The Rival 41 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Rival 41, designed by Peter Brett and built in the UK by Southern Boatbuilding Company, was produced with a number of accommodation layouts and rig configurations.

There were centre and aft cockpit versions, along with a sloop, cutter, and ketch rig alternatives. The centre cockpit version was more often rigged as a ketch.

It's the centre-cockpit version (known as the Rival 41CC) that's shown in the pic below and described in the text that follows it.

A Rival 41CC anchored in North Sound, Antigua, West Indies

Published Specification for the Rival 41CC

Underwater Profile: Fin and skeg-supported rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 40'7" (12.4m)

Waterline Length: 32'8" (10.0m)

Beam: 12'2" (3.7m)

Draft: 5'11" (1.8m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 22,046lb (10,000kg)

Designer: Peter Brett

Builder: Southern Boatbuilding Company (UK)

Year First Built: 1974

Year Last Built: 1990

Number Built: 57

Owners Association: Rival Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the Rival 41CC

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.1

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: 44.5

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 282

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 34.9

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 Rival 41CC

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.1 suggests that the Rival 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 44.5 means that the Rival 41 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 282, tells us the xxxxx is 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 34.9 suggests that crew comfort of a Rival 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 Rival 41 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.