The Newport 41 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Newport 41, a masthead sloop, was designed by C&C Design and built in the USA by Capital Yachts Inc. There were several versions produced; the original MkI which was derived from the C&C designed Redline 41, the MkII (which is described here), the MkIII and the 41S.

'Clipper', a Newport 41 MkII
Many thanks to owner Peter Cohrs for the pic

Published Specification for the Newport 41

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP

Length Overall: 41'0" (12.50m)

Waterline Length: 32' 3" (9.83m)

Beam: 11'3" (3.43m)

Draft: 6'3" (1.90m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 18,000 lb (8,165kg)

Designer: C&C Design

Builder: Capital Yachts Inc. (USA)

Year First Built: 1982

Published Design Ratios for the Newport 41

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.5

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: 45.6

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 240

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 31.8

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: 1.7

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 Newport 41

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.5 suggests that the Newport 41 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 45.6 means that the Newport 41 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 240, tells us the Newport 41 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 31.8 suggests that crew comfort of a Newport 41 in 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 1.7 tells us that a Newport 41 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.