BoatsFeeling 39

Feeling 39

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1998–2012

A Philippe Briand-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for performance cruising

Designed by Philippe Briand, built by Kirie.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Feeling 39, on the water

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

Footage from Adventureman Dan

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 23 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 23
CoastalBluewater

2.11 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.11
LightHeavy

204 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 204
EasygoingPowered-up

22.0 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 22.0
TenderStiff

27% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 27%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Beamier than ~85% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2899 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Feeling 39, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Feeling 39 is a 1998–2012 French-built masthead sloop designed by Philippe Briand, notable for its available lift keel version. This variant allows a draft range from 0.7 to 2.2 meters, enabling the 11.7-meter monohull to anchor in shallow waters or sit on the bottom. Its 4.0-meter beam and 7150 kg displacement contribute to a comfort ratio of 22.9. Aboard *Adventureman Dan*, a 2002 Feeling 39 with a swing keel and 2.4-foot minimum draft, the owners utilize a slutter rig with a 120% genoa and a removable inner forestay.0:30 This crew, who previously sailed an Island Packet 420 and a catamaran, chose the Feeling 39 for its shallow-draft capabilities in the Bahamas, where it performs well.34:40 The interior features a gimbaled stove, dedicated fridge and freezer, and a shallow bilge.23:27 The owners are considering a metal-hulled vessel for future high-latitude cruising in areas like Alaska or Newfoundland.37:49

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Feeling 39 on video

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
26.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
22.0
Displacement / length
204.1
Comfort ratio
22.9
Capsize screening
2.11
Hull speed
7.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1534
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1998–2012
Designer
Philippe Briand
Builder
Kirie

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.

RM Yachts 118011.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Marc Lombard-designed performance cruiser featuring a wide beam, dual rudders, and a powerful cutter rig
Why This "Wooden" Sailboat Is Faster, Warmer, and Stronger - the RM 11800:47from Practical Sailor
Sabre Yachts 3811.53 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA masthead sloop designed for performance, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive handling
Sabre 38's Cored Hull - Excellent sailboat, or one to stay away from? - Lady K Sailing - ep 330from Lady K Sailing
Etap 38i11.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop featuring a shallow-draft wing keel, designed for stable cruising and built between 1989 and 1997
FROM ANCHORAGE TO ANCHORAGE, IT'S DISCOVERY0:56from VOILIER ODIN
Sadler Yachts 3811.79 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Stephen Jones-designed masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for performance cruising.
Packing for the winter sailfrom SEILmagasinet
Moody 37611.53 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Bill Dixon-designed center-cockpit cruiser featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a stable, comfortable hull form
Selling it All for Waves: The Quest for Our Dream Sailboat Throughout Asia3:26from Stella Overboard
Catalina Yachts 37511.73 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2008 fractional sloop with a 2.08-metre draft and a balanced displacement-to-ballast ratio for coastal stability
💸 The REAL Cost of Living on a Boat in California | Marina Fees, Liveaboard Costs & Hidden Expenses7:49from Practical Sailor

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Feeling 32A high-performance fractional sloop from the Joubert-Nivelt studio, designed with a light displacement for spirited sailingFeeling 36A performance-oriented fractional sloop from Joubert-Nivelt, featuring a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for speedFeeling 30A Gilles Vaton and Patrick Roseo design featuring a lifting keel and dual rudders for versatile shoal-water accessFeeling 52A 15.8-metre fractional sloop with a deep 3.6m keel and dual rudders, built for high-performance blue-water cruisingFeeling 44A masthead sloop with a keel-centerboard configuration and dual rudders, offering versatile draft for coastal cruisingFeeling 48A fractional sloop featuring a deep 3.1m draft and dual rudders, designed for high-performance cruising

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