Designed by renowned New Zealand naval architect Malcolm Tennant in 1973, this lightweight catamaran became a popular choice for sailors seeking performance and versatility in a trailerable package. With 300 hulls built over its production run, the Great Barrier Express established itself as a capable coastal cruiser and club racer that could handle both protected waters and more challenging offshore conditions. The twin daggerboard configuration provides excellent upwind performance while allowing shallow-water exploration, making this boat particularly well-suited for sailing in reef areas, harbors, and coastal waters where draft limitations matter. Its fractional sloop rig delivers good sail handling characteristics, while the wood composite and fiberglass construction offers durability with reasonable weight savings. At under 28 feet overall, this catamaran's generous beam provides impressive stability and interior volume relative to its length, creating comfortable accommodations for weekend cruising or extended coastal adventures. The high sail area to displacement ratio of 36.99 indicates spirited performance potential, appealing to sailors who want both cruising comfort and racing capability. This versatile platform continues to attract sailors looking for an affordable entry into multihull sailing without sacrificing seaworthiness or speed.
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What is the Great Barrier Express's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Great Barrier Express has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 36.99. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Great Barrier Express's comfort ratio?
The Great Barrier Express has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 3.3. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Great Barrier Express safe for offshore sailing?
The Great Barrier Express has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 4.93. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Great Barrier Express?
The theoretical hull speed of the Great Barrier Express is 6.83 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Great Barrier Express weigh?
The Great Barrier Express has a displacement of 2,370.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 27.75 ft.
Who designed the Great Barrier Express?
The Great Barrier Express was designed by Malcolm Tennant, first built in 1973.