BoatsSanta Cruz 33

Santa Cruz 33

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1978–1981

A Bill Lee-designed masthead sloop built for speed, featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and a fin keel

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

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 17 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 17
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.09
LightHeavy

142 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 142
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 20.9
TenderStiff

43% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 43%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
42.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
20.9
Displacement / length
142.4
Comfort ratio
17.1
Capsize screening
2.09
Hull speed
7.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1000
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1978–1981
Units built
15
Designer
Bill Lee
Builder
Bill Lee Yachts Inc, Santa Cruz Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Jeanneau Sun Fast 330010.11 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance offshore racer featuring a lightweight hull and dual rudders, designed by Andrieu and Verdier
Saffier Yachts SE 3310.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 10-metre fractional sloop with a 39% ballast ratio, engineered for a balance of stability and performance
Jeanneau Sun Fast 320010.08 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA lightweight 10-metre offshore racer with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio built for competitive speed
Beneteau 32310.01 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with a 1.45m draft and bulb keel, optimised for coastal cruising comfort since 2001
Ker 3310.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Jason Ker-designed fractional sloop built for performance with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio
Contention 33 (Peterson)10.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Doug Peterson-designed masthead sloop that proved its competitive pedigree with a 3rd place finish at the 1979 3/4 Ton Cup

The family

Boats like this

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

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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