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Twister 28 Holman
Designer: Kim Holman  ·  Builder: Uphams/Tyler  ·  First built: 1964
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About the Twister 28 Holman

Designed by the respected British naval architect Ron Holland in collaboration with Holman & Pye, the Twister 28 is a classic British sailing yacht that has earned a devoted following since its introduction. Built for coastal and inshore sailing, this compact cruiser-racer strikes a balance between lively performance and comfortable day sailing, making it an appealing choice for sailors who want versatility without committing to a larger vessel. The Twister 28 carries a reputation as a spirited and responsive boat, with a hull form that rewards attentive helmsmanship and delivers an engaging sailing experience in a range of conditions. Her manageable size makes her well suited to short-handed sailing, whether pottering along the coast or competing in club racing events, where she has historically proven competitive within her class. For those researching a first keelboat or a step up into more capable blue-water daysailing, the Twister 28 Holman offers a well-regarded pedigree and a strong community of owners. Her enduring presence in British sailing waters speaks to her quality of build and the lasting appeal of her design.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.25 ft / 8.61 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.50 ft / 6.55 m
Beam 8.08 ft / 2.46 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 9,968.00 lb / 4,521 kg
Ballast 4,628.00 lb / 2,099 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 348.00 ft² / 32.33 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG or Wood
Designer Kim Holman
Builder Uphams/Tyler
First Built 1964
Last Built 1983
Related Sailboats ["Triton Pearson" · "Cape Dory 28" · "Westsail 28" · "Hallberg Rassy P 28" · "Trapper 28"]
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
 12.06
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
 40.49
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
 1.5
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. 6.21
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
 0.69
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. 620.72
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 34.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.75
SA Fore 187.0
SA Main 161.25
How It Compares

vs. Cape Dory 28, Hallberg Rassy P 28, Westsail 28

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Twister 28 Holman ★
28.3 ft
Cape Dory 28
28.1 ft
Hallberg Rassy P 28
28.3 ft
Westsail 28
28.3 ft
LWL
Twister 28 Holman ★
21.5 ft
Cape Dory 28
22.2 ft
Hallberg Rassy P 28
21.0 ft
Westsail 28
23.5 ft
Beam
Twister 28 Holman ★
8.1 ft
Cape Dory 28
8.9 ft
Hallberg Rassy P 28
7.8 ft
Westsail 28
9.6 ft
Displacement
Twister 28 Holman ★
9 lbs
Cape Dory 28
9 lbs
Hallberg Rassy P 28
6 lbs
Westsail 28
13 lbs
Ballast
Twister 28 Holman ★
4 lbs
Cape Dory 28
3 lbs
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
4 lbs
Sail Area
Twister 28 Holman ★
348 sq ft
Cape Dory 28
404 sq ft
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Twister 28 Holman ★
—
Cape Dory 28
225 s/nm
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
267 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Twister 28 Holman ★
12.1
Cape Dory 28
15.0
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Twister 28 Holman ★
—
Cape Dory 28
38.9 %
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
31.1 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Twister 28 Holman ★
40.5
Cape Dory 28
31.7
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Twister 28 Holman ★
1.50
Cape Dory 28
1.71
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Twister 28 Holman ★
—
Cape Dory 28
366
Hallberg Rassy P 28
329
Westsail 28
464
Hull Speed
Twister 28 Holman ★
6.2 kts
Cape Dory 28
6.3 kts
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Twister 28 Holman ★
0.7
Cape Dory 28
1.2
Hallberg Rassy P 28
—
Westsail 28
—
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