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Performance & Speed

Ecume De Mer Performance

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

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The Ecume De Mer is moderately powered for comfortable coastal cruising, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

5.9 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 19.3′, the Ecume De Mer tops out around 5.9 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √19.3′ LWL = 5.9 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
228s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
SA / Displacement
17.6
Moderate sail power — a capable coastal cruiser, not overpowered.
Ballast / Displacement
40.3%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
250
Moderate-heavy — carries provisions well, deliberate in light air.
Comfort Ratio
16.2
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.21
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Hull Speed
5.9kts
S# (Speed Number)
2.2
Pounds/Inch Immersion
602lbs
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
16.2
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
2.21
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters

PHRF Fleet Position

Where the Ecume De Mer sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Capri 26 Catalina 213s/nm
Ecume De Mer 228s/nm Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.

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° 2.4 3.0 3.4 3.5
Close Reach60° 2.9 3.6 4.1 4.2
Beam Reach90° 3.5 4.5 5.0 5.2
Broad Reach120–135° 3.3 4.1 4.6 4.8
Run150–180° 2.6 3.3 3.7 3.9
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (5.9 kts), SA/D (17.6), 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 Ecume De Mer — 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 Ecume De Mer.

Ecume De Mer Capri 26 Catalina Centaur 26 Westerly Chrysler 26 Fk Pembroke 26 Westerly S2 80 B
Dimensions
LOA 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.0
LWL 19.3 22.5 21.3 22.0 21.3 21.4
Beam 8.8 9.1 8.4 8.0 8.3 8.0
Displacement 4 4 6 5 6 4
Ballast 1 1 2 2 2 1
Sail Area 277 268 324 257 210 282
Performance
PHRF 228 213
SA/Disp 17.6 16.0 14.6 13.2 9.6 16.4
Bal/Disp 40.3 37.5 41.8 43.6 37.7
Comfort 16.2 15.2 26.7 23.0 26.6 19.5
Capsize 2.21 2.22 1.79 1.82 1.78 1.93
Hull Speed 5.9 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.2