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Sydney 38
Designer: Murray Burns Dovell  ·  Builder: Sydney Yachts  ·  First built: 1999
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About the Sydney 38

Developed in Australia and built with competitive offshore sailing in mind, the Sydney 38 has earned a strong reputation on the racing circuit as a fast, responsive one-design racer. Designed to perform well in the demanding conditions common to offshore passages and coastal racing, this vessel appeals to sailors who want a purpose-built racing machine capable of handling open ocean environments with confidence. The Sydney 38 is perhaps best known as a dedicated one-design class, meaning all boats are built to the same specifications — creating a competitive field where the outcome is determined by seamanship rather than equipment. This makes it a favourite among serious club and offshore racers who value a level playing field. The class has a particularly strong following in Australian waters, where it has been a fixture in prominent offshore races. For prospective buyers, the Sydney 38 represents an entry into an active and well-organised class with established racing programs. While it is primarily a racing-focused platform rather than a comfort-oriented cruiser, the boat's seaworthy design means it can handle serious offshore passages in experienced hands.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 38.50 ft / 11.73 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 35.27 ft / 10.75 m
Beam 12.33 ft / 3.76 m
Max Draft 8.67 ft / 2.64 m
Displacement 12,260.00 lb / 5,561 kg
Ballast 4,255.00 lb / 1,930 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 842.00 ft² / 78.22 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Composite
Designer Murray Burns Dovell
Builder Sydney Yachts
First Built 1999
Related Sailboats ["X 382" · "Frers 38" · "Catalina 387" · "Dehler 38" · "Cr 390"]
Owner Reviews

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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
 29
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
 25.43
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
 18.43
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
 2.14
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. 7.96
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
 4.98
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 52.33
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.76
P (Mainsail Luff) 50.52
E (Mainsail Foot) 18.04
SA Fore 386.2
SA Main 455.69
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 387, Dehler 38, Frers 38

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Sydney 38 ★
38.5 ft
Catalina 387
38.7 ft
Dehler 38
38.7 ft
Frers 38
38.5 ft
LWL
Sydney 38 ★
35.3 ft
Catalina 387
33.3 ft
Dehler 38
31.5 ft
Frers 38
30.1 ft
Beam
Sydney 38 ★
12.3 ft
Catalina 387
13.0 ft
Dehler 38
12.5 ft
Frers 38
12.8 ft
Displacement
Sydney 38 ★
12 lbs
Catalina 387
16 lbs
Dehler 38
12 lbs
Frers 38
14 lbs
Ballast
Sydney 38 ★
4 lbs
Catalina 387
6 lbs
Dehler 38
2 lbs
Frers 38
6 lbs
Sail Area
Sydney 38 ★
842 sq ft
Catalina 387
710 sq ft
Dehler 38
627 sq ft
Frers 38
727 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Sydney 38 ★
29 s/nm
Catalina 387
135 s/nm
Dehler 38
93 s/nm
Frers 38
75 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Sydney 38 ★
25.4
Catalina 387
17.4
Dehler 38
19.1
Frers 38
19.6
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Sydney 38 ★
—
Catalina 387
39.5 %
Dehler 38
23.1 %
Frers 38
44.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Sydney 38 ★
18.4
Catalina 387
24.1
Dehler 38
19.4
Frers 38
23.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Sydney 38 ★
2.14
Catalina 387
2.04
Dehler 38
2.17
Frers 38
2.10
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Sydney 38 ★
—
Catalina 387
202
Dehler 38
173
Frers 38
237
Hull Speed
Sydney 38 ★
8.0 kts
Catalina 387
7.7 kts
Dehler 38
7.5 kts
Frers 38
7.4 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Sydney 38 ★
5.0
Catalina 387
—
Dehler 38
3.3
Frers 38
2.5
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