“How Fast Can Your Sailboat Really Go?”

How Fast Can Your Sailboat Really Go?

There’s a myth that bigger engines mean faster boats.
But if you’ve spent time offshore, you know speed on a sailboat is about more than horsepower.

It’s about the hull, the length, the sea state, and your ability to work with the wind instead of against it.

⚓ What is “Hull Speed”?

In sailing, we talk about hull speed — the theoretical max your boat can go before it starts pushing more water than it can cut through.

There’s an old-school formula that’s still solid as a knot in double braid:

Hull Speed (knots) = 1.34 × √(LWL in feet)

LWL stands for “Length at Waterline.”
It’s not the LOA (length overall), but the part of your hull that actually sits in the water.

🧭 Why it Matters

Let’s say you’ve got a 36-foot sailboat.
Plug it into the formula and your hull speed is around 8 knots.
That’s it. Unless you’re planing or surfing down a swell, you’re not going much faster.

Knowing your hull speed helps you set realistic expectations, plan passages better, and sail smarter — not harder.

Besides, it reminds you that patience is part of the game.

⚡ Try the Hull Speed Calculator

Wanna know your boat’s theoretical top speed?
Punch in your waterline length below and let the numbers talk.

And remember:

🧭 Hull speed is math. Sailing it is guts.