The Colvic Countess 37 Sailboat

The Colvic Countess 37 Centre-Cockpit Cutter was designed by Ian Anderson and built in the UK by Colvic Craft Ltd.

'Tudor Rose', a Colvic Countess 37 sailboat anchored in Five Island Bay, AntiguaA Colvic Countess 37 with a furling headsail, a hanked-on staysail and an in-mast furling mainsail

Published Specification for the Colvic Countess 37

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with balanced rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 37'5" (11.4m)

Waterline Length: 29'6" (9.0m)

Beam: 12'10" (3.9m)

Draft: 5'7" (1.7m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 19,048lb (8,640kg)

Designer: Ian Anderson

Builder: Colvic Craft (UK)

Year First Built: 1986


Published Design Ratios for the xxxxx

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: not available

  • Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
  • 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
  • Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 40.5

  • Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
  • Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 330

  • Under 100: Ultralight
  • 100 to 200: Light
  • 200 to 275: Moderate
  • 275 to 350: Heavy
  • Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 31.0

  • Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
  • 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
  • 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
  • 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
  • Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.9

  • Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
  • Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

read more about these all-revealing numbers...


Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Colvic Countess 37

1. The Sail Area/Displacement Ratio for the Colvic Countess 37 has not been published. 

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 40.5 means that the Colvic Countess 37 will initially stand up reasonably well to her canvas in a moderate breeze, but she'll need a reef in the main to avoid heeling excessively in a gust.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 330, tells us the Colvic Countess 37 is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 31.0 suggests that crew comfort of a Colvic Countess 37in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 tells us that a Colvic Countess 37 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.


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