Design and Construction
The Mirage 35 has an 11.67-foot beam and a length-to-beam ratio of 3.04, which period observers considered slightly wider than average for its day. The hull is solid fiberglass, with an internally mounted spade rudder and a fixed fin keel carrying 3,500 pounds of lead ballast. Its ballast ratio is 35 percent.
A displacement-length ratio of 234 places the boat among moderate racers rather than heavy voyagers. Its capsize screening value of 2.17 means it would not be accepted for ocean racing.
The reverse transom doesn’t alter any other dimension. The Mirage 35 retains the Mirage 33’s 26.75-foot waterline, identical sail plan, and shared interior footprint.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Mirage 35 is a masthead sloop carrying 468 square feet of mainsail-and-jib area. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 16.1 using the ISO reference sail, rising to 19.4 with a 135 percent genoa. That is a powerful rig for a boat of this size: the design carries more rig than 93 percent of similar sailboats.
The standing and running rigging dimensions are generous for a 35-footer. Halyards run 28.4 meters at half-inch diameter, while sheets range from 10.8 to 27.1 meters at 14 millimeters. These dimensions point to a rig sized for offshore-style loads, even though the capsize screen argues against bluewater racing.
On the racecourse, the boat has an average PHRF rating of 150, with ratings ranging from 144 to 156. Its theoretical hull speed is 6.9 knots.
An immersion rate of about 1,088 pounds per inch gives a clear sense of how added load affects the boat’s five-foot draft in marina approaches. The motion comfort ratio is 19.8, and wetted surface is near 333 square feet. Together, these figures describe a moderate-displacement hull that heels and recovers in a predictable coastal pattern rather than behaving like a heavy ocean passagemaker.
Accommodations
The shared Mirage 33/35 hull provides a roomy cabin with 6 foot 5 inches of standing headroom. Testers noted that the 35-footer was supposed to have a slightly nicer interior than its predecessor.
Because the waterline, beam, draft, and layout are identical on the two models, the accommodation volume is effectively the Mirage 33’s proven plan with modest trim upgrades. A 151-liter fresh-water tank and 76-liter diesel tank support coastal cruising without suggesting long-range autonomy.
Auxiliary Power
A single Volvo Penta diesel of around 21 horsepower drives the boat, with fuel capacity listed as both 76 liters and 20 gallons in the record.
Verdict
The Mirage 35 is a thoughtful evolution of Perry’s Mirage 33 cruiser-racer. It adds a reverse transom and a slightly dressed-up interior while retaining the capable rig, beamy layout, and lead-fin performance of the earlier boat.
It’s well suited to coastal cruising and club racing, with a powerful masthead rig and comfortable cabin. Its capsize screening value and moderate displacement, however, argue against treating it as an ocean racer or long-range voyager.
Pros
- Developed from the proven Mirage 33, with an identical waterline, beam, sail area, and interior footprint
- Powerful masthead rig exceeding that of 93 percent of comparable sailboats
- Beamy interior with generous headroom and a slightly upgraded finish over the Mirage 33
- Solid fiberglass hull, lead fin keel, and spade rudder
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.17 excludes it from ocean racing
- Moderate displacement-length ratio limits it to coastal cruising and club-racing use
- Five-foot draft is load-sensitive, shifting by a few inches as ballast changes
