Design and Construction
Wrighton Yachts built the Bi-Loup 9 in France as a solid fiberglass hull with a bilge-keel (twin-keel) configuration. At 9 meters length overall and 3 meters beam, her length-to-beam ratio of 3.00 makes her beamier than 58 percent of comparable sailboat designs, and the 950 kg iron ballast sitting in 2,800 kg displacement gives a 34 percent ballast ratio — higher than only 15 percent of similar designs. The displacement-to-length ratio of about 147 classifies her among "light racers," with 90 percent of similar designs weighing more. Her capsize screening value of 2.15 is the figure that would bar her from ocean-race acceptance, though her comfort ratio of 16.4 still reads as more comfortable than 15 percent of similar boats.
Rig and Handling
The Bi-Loup 9 carries a masthead sloop rig with 25.92 square meters of sail area, returning a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 13.3 — enough to keep her lively for her weight. Her theoretical hull speed is 6.9 knots. The twin keels hold draft to between 0.90 and 1.00 meter depending on load, letting her tuck into shallow marinas that deeper fin-keel boats cannot reach. Standing rigging and sheet spec from period data list jib and genoa sheets at 9.0 meters with 10 mm diameter, a 22.5-meter 10 mm mainsheet, and 19.8-meter 10 mm spinnaker sheets — dimensions a new owner can use to confirm replacement lengths.
Accommodations
The sources establish the envelope she works within: a 9-meter LOA, 8.1-meter waterline, and 3-meter beam that the comparative data rank as roomier than the majority of similar designs by length-beam spread. The wetted surface is about 24 square meters.
Known Issues
The only cautions the sources raise are performance-category observations rather than physical defects: the capsize screening figure of 2.15 places her outside ocean-race eligibility, and her light-racer displacement profile means she is among the lighter 10 percent of comparable boats. These are design characteristics, not faults requiring repair.
Refits and Ownership
With only 30 built and production closed in 1988, the Bi-Loup 9 is a scarce boat whose owners are effectively on their own for class support. The flat specification of solid fiberglass hull and deck, iron ballast, and a masthead rig means routine refit thinking follows standard glass-and-iron practice, but the sources name no model-specific campaigns, recall items, or common upgrade paths.
The Verdict
The Bi-Loup 9 is a rare, light-displacement French twin-keeler that trades ocean-race eligibility for shallow-water access and a beamy, comparatively spacious nine-meter hull. She is a straightforward solid-glass Wrighton design of modest production, best understood as a coastal cruiser-racer rather than a bluewater candidate.
Pros
- Twin keels hold draft to under one meter, easing shallow-marina access
- Beamy 3.00 length-beam ratio makes her roomier than most similar designs
- Light-racer displacement and 13.3 sail-area-to-displacement ratio for brisk performance
Cons
- Capsize screening of 2.15 excludes her from ocean-race acceptance
- Only 30 built, limiting class support and spares networks
- Ballast ratio higher than just 15 percent of similar designs
