The Pandora International is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, 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.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 18.8′, the Pandora International tops out around 5.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √18.8′ LWL = 5.8 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
18.8
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
38.4%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
169
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
14.9
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.04
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
464lbs
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
14.9
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
2.04
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 Pandora International sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Seal 22
234s/nm
South Coast 22
276s/nm
Alberg 22
285s/nm
Oday 22
285s/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° |
2.4 |
3.1 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
2.9 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.6 |
4.6 |
5.1 |
5.5 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.3 |
4.2 |
4.7 |
5.1 |
| Run150–180° |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (5.8 kts),
SA/D (18.8), 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 Pandora International — 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 Pandora International.
|
Pandora International |
Alberg 22 |
Oday 22 |
Pandora Mk I |
Seal 22 |
South Coast 22 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
21.8 |
22.0 |
21.7 |
21.8 |
21.8 |
22.0 |
| LWL |
18.8 |
16.0 |
18.9 |
18.8 |
18.0 |
17.5 |
| Beam |
6.9 |
7.0 |
7.2 |
6.9 |
7.8 |
7.1 |
| Displacement |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| Ballast |
960 |
1 |
800 |
980 |
800 |
505 |
| Sail Area |
216 |
236 |
— |
— |
185 |
228 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
285 |
285 |
— |
234 |
276 |
| SA/Disp |
18.8 |
17.4 |
— |
— |
16.6 |
24.7 |
| Bal/Disp |
38.4 |
48.1 |
36.7 |
— |
— |
28.1 |
| Comfort |
14.9 |
20.8 |
— |
14.5 |
12.7 |
10.9 |
| Capsize |
2.04 |
1.90 |
— |
2.06 |
2.32 |
2.33 |
| Hull Speed |
5.8 |
5.4 |
— |
5.8 |
5.7 |
5.6 |