The Cheoy Lee 41 is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore, 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 32.5′, the Cheoy Lee 41 tops out around 7.6 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √32.5′ LWL = 7.6 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
159s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
SA / Displacement
16.7
Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.
Ballast / Displacement
39.6%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
286
Moderate-heavy — carries provisions well, deliberate in light air.
Comfort Ratio
33.6
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.79
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
14.4
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
9lbs
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
33.6
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
1.79
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 Cheoy Lee 41 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Swan 411
87s/nm
Tartan 41
102s/nm
Newport 41
113s/nm
Irwin 40 Citation
122s/nm
Cheoy Lee 41
159s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Formosa 41
221s/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° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.6 |
4.6 |
5.1 |
5.4 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.5 |
5.7 |
6.3 |
6.6 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.1 |
5.2 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
| Run150–180° |
3.3 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
4.9 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.6 kts),
SA/D (16.7), 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 Cheoy Lee 41 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–7 kts
7–20 kts
20–28 kts
28+ kts
Ghosting
0–7 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
7–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–28 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
28+ 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 Cheoy Lee 41.
|
Cheoy Lee 41 |
Formosa 41 |
Irwin 40 Citation |
Newport 41 |
Swan 411 |
Tartan 41 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
40.8 |
40.9 |
40.8 |
40.7 |
40.8 |
40.6 |
| LWL |
32.5 |
32.0 |
31.2 |
30.0 |
33.6 |
32.7 |
| Beam |
12.5 |
12.2 |
12.2 |
11.2 |
11.9 |
12.3 |
| Displacement |
22 |
28 |
16 |
17 |
23 |
17 |
| Ballast |
8 |
9 |
— |
8 |
9 |
9 |
| Sail Area |
— |
780 |
738 |
— |
873 |
725 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
159 |
221 |
122 |
113 |
87 |
102 |
| SA/Disp |
16.7 |
13.6 |
18.0 |
— |
17.0 |
17.1 |
| Bal/Disp |
39.6 |
32.9 |
— |
46.8 |
40.8 |
51.5 |
| Comfort |
33.6 |
44.8 |
27.5 |
— |
37.9 |
28.0 |
| Capsize |
1.79 |
1.61 |
1.90 |
— |
1.66 |
1.88 |
| Hull Speed |
7.6 |
7.6 |
7.5 |
— |
7.8 |
7.7 |