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Performance & Speed

Daring Performance

How the Daring performs on the water — racing handicap, speed, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort.

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The Daring 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.

6.4 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 23.0′, the Daring tops out around 6.4 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √23.0′ LWL = 6.4 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
20.0
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Displacement / Length
150
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
20.2
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
1.63
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Hull Speed
6.4kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
3lbs
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
20.2
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
1.63
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 Daring sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Islander 32 165s/nm
Carter 33 180s/nm
Columbia Sabre 200s/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° 2.8 3.5 3.9 4.1
Close Reach60° 3.4 4.3 4.8 5.0
Beam Reach90° 4.1 5.2 5.8 6.3
Broad Reach120–135° 3.8 4.8 5.4 5.8
Run150–180° 3.1 3.9 4.3 4.5
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.4 kts), SA/D (20.0), 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 Daring — 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 Daring.

Daring Carter 33 Columbia Sabre Islander 32 Islander 33 Vanguard 33 Pearson
Dimensions
LOA 32.5 32.6 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.6
LWL 23.0 23.3 22.6 24.8 24.0 22.3
Beam 6.5 11.0 6.3 10.0 10.2 9.3
Displacement 4 7 4 9 10 10
Ballast 2 2 4 3 4
Sail Area 320 405 347 454 448
Performance
PHRF 180 200 165
SA/Disp 20.0 17.0 20.4 16.0 15.5
Bal/Disp 38.1 62.2 41.3
Comfort 20.2 18.2 23.7 25.7 26.5
Capsize 1.63 2.25 1.52 1.88 1.89
Hull Speed 6.4 6.5 6.4 6.7 6.6