The Catalina 275 Sport is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, designed for cruising comfort rather than 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 24.0′, the Catalina 275 Sport tops out around 6.9 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √24.0′ LWL = 6.6 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
194s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
SA / Displacement
15.6
Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.
Ballast / Displacement
40.0%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
210
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
16.6
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
1.99
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
18.2
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
5lbs
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
16.6
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
1.99
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 Catalina 275 Sport sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Caliber 28
186s/nm
Catalina 275 Sport
194s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Mirage 275
201s/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° |
2.6 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
3.9 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.2 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.9 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
5.8 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.6 |
4.6 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
| Run150–180° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.9 kts),
SA/D (15.6), 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 Catalina 275 Sport — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–7 kts
7–22 kts
22–32 kts
32+ kts
Ghosting
0–7 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
7–22 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
22–32 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
32+ 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 Catalina 275 Sport.
|
Catalina 275 Sport |
Caliber 28 |
Catalina 276 Sport |
Fantasia 27 Jeanneau |
J27 |
Mirage 275 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
27.5 |
27.5 |
27.6 |
27.6 |
27.5 |
27.5 |
| LWL |
24.0 |
24.3 |
24.1 |
24.3 |
23.0 |
22.5 |
| Beam |
9.8 |
10.8 |
9.8 |
10.2 |
8.5 |
9.8 |
| Displacement |
6 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
6 |
| Ballast |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
| Sail Area |
340 |
428 |
345 |
366 |
364 |
— |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
194 |
186 |
— |
— |
— |
201 |
| SA/Disp |
15.6 |
18.4 |
15.7 |
16.2 |
24.0 |
— |
| Bal/Disp |
40.0 |
43.1 |
39.4 |
35.5 |
— |
35.3 |
| Comfort |
16.6 |
18.4 |
20.4 |
17.7 |
13.9 |
— |
| Capsize |
1.99 |
2.25 |
1.86 |
2.17 |
2.18 |
— |
| Hull Speed |
6.9 |
6.6 |
6.9 |
6.2 |
6.4 |
— |