The Starlight 35 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Starlight 35

Underwater Profile: Wing keel & semi-balanced rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 36'1" (11.0m)

Waterline Length: 28'1" (8.6m)

Beam: 11'6" (3.5m)

Draft: 4'9" (1.4m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 13,200lb (5,987kg)

Ballast: 5,300lb (2,404kg)

Designer: Stephen Jones

Builder: Sadler Yachts & Rival Bowman Yachts (Both in UK)

Year First Built: 1991

Year Last Built: 1997

Number Built: 50

Published Design Ratios for the Starlight 35

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.5

• 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: 40.2

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 266

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 25.9

• 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: 1.9

• 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 Starlight 35

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.5 suggests that the Starlight 3 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 40.2 means that the Starlight 35 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 266, tells us the Starlight 35 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 25.9 suggests that crew comfort of a Starlight 35 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 indicates that a Starlight 35 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.