Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
5.3 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 15.8′, the Windrose 18 tops out around 5.3 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √15.8′ LWL = 5.3 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
288s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
Ballast / Displacement
26.7%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
169
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Hull Speed
5.3kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
2lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Windrose 18 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Windrose 18
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
Starwind 19
Victoria 18
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Windrose 18.
| Windrose 18 | Hunter 185 | Precision 185 | Starwind 19 | Typhoon 18 Weekender | Victoria 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 18.5 | 18.4 | 18.4 | 18.6 | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| LWL | 15.8 | 15.5 | 16.7 | 15.6 | 13.5 | 12.8 |
| Beam | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 5.5 |
| Displacement | 1 | 1 | 880 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Ballast | 400 | 520 | 375 | 395 | 900 | 550 |
| Sail Area | — | 176 | 181 | — | — | 134 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | 288 | — | — | 288 | — | 297 |
| SA/Disp | — | 20.6 | 31.6 | — | — | 19.0 |
| Bal/Disp | 26.7 | 32.5 | 42.6 | 29.3 | 45.0 | — |
| Comfort | — | 11.1 | 5.6 | — | — | 13.2 |
| Capsize | — | 2.42 | 3.06 | — | — | 2.07 |
| Hull Speed | — | 5.3 | 5.5 | — | — | 4.8 |