Design and Construction
The Ovni 39's hull is made of aluminium, and she carries a centreboard keel of iron — a configuration that lets her settle into just 0.70 to 0.80 meter (2.30 to 2.60 ft) of water depending on load, letting the boat enter even shallow marinas anchor. At 39.21 feet overall with a beam of 12.96 feet, her length-to-beam ratio of 3.04 reads as a broad, volume-oriented hull rather than a slender racer. The ballast ratio sits at 48 percent, and with a displacement-length ratio of 220 she is a moderately loaded cruiser built for payload rather than all-out speed. Her wetted surface is about 46 square meters (495 square feet), a consequence of the beamy plan and the centreboard trunk.
Rig and Handling
She is built with a masthead rig, and the standing and running gear follow predictable cruising dimensions: jib and genoa sheets are estimated at 12.0 meters (39.4 feet) with 14 mm diameter, the mainsheet at 30.0 meters (98.6 feet) in the same diameter, and spinnaker sheets at 26.4 meters (86.8 feet) anchor. The theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull her length is 7.6 knots. The capsize screening value comes in at 1.99, and the Motion Comfort Ratio spans 23.6 to 25.8 — figures that describe a stable, damped motion profile rather than a twitchy light-displacement hull. Her immersion rate of about 262 kg/cm (1467 lbs/inch) tells the buyer that she sinks meaningfully under cruising load, consistent with the 48 percent ballast ratio and the 300-liter fresh water capacity she carries.
Accommodations
The Ovni 39 is equipped with 300 liters (79 US gallons, 65 imperial gallons) of fresh water capacity, supporting extended independent cruising for a boat of her size anchor. The beam of nearly 13 feet gives the interior the width to arrange a practical cruising layout, and the aluminium hull permits flat interior surfaces without the framing constraints of a molded composite shell. The designation as a large sailboat from the design record reflects both her length and her volume-driven proportions.
The Verdict
The Ovni 39 is a late-eighties Philippe Briand design that distills Alubat's aluminium centreboard philosophy into a 39-foot package. Her shallow draft, high ballast ratio, and comfort-oriented motion numbers make her a serious voyager for shoal waters, while the aluminium hull and iron centreboard define her maintenance and inspection profile.
Pros
- Aluminium hull with iron centreboard for 2.3–2.6 ft draft and marina access
- 48 percent ballast ratio and Motion Comfort Ratio up to 25.8 for stable motion
- 300-liter water capacity for extended cruising
Cons
- Wetted surface of 495 sq ft and DL-ratio of 220 limit outright speed
- Immersion rate of 1467 lbs/inch shows load sensitivity