Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass without a core, while the deck uses a sandwich layup. The original review credits this construction with improving the indoor climate by reducing temperature transfer. The interior is finished in mahogany, as were many production boats of the period.
Fabola offered the Diva 39 with different lead-keel options. One fin draws about 1.90 to 2.00 meters (6.23 to 6.53 feet), depending on load and limits the boat to major marinas. A shallower fin draws 1.75 to 1.85 meters (5.74 to 6.04 feet), allowing access to most marinas.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Diva 39 has a fractional rig and is significantly overrigged by the numbers. She carries more sail plan than 92 percent of comparable sailboats. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 20.6 using the ISO reference sail and 23.8 with a 135 percent genoa.
With displacement just under 10,000 pounds and a ballast ratio near 44 percent, the Diva 39 falls into the “light racer” class by length-displacement measure. Her length-to-beam ratio is 3.90, and her displacement-length ratio is 149.
Period calculations give a theoretical displacement-hull speed of 7.4 knots, alongside a reported top speed of 7.0 knots and a calculated maximum near 5.4 knots. Her capsize screening value is 1.82, while the motion comfort ratio ranges from 20.1 to 22.5. Wetted surface is about 376 square feet, and the immersion rate is roughly 1,068 pounds per inch.
The running rigging is generously sized. The mainsail and headsail halyards each use 121 feet of 1/2-inch line. The mainsheet is 97 feet of 9/16-inch line, and the jib sheets are 39 feet of 9/16-inch.
Accommodations
Mahogany joinery gives the cabin the traditional Scandinavian character common to many of the Diva 39’s contemporaries. The known record doesn’t describe the berth count or galley arrangement. Even so, the solid-wood joinery and sandwich deck aimed at cabin comfort identify her as a cruiser-racer rather than a bare racing boat.
Build Variations and Known Issues
One important complication is that the Diva 39 was also sold for home completion. Some boats therefore left the builder as kits rather than turnkey yachts.
As a result, the quality of individual examples may vary widely from that of a factory-built hull. Buyers and reviewers can’t assume consistent standards across the fleet.
The Verdict
The Diva 39 is a light-displacement Scandinavian cruiser-racer with an unusually powerful rig for her length. Her choice of keel configurations lets an owner trade draft for marina access, while the sandwich deck and mahogany interior reflect an emphasis on cabin comfort. The home-completion option, however, introduced meaningful variation in build and finish quality that any serious evaluator must take into account.
Pros
- Fractional rig with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio well above the class norm
- Lead keel with an optional shallow fin for access to more marinas
- Sandwich deck construction intended to improve the cabin climate
- Light-racer displacement profile with credible speed potential
Cons
- Home-completed boats may vary substantially in quality across the fleet
- The deeper keel option restricts the boat to major marinas only
