Design and Construction
The hull and deck are fiberglass throughout, with solid rather than cored construction. This was the Belgian yard’s standard practice for the demanding Belgian coast, and the Spirit 29 follows that tradition.
The hull has a fin keel and spade rudder carried on the 23-foot-2-inch waterline. Displacement is about 7,055 pounds, and beam is 9 feet 11 inches. Its length-to-beam ratio of 2.91 makes the boat beamier—and more open below—than roughly two-thirds of comparable sailboats, with more room than 69 percent of similar designs, according to the design data.
The displacement-length ratio of 252 places the Spirit 29 among what the data calls “moderate racers” rather than heavy cruisers. An immersion rate of 801 pounds per inch points to a hull that loads and trims predictably. The design figures characterize the Spirit 29 as a moderately weighted coastal boat.
Rig, Handling, and Engine
The masthead rig carries 495 square feet of sail, producing a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 21.54. That’s enough sail to move the boat without making it overcanvased for a shorthanded crew.
The standing and running geometry is modest. Jib and genoa sheets are about 28.9 feet long and 3/8 inch in diameter. The mainsheet is about 72.2 feet, while the spinnaker sheets are 63.5 feet; all are 10 mm. These running-rigging dimensions are given in the design specifications.
The cited engine option is an 18-horsepower inboard diesel with shaft drive, a straightforward installation that has aged predictably in the fleet. Calculated maximum speed under power is about 5.7 knots, while displacement hull speed is near 6.5 knots.
Depending on load, the fin keel draws between 5.41 and 5.71 feet—shallow enough for most marina entrances.
Performance Envelope
The Spirit 29’s Motion Comfort Ratio is 20.5, making it more comfortable than 38 percent of similar designs. That suggests pleasant, though not standout, motion in a seaway.
More telling is the capsize screening value of 2.07. By the standard measure, that figure indicates the boat wouldn’t be accepted to participate in ocean races. The capsize screening figure places the Spirit 29 outside the ocean-racing category. Together with its moderate displacement and 269 square feet of wetted surface, this puts the boat firmly in the coastal and weekend-cruising camp rather than the offshore-racing fleet.
Accommodations
Below, the Spirit 29 has six berths, a layout suited to a small family or two couples harbor hopping. The beamy proportions de Ridder gave the hull translate into useful interior volume for a boat under 29 feet. The six-berth arrangement defines the accommodation footprint.
Production and Ownership
Production ended in 1988, and only 37 hulls appear in the specification record, although fewer than 100 were completed overall. Any surviving Spirit 29 is therefore a low-volume Belgian build. Its spares follow the Van Heygen yard lineage rather than a mass-market pattern, limiting parts commonality.
The Verdict
The Spirit 29 is a compact, beamy coastal cruiser-racer from the Belgian Spirit line. It’s best suited to sheltered-water and inshore sailing rather than offshore racing. Solid-GRP construction and a six-berth layout make it a practical small-cruiser buy where its Belgian build origin matters more than ocean credentials.
Pros
- Beamy, spacious layout for its length, with more room than 69 percent of comparable designs
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck in the Belgian construction tradition
- Moderate-racer displacement profile with a manageable 495-square-foot rig
- Fin keel shallow enough for most marinas
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes it from ocean racing
- Only moderately comfortable motion, better than 38 percent of comparable boats
- Low production volume limits parts commonality
