The Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 Sailboat
(aka the Sun Odyssey 44)
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Jeanneau Sun Magic 44, an aft cockpit cruising sloop, was designed by Daniel Andrieu and built in France by Jeanneau.

The Jeanneau Sun Magic 44

Published Specification for the Jeanneau Sun Magic 44

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 43'9" (13.3m)

Waterline Length: 34'9" (10.6m)

Beam: 13'11" (4.2m)

Draft: 7'0" (2.1m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 22,050lb (10,002kg)

Designer: Daniel Andrieu

Builder: Jeanneau (France)

Year First Built: 1987

Published Design Ratios for the Jeanneau Sun Magic 44

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.9

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: 37.0

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 235

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 27.3

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 Jeanneau Sun Magic 44

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 15.9 suggests that the Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 is just a tad underpowered and will need a stiff 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 37.0 means that a sailboat like the Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 (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 235, tells us the Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 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 27.3 suggests that crew comfort of a Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 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 Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.