The Grand Soleil 39 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Grand Soleil 39, a moderate displacement masthead sloop, was designed by Alain Jezequel and built in Italy by Cantiere del Pardo.

A Grand Soleil 39 sailboat on a mooring Ball in Portsmouth, Dominica, West Indies

'Mr X', a Grand Soleil 39, is 41ft overall - not 39 as you might think...

Published Specification for the Grand Soleil 39

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 41'0" (12.50m)

Waterline Length: 32'4" (9.9m)

Beam: 12'4" (3.8m)

Draft: 6'4" (1.9m)

Rig Type: Masthead Sloop

Displacement: 18,298lb (8,300kg)

Designer: Alain Jezequel

Builder: Cantiere del Pardo (Italy)

Year First Built: 1983

Year Last Built: 1990

Published Design Ratios for the Grand Soleil 39

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.4

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: 41.0

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 242

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 28.5

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: 1.9

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

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Grand Soleil 39

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 15.4 suggests that the Grand Soleil 39 will need a good breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 41.0 means that the Grand Soleil 39 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 242, tells us the Grand Soleil 39 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 28.5 suggests that crew comfort of a Grand Soleil 39 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 tells us that a Grand Soleil 39 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.