The Feeling 850 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Feeling 850

Underwater Profile: Fin keel & spade rudder*

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 27'11" (8.5m)

Waterline Length: 24'5" (7.5m)

Beam: 10'6" (3.2m)

Draft: 5'7" (1.7m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop*

Displacement: 6,614lb (3,000kg)

Ballast: 2,205lb (1,000kg)

Designer: Philippe Briand

Builder: Kirie Association (France)

Year First Built: 1984

Year Last Built: 1988

Number Built: 313

* Centreboard and fractionally-rigged versions were other options offered by the builder.

Published Design Ratios for the Feeling 850

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 21.6

• 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: 33.3

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 202

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 17.5

• 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: 2.2

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

Read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Feeling 850

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 21.6 suggests that, in the right hands, the Feeling 850 will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length well astern. 

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 33.3 means that a sailboat like the Feeling 850 (which doesn't have a stiffness-enhancing bulb keel), is likely to benefit from being reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 202, tells us the Feeling 850 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 17.5 suggests that the Feeling 850 will have the motion underway to that of a lightweight racing boat. Crew comfort will often be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Beating upwind in lively conditions the Feeling 850 will slam enough to shake your fillings out with a motion that most cruising sailors have no desire to get used to.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.2 tells us that a Feeling 850 would not be as good a choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.