb / 4,128 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Bill Lee/Bob Smith
Builder Santa Cruz Yachts (USA)
First Built 1992
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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
 -7
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
 43.33
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
 93.24
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. 13.95 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 26.33
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 1,248.00 ft² / 115.94 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Yanmar
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 62
Fuel Capacity 86 gals / 326 L
Water Capacity 143 gals / 541 L
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