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Tradewind 33
Designer: John Rock  ·  Builder: Seaglass (Uk)  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Tradewind 33

Designed by John Rock and built by Seaglass in the UK starting in 1976, this 33-foot sailboat represents classic British yacht design philosophy with its traditional long keel configuration and masthead sloop rig. The fiberglass construction combines modern materials with time-tested hull forms that prioritize seaworthiness over pure performance. With a displacement of 19,500 pounds and a comfort ratio of 47, the Tradewind 33 falls squarely into the heavy displacement cruising category, offering the stability and motion characteristics that make for comfortable offshore passages. The long keel design provides excellent tracking ability and directional stability, though at the expense of windward performance compared to more modern fin keel designs. A capsize screening formula of 1.56 indicates good stability for offshore work. The boat's sail area of 544 square feet and SA/displacement ratio of 12.06 suggest moderate sailing performance, with a theoretical hull speed of 6.81 knots. This makes the Tradewind 33 well-suited for coastal cruising and offshore passages where comfort and safety take precedence over speed. The traditional design appeals to sailors who appreciate classic aesthetics and proven seakeeping abilities over modern racing-oriented features.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 33.00 ft / 10.06 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.83 ft / 7.87 m
Beam 10.50 ft / 3.20 m
Displacement 19,500.00 lb / 8,845 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 544.00 ft² / 50.54 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer John Rock
Builder Seaglass (UK)
First Built 1976
Related Sailboats ["Morgan Out Island 33" · "Irwin 33" · "Newport 33" · "Alajuela 33" · "Endeavour 33"]
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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
 213
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
 12.06
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
 505.14
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
 47
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
 1.56
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. 6.81 kn
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. 969.08 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Alajuela 33, Irwin 33, Newport 33

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Tradewind 33 ★
33.0 ft
Alajuela 33
33.0 ft
Irwin 33
33.0 ft
Newport 33
33.0 ft
LWL
Tradewind 33 ★
25.8 ft
Alajuela 33
27.5 ft
Irwin 33
27.5 ft
Newport 33
27.0 ft
Beam
Tradewind 33 ★
10.5 ft
Alajuela 33
10.7 ft
Irwin 33
11.2 ft
Newport 33
10.8 ft
Displacement
Tradewind 33 ★
19 lbs
Alajuela 33
13 lbs
Irwin 33
10 lbs
Newport 33
9 lbs
Ballast
Tradewind 33 ★
—
Alajuela 33
4 lbs
Irwin 33
4 lbs
Newport 33
4 lbs
Sail Area
Tradewind 33 ★
544 sq ft
Alajuela 33
575 sq ft
Irwin 33
514 sq ft
Newport 33
466 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Tradewind 33 ★
213 s/nm
Alajuela 33
198 s/nm
Irwin 33
159 s/nm
Newport 33
156 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Tradewind 33 ★
12.1
Alajuela 33
16.3
Irwin 33
16.7
Newport 33
16.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Tradewind 33 ★
—
Alajuela 33
34.8 %
Irwin 33
—
Newport 33
42.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Tradewind 33 ★
47.0
Alajuela 33
30.6
Irwin 33
23.3
Newport 33
21.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Tradewind 33 ★
1.56
Alajuela 33
1.80
Irwin 33
2.02
Newport 33
2.05
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Tradewind 33 ★
505
Alajuela 33
289
Irwin 33
—
Newport 33
215
Hull Speed
Tradewind 33 ★
6.8 kts
Alajuela 33
7.0 kts
Irwin 33
7.0 kts
Newport 33
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Tradewind 33 ★
—
Alajuela 33
1.8
Irwin 33
2.3
Newport 33
2.5
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