Sigma 38 (S&S)

BoatsSigma 38 (S&S)

See her sail

The Sigma 38 (S&S), on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Allende los Mares · Vuelta Vertical

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 43 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 43

CoastalBluewater

At 1.54 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.54

LightHeavy

408 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 408

EasygoingPowered-up

14.9 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.9

TenderStiff

35% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 35%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

Heavier than ~76% of boats her size on file
Narrower than ~82% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2900 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Sigma 38 (S&S), as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Sigma 38 (S&S) is a 11.7-meter masthead sloop designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Cheoy Lee Shipyard since 1967. It features a fin keel with a rudder on a skeg, a beam of 3.1 meters, a draft of 1.8 meters, and displaces 8629 kg. Aboard *Allende los Mares*, the Sigma 38 *Crobat* functions as a mobile research platform for the Sailing Living Lab project, testing marine technologies like Solar Face photovoltaic cells, an EasyWin ultrasonic anemometer, and an electronic anti-corrosion system.1:52 The vessel also tests aerial and underwater drones, a biomedical diving computer, TimeZero navigation software, and industrial radio controls adapted for winches. *Crobat* participates in collaborative sailing events and plans include a transatlantic crossing to the Caribbean.3:10

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions

Weights

Ballast / displacement

35.2%

Rig & sail area

Rig

Masthead Sloop

Ratios

SA / displacement

14.9

Displacement / length

408.4

Comfort ratio

43.1

Capsize screening

1.54

Hull speed

7.0 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

1007

Hull

Hull type

Fin with rudder on skeg

Construction

Fiberglass

Production

Years built

First built 1967

Designer

Sparkman, Stephens

Builder

Cheoy Lee Shipyard Ltd

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Warrior 3811.58 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-run 1980s cruiser featuring a shallow 1.52m draft and a heavy ballast-to-displacement ratio for steady offshore work

Sail Life - Cockpit table and trim0:03 from Sail Life

Aragosa Yachts 3811.61 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1988 masthead sloop with a 35% ballast ratio, designed by Ted Brewer for balanced offshore performance

DIY furniture from Velero Regina

Hallberg-Rassy 3811.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead cruiser featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a substantial 43% ballast ratio for heavy-weather stability

HOW TO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD WITH A SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORT | Strip Searches and Locked up Abroad8:55 from The Paper Boat Project (Stefan Heiberg)

Catalina Yachts 38011.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1997-era masthead sloop derived from the Morgan-Catalina 381, offering optional shoal draft and tall rig configurations

Why is Everyone Buying the Catalina 380 - Perfect Sailboat? Ep 238 - Lady K Sailing from Lady K Sailing

Morgan Yachts 38211.68 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Ted Brewer-designed masthead sloop built for offshore stability, featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a stiff displacement

Morgan 382 - The $30K Boat Nobody Talks About from Practical Sailor

Catalina Yachts Morgan 3811.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1993-2005 production masthead sloop featuring a deep 1.98-meter draft and a performance-oriented fin keel

Caribbean Sailboat for $80k?! YES! Ep 228 - Lady K Sailing1:37 from Lady K Sailing

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Sigma 36 (S&S)A 1968 Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop with a 52% ballast ratio, built for offshore stability on a fin-keel hull S&s 34A Sparkman & Stephens design #1959 masthead sloop, built globally in multiple configurations and hull variants Swan 38 S&SA Sparkman & Stephens design #2167 featuring a One Ton sailplan variant for competitive offshore sailing S&s 40 (1964)A successful RORC racer from Sparkman & Stephens, built in both wood and fiberglass across a twelve-year production run Swarbrick Brothers S&s 34A Sparkman & Stephens design #1959 masthead sloop, built by Swarbricks as a stiff, seaworthy cruiser with a skeg-hung rudder Sigma 33 OODA David Thomas-designed fractional sloop built in high numbers, featuring a stiff fin-keel hull for competitive sailing

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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