Carter 39 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Carter 39, designed by the legendary Dick Carter and frequently built under license by Olympic Marine in Greece, stands as a quintessential representative of the IOR (International Offshore Rule) era. Launched in the early 1970s, this model was the production evolution of Carter’s successful custom racing designs, which dominated offshore circuits like the Fastnet and the One Ton Cup. The vessel is characterized by its dramatic tumblehome, wide beam amidships, and pinched ends—a design language that optimized racing handicap rules while providing a remarkably stiff and voluminous platform for its length. While many were campaigned as pure racers, the Greek-built versions often leaned toward the "performance cruiser" category, blending Dick Carter’s innovative naval architecture with the robust fiberglass construction for which Olympic Marine became known.