The Newport 41 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Newport 41, a masthead sloop, was designed by C&C Design and built in the USA by Capital Yachts Inc. There were several versions produced; the original MkI which was derived from the C&C 1965 design “Red Jacket”, the MkII (which is described here), the MkIII and the 41S.

'Clipper', a Newport 41 MkII
Many thanks to owner Peter Cohrs for the pic

Published Specification for the Newport 41

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP

Length Overall: 41'0" (12.50m)

Waterline Length: 32' 3" (9.83m)

Beam: 11'3" (3.43m)

Draft: 6'3" (1.90m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 18,000 lb (8,165kg)

Designer: C&C Design

Builder: Capital Yachts Inc. (USA)

Year First Built: 1982

Published Design Ratios for the Newport 41

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.5

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 45.6

Displacement/Length Ratio: 240

Comfort Ratio: 31.8

Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Newport 41

eBook: How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Sailboat

Download this eBook to make sure you buy wisely!

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.5 suggests that the Newport 41 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 45.6 means that the Newport 41 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 240, tells us the Newport 41 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 31.8 suggests that crew comfort of a Newport 41 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 Newport 41 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

More about the Newport 41 sailboat...

The Newport 41 was designed by C&C Design, one of the most renowned names in performance sailing, and built by Capital Yachts in California from 1977 to the early 1990s. The Newport 41 retains the sleek lines, narrow beam, and fin keel of the Redline 41, but adds more comfort and amenities below deck. The Newport 41 is a masthead sloop with anodized aluminum spars, a spade rudder, and a wheel steering. The boat has a displacement of 18,000 lbs and a ballast of 8,215 lbs, giving it moderate stability and stiffness. The sail area is 741 sq ft, with a mainsail of 299 sq ft and a genoa of 442 sq ft. The boat has a PHRF rating of 114, which means it can still compete well in club racing and cruising events.

Accommodation
The Newport 41 can sleep up to seven people in three cabins. The forward cabin has a double V-berth with a curtain for privacy. The main cabin has an L-shaped settee with a fold-down dinette table on the port side, and a straight settee on the starboard side. There is an optional pilot berth above the starboard settee for extra sleeping space. The aft cabin has a single berth on the starboard side, with a hanging locker and storage drawers.

The galley is located at the foot of the companionway on the port side. It is U-shaped and equipped with a three-burner alcohol stove, a sink with manual fresh water pump, and ample counter space and storage cabinets. A pressurized fresh water system and a seawater pump were optional features.

The navigation station is located at the foot of the companionway on the port side. It has a large chart table with drawers and shelves, an electrical panel, and space for instruments and radios. The head is located aft of the forward cabin on the port side. It has a molded fiberglass shower, a marine toilet, a sink with vanity, and storage lockers.

The interior of the Newport 41 is finished with teak wood trim and teak and holly sole. The upholstery is vinyl or fabric, depending on the model year. The boat has four fixed ports and four opening ports for ventilation and light, as well as two translucent deck hatches. The headroom is about 6'2" throughout the boat.

Hull and Deck
The hull of the Newport 41 is made of fiberglass with balsa core sandwich construction for stiffness and lightness. The deck is also fiberglass with balsa core, except for high-stress areas where plywood core is used. The hull-to-deck joint is bonded with fiberglass tape and secured with stainless steel bolts. The deck has a molded nonskid surface for traction and safety.

The cockpit is aft with a raised counter reverse transom that provides easy access to the water or a dinghy. The cockpit coaming has winch pockets for convenience. The helm station has a pedestal-mounted wheel steering with brake, engine controls, compass, and instrument pod.

The boat has a stainless steel bow pulpit, stern rail, stanchions, lifelines, handrails, cleats, chocks, and chainplates. The boat also has a perforated aluminum toerail that can be used to mount sheeting blocks or other hardware.

Mast and Rigging
The mast of the Newport 41 is deck-stepped and supported by stainless steel wire standing rigging with swaged terminals. The mast has two sets of spreaders and internal halyards. The boat has a masthead sloop rig with a genoa on a roller furling system or hanked onto the forestay. The mainsail has slab reefing or optional in-mast or in-boom furling systems. The boat also has a spinnaker pole and gear for downwind sailing. The sail controls are led to the cockpit through turning blocks and organizers to two-speed self-tailing winches on the coachroof or on the coaming. The boat has a mainsheet traveller on the coachroof and a backstay adjuster for tuning the rig.

Keel and Rudder
The keel of the Newport 41 is a fixed swept fin keel with lead ballast. The keel has a draft of 6'3" and provides good upwind performance and stability. The rudder of the Newport 41 is a spade-type rudder with a stainless steel stock and a fiberglass blade. The rudder is controlled by a wheel steering with a cable and quadrant system. The rudder has a balanced design that reduces the helm pressure and improves the manoeuvrability of the boat.

This article was written with the assistance of Gemini, a large language model developed by Google. Gemini was used to gather information, summarize research findings, and provide suggestions for the content and structure of the article.