The Windward 36 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore.
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 Windward 36 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.
SA / Displacement
18.7
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
36.8%
Typical cruising ballast — balanced stability and motion underway.
Displacement / Length
431
Heavy displacement — a slow, steady, seakindly hull.
Comfort Ratio
39.0
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.70
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
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
39.0
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.70
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 Windward 36 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Cs 36 Merlin
126s/nm
Cape George 36
180s/nm
Bayfield 36
192s/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° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.3 |
5.5 |
6.1 |
6.4 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.0 |
5.0 |
5.6 |
5.9 |
| Run150–180° |
3.2 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.0 kts),
SA/D (18.7), 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 Windward 36 — 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 Windward 36.
|
Windward 36 |
Bayfield 36 |
Cape George 36 |
Cs 36 Merlin |
Tashiba 36 Ph |
Vancouver 36 Harris |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
36.0 |
36.0 |
36.0 |
36.0 |
36.0 |
36.0 |
| LWL |
27.0 |
30.5 |
31.5 |
29.2 |
30.4 |
27.9 |
| Beam |
11.3 |
12.0 |
10.5 |
11.5 |
11.8 |
11.0 |
| Displacement |
19 |
18 |
23 |
13 |
20 |
18 |
| Ballast |
7 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
| Sail Area |
831 |
738 |
806 |
608 |
705 |
685 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
192 |
180 |
126 |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
18.7 |
16.9 |
15.9 |
17.7 |
15.2 |
16.0 |
| Bal/Disp |
36.8 |
35.1 |
45.1 |
43.0 |
43.0 |
— |
| Comfort |
39.0 |
32.5 |
47.8 |
24.9 |
36.8 |
37.7 |
| Capsize |
1.70 |
1.82 |
1.47 |
1.96 |
1.72 |
1.68 |
| Hull Speed |
7.0 |
7.4 |
7.5 |
7.2 |
7.4 |
7.1 |