The Willard 30 Sailboat

The Willard 30, a long-keeled cutter was designed by Bill Crealock and built in the USA by The Willard Company.

A cutter-rigged Willard 30 sailboat at anchorA Willard 30 cutter, sporting a bowsprit mounted furling jib and a hanked-on boomed staysail

Published Specification for the Willard 30

Underwater Profile: Long keel

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 30'0" (9.14m)

Waterline Length: 27'6" (8.4m)

Beam: 10'5" (3.18m)

Draft: 4'8" (1.4m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 17,000lb (7,711kg)

Designer: William Crealock

Builder: The Willard Company (USA)

Year First Built: 1973

Number Built: 30

Owners AssociationWillard Owners


Published Design Ratios for the Willard 30

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 14.3

  • 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: 38.2

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 365

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 41.0

  • 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: 1.6

  • Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
  • Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

read more about these all-revealing numbers...


Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Willard 30

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 14.3 suggests that the Willard 30 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 38.2 means that unless the bulk of the ballast is concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, the Willard 30 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze - and she'll be prone to rolling. 

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 365, tells us the Willard 30 is firmly in the ultra-heavy displacement category. Load her up as much as you like and her performance will be hardly affected, not that it was ever startling. Few if any sailboats are built to this displacement category these days - but they remain popular with some long-distance sailors.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 41.0 suggests that crew comfort of a Willard 30 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a heavy bluewater cruising boat. Pitching and rolling will be well damped - your cup of coffee on the salon table stands a reasonable chance of staying there in most conditions.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.6 tells us that a Willard 30 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

Recent Articles

  1. The True Cost of Boat Ownership

    Mar 28, 23 05:54 AM

    The true cost of boat ownership will almost certainly be more than what you originally thought it might be; the components of cost are...

    Read More

  2. Used Sailing Equipment For Sale

    Mar 28, 23 05:33 AM

    Here's where people with sailing equipment for sale advertise their stuff entirely free of charge. If you're looking for used sailing gear or other used boating accessories, here's where to find it!

    Read More

  3. Popular Cruising Yachts from 45 - 50ft (13.7m to 15.2m) Length Overall

    Mar 26, 23 08:29 AM

    Offshore cruising yachts of this size are probably the maximum size that most cruising couples can handle safely without taking on additional crew.

    Read More