Design and Construction
The Comet 850 is a fiberglass yacht with both hull and deck molded in the material, carrying a fixed fin keel of iron. At 8.50 meters overall with a 6.80-meter waterline and a 2.90-meter beam, the hull shows a length-to-beam ratio of 2.95 — a relatively narrow, seakindly proportion for the era. Displacement is 3000 kg with a 37 percent ballast ratio, and the wetted surface runs about 23 square meters.
Rig and Handling
Rigged as a masthead sloop, the Comet 850 carries 42.50 square meters of sail area, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 14.0 on the ISO reference sail and 16.8 with a 135 percent genoa. The standing and running rigging follow period sloop conventions: a 22.4-meter, 8 mm mainsail halyard and matching jib, genoa, and spinnaker halyards, with 10 mm sheets for jib, genoa, mainsheet, and spinnaker. Cruise speed is cited at 5.0 knots with a max of 6.0 and a theoretical displacement-hull maximum of 6.3 knots. The capsize screening value is 2.01 and the Motion Comfort Ratio 21.4, while the immersion rate of about 130 kg per centimeter speaks to a moderately loaded hull. Owners sailing under the Dutch system record an SW rating of 106.2.
Accommodations
The standard accommodation layout provides two cabins, a single toilet, and six berths, arranged for cruise use in the 8.50-meter hull. The cabin-cruiser brief places livability ahead of racing minimalism, and the six-berth count within a 2.90-meter beam suggests a compact but functional interior typical of Finot's cruising designs of the period.
Known Issues
Owner reports note a diesel tank located in the port aft locker, where water ingress has been observed. A cockpit that opens to the exterior beneath the steering position is also described by owners, a detail worth checking for unintended drainage paths. The boat was offered in both 130 cm and 160 cm draft versions, so draft-specific behavior and groundgear should be confirmed against the actual hull.
The Verdict
The Comet 850 is a Finot-designed, Italian-built fiberglass cruiser that delivers period-appropriate performance and a practical six-berth layout in a sub-30-foot package. Its narrow beam and moderate ballast ratio favor settled handling, while the iron fin keel and shaft-drive Nanni Faryman diesel reflect straightforward late-seventies construction.
Pros
- Finot-designed masthead sloop with documented sail-area ratios
- Fiberglass hull and deck with iron fin keel
- Six berths in two cabins for a 28-foot cruiser
- Several hundred built, supporting spares and familiarity
Cons
- Reported water in port aft locker housing the diesel tank
- Cockpit opening to outside under the helm needs inspection
- Draft ambiguity between 130 cm and 160 cm versions
