The Victoria 26 Sailboat

The Victoria 26 sailboat is a classic cruising boat designed by Chuck Paine and built in the UK by Victoria Marine. It is based on the Frances 26, a smaller-coachroofed sister boat that Paine created for his own personal use. The Victoria 26 is a long-keeled, canoe-sterned sloop that combines traditional lines with modern construction and fittings. 

A Victoria 26 sailing off the coast of Cornwall in the UKThere's no denying that Chuck Paine's Victoria 26 is a very pretty cruising boat indeed...

Essentially the same boat as the Frances 26, but built in the UK by Victoria Marine and renamed the Victoria 26.

Published Specification for the Victoria 26

Underwater Configuration:  Long keel, canoe stern

Hull Material:  GRP (fibreglass)

Length Overall: 26' 0" / 7.92m

Waterline Length: 21' 3" / 6.48m

Beam: 8' 0" / 2.44m

Draft: 3' 10" / 1.17m

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 6,800lb / 3,084kg

Designer: Chuck Paine

Builder: Victoria Marine (UK)

Year First Built: 1982

Year Last Built: 1988

Owners Association: The Victoria Shadow Association


Published Design Ratios for the Victoria 26

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.1

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 51.5

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 316

4. Comfort Ratio: 29.0

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

read more about these all-revealing numbers...

Summary Analysis of Published Design Ratios for the Victoria 26

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 15.1 suggests that she'll need a stiff breeze to get her going. In any other conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing will be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 51.5 means that she'll stand up well to her canvas in a blow, enabling her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 316, tells us she's clearly 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 will come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 29.0 suggests that crew comfort in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness. 

5. Her Capsize Screening Formula of 1.7 tells us that she would be a better choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making than one with a CS rating of more than 2.0. 


Any Questions?

What other versions of the Victoria 26 were built?

The Victoria 26 is essentially the same boat as the Frances 26, but built in the UK by Victoria Marine and renamed the Victoria 26. The Frances 26 had a smaller and lower coachroof than the Victoria 26. There was also a version of the Victoria 26 built in the US by Victoria Yachts, designed by G. William McVay.

What is the accommodation like in the Victoria 26?

The Victoria 26 has a simple but nicely finished interior, with four berths, a separate heads, and a galley. The forward cabin has a V-berth, the saloon has two settee berths, and the head is located aft to port. The galley is opposite to starboard, with a sink, a stove, and a cool box. There is also a chart table and a hanging locker.

What, if any, alternative accommodation layout versions are available for the Victoria 26?

Victoria Marine offered semi-custom build, so interior layouts may vary from the example illustrated above. Some boats may have different arrangements of berths, storage, or equipment.

What sail plan and rigging options are available for the Victoria 26?

The Victoria 26 has a cutter rig, with a mainsail, a staysail, and a yankee jib. Some boats may have roller furling on the headsails, or slab reefing on the mainsail. The mast is deck-stepped, and supported by stainless steel wire rigging.

What keel options are available for the Victoria 26?

The Victoria 26 has a long fin keel with encapsulated lead ballast and a sternpost-hung rudder. There are no other keel options available for this boat.

What is the Victoria 26 like to sail?

The Victoria 26 is a heavy displacement cruising boat that is slightly underpowered. It needs a stiff breeze to get going, and may require motor-sailing in light winds. However, it is very stable and seaworthy and can handle rough conditions well. It is not very fast or agile, but it is comfortable and easy to handle.

What is the average cost of a secondhand Victoria 26?

The average cost of a secondhand Victoria 26 may vary depending on the condition, equipment, and location of the boat. However, based on some online listings, it may range from £15,000 to £25,000.

Is this boatbuilder still in business?

No, Victoria Marine ceased trading in 1998. However, there is an owners association called The Victoria Shadow Association that provides support and information for owners of Victoria and Frances boats.

What other sailboats have been created by this designer?

Chuck Paine, the designer of the Victoria 26, has created many other sailboats, such as Able 42, Annie 30, Apogee 50, Bougainvillaea 54, Bougainvillaea 62, Bowman 40, Bowman 42, Bowman 48, Cabo Rico 40/42, Cabo Rico 42 Pilot, and many more.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge, we believe them to be accurate.


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