The Comet 700, a sprightly 23.23-foot masthead sloop, embodies the essence of a versatile small sailboat, adept at both coastal cruising and spirited racing. Designed by the renowned French naval architectural firm Groupe Finot and built by the Italian shipyard Comar Yachts, it quickly established a reputation for its blend of performance and practical accommodation. Introduced in 1980, the Comet 700 reflects an era of innovative design and construction from a builder known for combining elegant aesthetics with robust sailing capabilities.
Comet 700 Information, Review, Specs
- Make
- Comet
- Model
- 700
- Number Built
- 217
- Production Year(s)
- 1980 - 1988
The Comet 700 was brought to life by Comar Yachts, with production commencing in 1980 and continuing through 1988, during which 217 units were built. Its design came from the celebrated drawing boards of Groupe Finot, a firm recognized for its expertise in creating high-performance sailing vessels. This partnership aligned with Comar's broader design philosophy of the 1980s, which saw the shipyard expand its facilities and adopt advanced production techniques like balsa and Termanto cored sandwich construction and vacuum lamination, all aimed at enhancing the strength and lightness of their boats. A notable design variation for the Comet 700 was the availability of a keel-centerboard version, offering flexibility in draft with a minimum of 2.46 feet (CB up) and a maximum of 3.54 feet (CB down), alongside the standard fin keel.
Sailing Performance and Handling
As a compact performance-oriented sailboat with a length overall of just over 23 feet, the Comet 700 offers an engaging sailing experience. It is characterized as a light vessel that delivers very high performance. Owners and reviewers often describe the Comet 700 as reasonably stable and stiff, qualities that contribute to its suitability as a racing boat. However, due to its design, it is noted to have a low righting capability if capsized, a characteristic sometimes associated with smaller, more performance-focused craft. Its transom-hung rudder provides direct steering, contributing to responsive handling.
Accommodations and Layout
The interior of the Comet 700 is designed to maximize the available space within its compact hull, making it a capable cabin cruiser for its size. The typical layout includes sleeping arrangements for five berths, accommodating a small crew or family for overnight stays or weekend cruises. While specific details on interior finish materials, galley configuration, or dedicated head compartment size are not widely detailed in available information, boats of this era and size generally feature practical, functional interiors with a focus on efficient use of space for essential amenities.
Measurements
Construction & Hull
- Construction Material
- Fiberglass (Solid)
- Hull Type
- Monohull Sailboat
- Keel Type
- Fin
- Rudder
- 1x Transom-Hung
- Ballast
- 811 lbs
- Displacement
- 2866 lbs
- Water Capacity
- 8 gal
- Fuel Capacity
- 6 gal
Engine
- Engine Make
- Farymann
- Engine Model
- —
- Engine Type
- —
- Engine HP
- —
- Engine Count
- 1
- Drive Type
- —
- Fuel Type
- Diesel
Rig & Sails
- Rig Type
- Masthead Sloop
- P (Main Luff)
- 24.51 ft
- E (Main Foot)
- 7.94 ft
- I (Foretriangle Height)
- 27.89 ft
- J (Foretriangle Base)
- 8.99 ft
- Forestay Length (est)
- 29.3 ft
- Main Sail Area
- 97.3 sqft
- Foretriangle Sail Area
- 125.37 sqft
- Total Sail Area (Reported)
- 290 sqft
- Total Sail Area (Calc)
- 222.67 sqft
Dimensions
- LOA
- 23.23 ft
- LWL
- 19.68 ft
- Beam
- 8.04 ft
- Draft
- 2.79 ft
- Max Headroom
- -
- Air Draft
- -
Calculations
- Hull Speed
- 5.94 kn
- Pounds per Inch Immersion
- 565.36