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Sovereign 23
Designer: Arthur Edmunds  ·  Builder: Custom Fiberglass Products (Usa)  ·  First built: 1981
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About the Sovereign 23

Designed by Arthur Edmunds and built by Custom Fiberglass Products starting in 1981, this 23-footer represents a thoughtful approach to small boat cruising and coastal sailing. The Sovereign 23's proportions reveal a boat intended for comfortable daysailing and weekend cruising, with her moderate beam of 8 feet providing reasonable interior volume while maintaining good sailing characteristics. Her shallow 2.33-foot draft opens up gunkholes and thin-water destinations that deeper boats cannot access, making her particularly appealing for exploring protected waters, bays, and coastal areas. The fin keel configuration with transom-hung rudder offers responsive handling and easy maintenance, while the substantial ballast-to-displacement ratio of over 40% provides reassuring stability. With a masthead sloop rig carrying 243 square feet of sail area, the Sovereign 23 delivers respectable performance for her size while remaining manageable for small crews. The comfortable comfort ratio of 15.85 suggests she'll provide a pleasant motion in moderate seas, though her capsize screening value of 2.16 clearly positions her as a coastal cruiser rather than an offshore passage-maker. Built in fiberglass, she offers the durability and low maintenance that appeals to practical sailors seeking an affordable entry into cruising sailboats.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 2.33 ft / 0.71 m
Displacement 3,250.00 lb / 1,474 kg
Ballast 1,350.00 lb / 612 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 243.00 ft² / 22.58 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Arthur Edmunds
Builder Custom Fiberglass Products (USA)
First Built 1981
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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
 252
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
 17.77
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
 41.54
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
 229.15
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
 15.85
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
 2.16
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. 5.76 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
 2.46
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. 528.82 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. 17.74
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 28.42 ft / 8.66 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.20 ft / 3.11 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 8.50 ft / 2.59 m
SA Fore 144.94 ft² / 13.47 m²
SA Main 97.75 ft² / 9.08 m²
SA Total (100%) 242.69 ft² / 22.55 m²
Est. Forestay Length 30.19 ft / 9.20 m
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