The Tartan 10 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, 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 27.0′, the Tartan 10 tops out around 7.0 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √27.0′ LWL = 7.0 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
126s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
22.0
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Comfort Ratio
18.5
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
1.97
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
892lbs
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
18.5
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.97
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 Tartan 10 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
J/33
84s/nm
Frers 33
108s/nm
Santa Cruz 33
111s/nm
Tartan 10
126s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Pearson 10M
147s/nm
Ranger 33
156s/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° |
3.2 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.7 |
5.9 |
6.6 |
6.9 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.3 |
5.5 |
6.1 |
6.4 |
| Run150–180° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.0 kts),
SA/D (22.0), 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 Tartan 10 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ 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 Tartan 10.
|
Tartan 10 |
Frers 33 |
J/33 |
Pearson 10M |
Ranger 33 |
Santa Cruz 33 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
33.1 |
33.3 |
33.3 |
33.0 |
33.2 |
33.0 |
| LWL |
27.0 |
26.5 |
27.9 |
28.3 |
26.3 |
28.0 |
| Beam |
9.3 |
11.3 |
11.4 |
11.0 |
9.6 |
10.0 |
| Displacement |
6 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
10 |
7 |
| Ballast |
3 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
| Sail Area |
486 |
557 |
530 |
524 |
529 |
476 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
126 |
108 |
84 |
147 |
156 |
111 |
| SA/Disp |
22.0 |
20.7 |
20.7 |
15.7 |
17.7 |
20.9 |
| Bal/Disp |
— |
44.4 |
41.1 |
43.8 |
42.9 |
42.9 |
| Comfort |
18.5 |
19.4 |
26.2 |
26.5 |
28.2 |
17.1 |
| Capsize |
1.97 |
2.17 |
1.67 |
1.90 |
1.75 |
2.09 |
| Hull Speed |
7.0 |
6.9 |
8.1 |
7.1 |
6.9 |
7.1 |