The Jeanneau Sun Light 30 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Jeanneau Sun Light 30

Underwater Profile: Fin keel & semi-balanced rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 30'0" (9.2m)

Waterline Length: 25'3" (7.7m)

Beam: 10'7" (3.2m)

Draft: 5'11" (1.8m)*

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 6,834lb (3,100kg)

Ballast: 2,650lb (1,202kg)

Designer: Daniel Andrieu

Builder: Jeanneau (France)

Year First Built: 1986

* Shoal draft version available - 4'9" (1.4m)

Published Design Ratios for the Jeanneau Sun Light 30

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 19.6

• 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: 38.8

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 190

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 17.1

• 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 Jeanneau Sun Light 30

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 19.6 suggests that the Jeanneau Sun Light 30 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 38.8 means that a sailboat like the Jeanneau Sun Light 30 (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 190, tells us the Jeanneau Sun Light 30 is a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 17.1 suggests that the Jeanneau Sun Light 30 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 Jeanneau Sun Light 30 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 Jeanneau Sun Light 30 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.