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Surprise 25 Archambault
Designer: Michel Joubert  ·  Builder: Archambault Boats  ·  First built: 1977
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About the Surprise 25 Archambault

Designed by French naval architect Marc Lombard and produced by Archambault, the Surprise 25 is a compact one-design racing sailboat with a strong following, particularly in France and across Mediterranean sailing circuits. Built for competitive club racing, it offers an accessible entry point into serious performance sailing without the complexity or cost of larger offshore vessels. The Surprise has earned a reputation as a lively and responsive boat, rewarding skilled helmsmanship and making it a popular choice for sailors looking to sharpen their racing instincts. Its one-design class structure means fleets are closely matched, placing the emphasis firmly on crew skill and tactical decision-making rather than equipment advantages. This has helped foster an active and passionate racing community around the class. While primarily a racing platform, the Surprise's manageable size makes it approachable for a wide range of sailors, from club racers to those stepping up from dinghies. For anyone researching an entry into one-design keelboat racing, particularly within an established European class with competitive fleets, the Surprise 25 Archambault presents a compelling and well-regarded option worth serious consideration.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.10 ft / 7.65 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.65 ft / 6.60 m
Beam 8.14 ft / 2.48 m
Max Draft 5.25 ft / 1.60 m
Displacement 2,756.00 lb / 1,250 kg
Ballast 1,102.00 lb / 500 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 296.00 ft² / 27.50 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG w/balsa core deck
Designer Michel Joubert
Builder Archambault Boats
First Built 1977
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Performance Ratios
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
24.15
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
11.49
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
2.33
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. 6.23
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
4.22
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. 629.69
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 26.41
J (Foretriangle Base) 6.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 29.53
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.83
SA Fore 79.23
SA Main 159.9
How It Compares

vs. Cc 25 Mkii, Kirby 25, Mirage 25 Perry

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
25.1 ft
Cc 25 Mkii
25.1 ft
Kirby 25
25.2 ft
Mirage 25 Perry
25.2 ft
LWL
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
21.7 ft
Cc 25 Mkii
20.0 ft
Kirby 25
20.8 ft
Mirage 25 Perry
21.0 ft
Beam
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
8.1 ft
Cc 25 Mkii
8.6 ft
Kirby 25
8.8 ft
Mirage 25 Perry
9.5 ft
Displacement
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
2 lbs
Cc 25 Mkii
4 lbs
Kirby 25
3 lbs
Mirage 25 Perry
4 lbs
Ballast
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
1 lbs
Cc 25 Mkii
1 lbs
Kirby 25
1 lbs
Mirage 25 Perry
1 lbs
Sail Area
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
296 sq ft
Cc 25 Mkii
Kirby 25
289 sq ft
Mirage 25 Perry
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
24.2
Cc 25 Mkii
Kirby 25
21.6
Mirage 25 Perry
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
11.5
Cc 25 Mkii
Kirby 25
12.3
Mirage 25 Perry
15.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
2.33
Cc 25 Mkii
Kirby 25
2.39
Mirage 25 Perry
2.32
Hull Speed
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
6.2 kts
Cc 25 Mkii
Kirby 25
6.1 kts
Mirage 25 Perry
6.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Surprise 25 Archambault ★
4.2
Cc 25 Mkii
Kirby 25
3.9
Mirage 25 Perry
2.6
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