Class CHeavy displacementPerformance

North American 40

Morgan · Dick Carter · 1977

Updated

Measured under the previous VPP (2021–2024)

The North American 40 is a 12.11 m heavy displacement racing yacht designed by Dick Carter and built by Morgan, first launched in 1977. It races in Class C.

North American 40 - Dick Carter - MorganP 14.33 mLOA 12.11 m

Length

12.11 m

39′ 9″

Beam

3.83 m

Draft

2.11 m

Displacement

8.1 t

Sail area

96 m²

No boat of this design has been measured under the current VPP. The figures below come from measurement records issued between 2021 and 2024, on the earlier scale, so this design carries no Race Edge.

On the podium

Where a North American 40 finishes when she goes racing.

Not enough data yet to show how this design finishes. It has not been found in the race results we have collected so far.

Recent regattas

The latest events where a North American 40 was on the start line, named as the organisers publish them.

No regattas found yet.

Raced one we are missing?

Report a regatta

Round the buoys, or offshore

A short windward-leeward and a night at sea ask different things of a boat. Here is how this one does in each.

Round the buoys

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Not enough data yet: no races of 10 NM or less carry a published distance.

Offshore & coastal

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Not enough data yet: no races over 10 NM carry a published distance.

Who she races against

The designs a North American 40 actually lines up with, most often first. The bar shows how those meetings ended.

Not enough data yet to say who this design races against. No result we have collected puts it on the water beside another design we track.

Speed at every angle

The shape of this design's speed, drawn from the measured fleet. Pick a wind and watch it stretch.

36930°60°90°120°150°WIND

Speed in knots at 20 knots of true wind. Green marks the angles that pay: the closest useful beat and the deepest run worth sailing.

How fast is a North American 40

Boat speed in knots, by true wind angle and wind strength.

Angle6 kn10 kn14 kn20 kn
Beat VMG4.355.055.24—
52°6.387.097.25—
60°6.587.247.42—
75°6.687.367.66—
90°6.617.377.78—
110°6.697.598.09—
120°6.587.568.17—
135°6.137.337.99—
150°5.376.947.66—
Run VMG4.656.147.16—

How they are set up

The range each sail spans across the fleet.

Mainsail36 m²
Headsail57 m² – 65 m²
Gennaker117 m² – 122 m²
Spinnaker128 m² – 131 m²

Nearly all carry a folding propeller. Crew weight is declared around 830 kg.

Rigging

North American 40 rig and sail dimensions

A North American 40 carries 14.33 m of mainsail hoist on a 4.08 m boom, a forestay 16.63 m above the deck and a 5.24 m bowsprit. Typical figures across the 3 boats measured under the current VPP, with the range each one spans.

Rig

Mainsail hoistP14.33 m14.33 – 14.33
Boom lengthE4.08 m4.08 – 4.08
Forestay heightIG16.63 m16.63 – 16.63
Fore triangle baseJ5.20 m5.20 – 5.20
Spinnaker hoistISP16.63 m16.63 – 16.63
BowspritTPS5.24 m5.20 – 5.29
Boom above deckBAS1.92 m1.90 – 1.92

Sails

Mainsail36.3 m²35.8 – 36.6
Headsail59.2 m²56.5 – 64.8
Gennaker119.0 m²116.6 – 121.5
Spinnaker129.6 m²128.4 – 130.8