At just under 33 feet overall, with a 30-foot waterline, the Banner 33 has a documented displacement of 5,732 pounds and carries 2,866 pounds of iron ballast. That gives her a 50 percent ballast ratio. Her displacement-length ratio of roughly 93 places her firmly among light racers.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are fiberglass, while the hull itself uses sandwich construction. This improves the climate below, a practical benefit in cool Danish waters.
The Banner 33 was also offered as a kit for owners to complete at home, so finish quality can vary from one hull to another, as yachtdatabase.com noted.
Different keel alternatives were available, including a lead fin keel. Draft ranges from about 5.45 to 5.75 feet, depending on load, allowing the boat into most marinas. Beam is 9.32 feet, giving a length-to-beam ratio of 3.54, and wetted surface is about 333 square feet.
Rig and Handling
The Banner 33 has a fractional rig and a 500-square-foot sail plan. Sheet specifications in the period guide are precise:
- Jib and genoa sheets: 33 feet long and half an inch in diameter
- Mainsheet: 82.4 feet long and half an inch in diameter
- Spinnaker sheets: 72.5 feet long
Her displacement-length ratio of 93 categorizes her as a light racer, with a relative speed performance figure of 34. The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 7.4 knots, while the immersion rate is about 981 pounds per inch.
The capsize screening value is 2.08. On that basis, the Banner 33 wouldn’t be accepted to participate in ocean races.
Accommodations
Below, the Banner 33 has two cabins and five berths, along with a galley and toilet facility. The interior is finished in teak, as was common among boats of the period. The sandwich hull construction surrounding the interior improves the cabin climate, providing a tangible comfort benefit for living aboard in cool Danish waters.
Verdict
The Banner 33 is a thoughtfully proportioned, light-displacement cruiser-racer with a practical draft. Her fractional rig and low wetted surface suit club racing and coastal cruising, while the teak interior, two cabins, and five berths provide useful accommodation.
The sandwich hull improves the climate below, but the option of home completion means buyers must assess each hull on its own merits. Her capsize screening value confirms that she isn’t an ocean racer.
Pros
- Sandwich hull construction improves the cabin climate
- Lead fin-keel option and moderate draft allow access to most marinas
- Light-racer displacement profile and a theoretical hull speed of 7.4 knots
- Teak interior with two cabins and five berths
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.08 excludes the boat from ocean-race eligibility
- Home-completed kits can mean variable finish quality from one hull to another
