She sits at the performance-oriented end of the small-yacht spectrum. Her light-displacement hull, 45 percent ballast ratio, and length-to-beam ratio of 3.28 give her a narrow, purposeful character rather than a beamy, boxy one.
Design and Construction
The Sunwind 30 measures 30 feet overall, with a waterline length of 25.66 feet. Her displacement-to-length ratio of 164 puts her among the boats reviewers categorize as “light racers” rather than heavy cruisers.
A lead-ballasted fin keel and spade rudder form the modern underbody, but the yard offered buyers a meaningful choice of keels: a standard fin, a fin with bulb, and a wing keel.
Draft varies with the configuration. Loaded, the fin keel draws about 6.23 to 6.53 feet and is suited only to major marinas. The bulb fin reduces draft to roughly 4.59 to 4.89 feet, while the wing keel draws about 3.77 to 4.07 feet. Those shoaler versions can enter shallow harbours that the deep fin can’t reach.
Wetted surface is about 312 square feet, and immersion is near 853 pounds per inch. These figures are consistent with a lightly loaded hull that responds quickly to crew weight and sail trim.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig carries roughly 458 square feet of working sail area between the mainsail and jib. All the specified sheets are 12 mm in diameter: the jib and genoa sheets are 30.3 feet long, the mainsheet is 75.9 feet, and the spinnaker sheet is 66.8 feet. Those dimensions provide useful guidance when re-rigging.
A capsize screening value of 1.95 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 19.6 describe a stiff, lively platform more interested in speed than in smoothing every wave. The theoretical maximum speed for the displacement hull is 6.9 knots, while a Relative Speed Performance index of 85 underscores that this is a boat built to move rather than loaf.
Engine and Fuel
Two diesel options appear in the record. The smaller Volvo Penta 2001 produces 9 horsepower and gives a maximum speed of 5.0 knots. The later Volvo Penta 2002 produces 18 horsepower and about 6.2 knots—still short of the hull’s theoretical 6.9-knot maximum under sail.
Fuel capacity is a modest 9 US gallons, appropriate for a boat whose engine serves as auxiliary rather than primary propulsion.
Accommodation
Below, the Sunwind 30 has a galley and toilet facility, providing the minimum cruising infrastructure for weekend and coastal use. Its lightweight construction and racing-derived proportions suggest a functional interior fitted within a constrained 30-foot envelope rather than one intended for voluminous living.
Verdict
The Sunwind 30 is a scarce, lightly built Scandinavian design for sailors who value responsiveness and speed in a small package more than interior volume or universally shallow draft. Its three keel options are the headline distinction, allowing buyers to match the boat’s draft to their intended waters. The fractional rig and low displacement make it a willing performer, while the modest fuel capacity and engine figures confirm that it’s a sailboat first.
Pros
- Light-displacement “racer” pedigree, with a 45 percent ballast ratio and lively handling
- Three keel options spanning 3.77 to 6.53 feet of draft
- Fractional rig with useful sheet specifications for re-rigging
Cons
- Fewer than 100 built, making the boat scarce on the used market
- Deep-fin version limited to major marinas by its draft
- Minimal accommodation beyond the galley and head
