The Hallberg Rassy 42 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers), a Masthead sloop, was designed by German Frers and built in Sweden by Hallberg Rassy Yachts.

A German Frers designed Hallberg-Rassy 42 sloop

She looks like a cutter, but the inline stays converging at the masthead shows that this Hallberg-Rassy 42 'Cavatina' is a solent-rigged sloop.

Published Specification for the Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers)

Underwater Profile: Fin keel and spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 43'4" (13.2m)

Waterline Length: 34'5" (10.5m)

Beam: 12'11" (3.9m)

Draft: 6'7" (2.0m)

Rig Type: Masthead Sloop

Displacement: 27,558lb (12,500kg)

Designer: German Frers

Builder: Hallberg-Rassy (Sweden)

Year First Built: 1991

Year Last Built: 2001

Number Built: 181

Owners Association: Hallberg-Rassy Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers)

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.9

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: 37.6

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 314

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 38.2

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: 1.7

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 Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers)

eBook: How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Sailboat

Download this eBook to make sure you buy wisely!

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.9 suggests that the Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers) 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 37.6 means that unless the bulk of the ballast is concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, the Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers) 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.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 314, tells us the Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers) is 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 she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 38.2 suggests that crew comfort of a Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers) in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 tells us that a Hallberg Rassy 42 (Frers) would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.