The Siesta 32 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages, and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 25.5′, the Siesta 32 tops out around 6.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √25.5′ LWL = 6.8 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
138s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
19.0
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
53.5%
Race-oriented ballast ratio — very stiff and powerful.
Displacement / Length
198
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
21.7
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
1.89
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
836lbs
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
21.7
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
1.89
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 Siesta 32 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Siesta 32
138s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Lm 30
216s/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° |
2.8 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
4.2 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.4 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.2 |
5.3 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.9 |
4.9 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
| Run150–180° |
3.1 |
3.9 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.8 kts),
SA/D (19.0), 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 Siesta 32 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–20 kts
20–30 kts
30+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–30 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
30+ 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 Siesta 32.
|
Siesta 32 |
Contest 32 Cs |
Evasion 32 Beneteau |
Feeling 920 |
Lm 30 |
Najad 320 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
31.7 |
31.8 |
31.8 |
31.7 |
31.8 |
31.8 |
| LWL |
25.5 |
25.7 |
24.0 |
24.6 |
26.3 |
26.9 |
| Beam |
9.2 |
10.9 |
9.8 |
10.6 |
10.0 |
10.4 |
| Displacement |
7 |
14 |
12 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
| Ballast |
3 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
— |
4 |
| Sail Area |
447 |
389 |
524 |
420 |
361 |
477 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
138 |
— |
— |
— |
216 |
— |
| SA/Disp |
19.0 |
10.6 |
15.5 |
16.9 |
11.7 |
15.7 |
| Bal/Disp |
53.5 |
44.6 |
31.3 |
37.5 |
— |
44.9 |
| Comfort |
21.7 |
33.4 |
35.4 |
19.9 |
28.4 |
26.1 |
| Capsize |
1.89 |
1.80 |
1.69 |
2.12 |
1.80 |
1.88 |
| Hull Speed |
6.8 |
6.8 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
6.9 |
7.0 |