The Cr 390 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages.
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 35.4′, the Cr 390 tops out around 8.0 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √35.4′ LWL = 8.0 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
21.4
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
45.8%
Race-oriented ballast ratio — very stiff and powerful.
Displacement / Length
159
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
25.6
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
1.86
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
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
25.6
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.86
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 Cr 390 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Catalina 390
126s/nm
Catalina 387
135s/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° |
3.6 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.3 |
| Close Reach60° |
4.3 |
5.5 |
6.1 |
6.4 |
| Beam Reach90° |
5.3 |
6.7 |
7.5 |
8.1 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.9 |
6.2 |
6.9 |
7.5 |
| Run150–180° |
3.9 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
5.8 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (8.0 kts),
SA/D (21.4), 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 Cr 390 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–20 kts
20–30 kts
30+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–20 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
20–30 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
30+ 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 Cr 390.
|
Cr 390 |
Bavaria Ocean 38 |
Catalina 387 |
Catalina 390 |
Regina 38 |
Sun Odyssey 39I Jeanneau |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
38.7 |
38.6 |
38.7 |
38.7 |
38.7 |
38.9 |
| LWL |
35.4 |
33.1 |
33.3 |
32.4 |
32.8 |
35.2 |
| Beam |
11.7 |
12.8 |
13.0 |
12.3 |
12.1 |
12.7 |
| Displacement |
15 |
17 |
16 |
19 |
20 |
16 |
| Ballast |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
| Sail Area |
839 |
710 |
710 |
725 |
— |
670 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
— |
135 |
126 |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
21.4 |
17.0 |
17.4 |
16.4 |
7.3 |
16.8 |
| Bal/Disp |
45.8 |
35.9 |
39.5 |
35.8 |
33.7 |
31.1 |
| Comfort |
25.6 |
25.4 |
24.1 |
30.2 |
— |
23.3 |
| Capsize |
1.86 |
1.99 |
2.04 |
1.85 |
— |
2.02 |
| Hull Speed |
8.0 |
7.7 |
7.7 |
7.6 |
— |
7.9 |