Design and Construction
Fabola AB laid up the Diva 35 in solid fiberglass, and the fin keel carries a lead ballast, giving the design a ballast ratio of 45 percent — higher than 76 percent of comparable sailboat designs anchor. At 8,708 pounds displacement with 3,902 pounds of lead, the boat sits in a slim profile: its length-to-beam ratio of 3.27 means it is narrower than 58 percent of similar designs. The wetted surface runs about 365 square feet, and the immersion rate of roughly 1,101 pounds per inch speaks to a hull that responds readily to loading and crew weight. None of this is accidental; Lindquist shaped a moderate-racer hull with a displacement-to-length ratio of 181, lighter than 82 percent of its peers.
Rig and Handling
The Diva 35 carries a fractional sloop rig, and the sail-plan data reveal a boat that is significantly overrigged for its class — it bears more rig than 85 percent of similar sailboats anchor. With the ISO reference sail the SA/D reads 19.4, rising to 22.3 with a 135 percent genoa, and that sail area drives a relative speed performance of 95, placing it ahead of 95 percent of comparable designs and faster than 82 percent in light wind. Halyard and sheet specifications are uniform and substantial: all halyards run 34.5 meters at 12 mm, while sheets and the mainsheet (27 meters) are 14 mm, indicating a rig sized for frequent, powered-up sailing rather than occasional day cruising.
Performance Envelope
Under power the inboard Yanmar 2GV20 diesel develops 18 horsepower for a calculated maximum of about 5.4 knots, while the theoretical displacement hull speed is 7.2 knots under sail. The Motion Comfort Ratio of 20.9 is more comfortable than only 18 percent of similar designs, confirming a firm, lively motion rather than a soft passage-making ride. The capsize screening value of 2.00 is below the threshold accepted for ocean racing, which positions the Diva 35 firmly as a coastal and inland performer rather than a bluewater contender.
Accommodations
Below, the Diva 35 is equipped with a galley and a toilet facility, the two core amenities that define it as a cruising-capable weekender. The available record does not elaborate on berth count or salon layout, but the provision of these fixed installations confirms the design was intended for short coastal hops with onboard cooking and sanitation.
Ownership Notes
The lead fin keel and solid fiberglass hull are straightforward to survey, and the high ballast ratio paired with the slim beam makes for predictable storage and handling ashore. The overrigged sail plan means running rigging — halyards at 12 mm, sheets at 14 mm — should be inspected for fatigue given the loads the design encourages.
The Verdict
The Diva 35 is a sharp-handed coastal speedster: light, narrow, heavily ballasted, and carrying a sail plan that outpowers nearly all of its classmates. It trades offshore credibility and soft motion for exhilarating light-air performance and precise handling, and it remains a coherent expression of early-eighties Swedish performance-cruiser thinking.
Pros
- High 45 percent ballast ratio, exceeding 76 percent of similar designs
- Significantly overrigged — faster than 95 percent of comparable boats
- Light, slim hull with moderate-racer displacement tuning
- Solid fiberglass construction with lead fin keel
Cons
- Capsize screening of 2.00 excludes it from ocean racing
- Motion Comfort Ratio better than only 18 percent of peers
- Minimal documented accommodation detail beyond galley and head
