B&R 23
Description
The B&R 23 is a lightweight, high-performance 23-foot sailboat designed by Lars Bergström and Sven Ridder as a showcase for their pioneering B&R rig, which eliminates the traditional backstay through swept-back spreaders and precise rig geometry. Built primarily of aluminum or advanced composites, the B&R 23 was engineered for speed, stability, and simplicity, combining a sleek, modern hull with a balanced sail plan optimized for minimal rigging drag and superior upwind performance. The design’s hallmark was its innovative rig structure, which used triangulated shroud geometry to pre-bend the mast for improved sail shape control and stiffness without requiring a backstay. The result was exceptional aerodynamic efficiency and a roomy cockpit with fewer obstructions. While relatively few were produced, the B&R 23 served as an influential prototype in the 1970s–80s for rig systems later adopted commercially by builders like Hunter Marine, whose cruising yachts would make the B&R rig world-famous.
Construction Details
| Designer | B and R Designs |
|---|---|
| Length | 23.000 ft |
| LOA | 23.000 ft |
| LWL | 22.000 ft |
| Beam | 8.000 ft |
| Displacement | 880 lb |
| Ballast | 220 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.750 ft |
| Min Draft | 1.000 ft |
| Year Built | 1992 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 22.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 6.92 ft |
| p | 26.90 ft |
| e | 9.97 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.50 ft | 6.92 ft | 26.90 ft | 9.97 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
B&R 23 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 26.9 ft - (8199 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 9.97 ft - (3039 mm) |
| Leech | * 28.09 ft - (8562 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 28.36 ft - (8644 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 4.5 in - (114 mm) |
| Area | * 137.68 ft² |
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B&R 23 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 18.83 ft - (5739 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 9.11 ft - (2777 mm) |
| Leech | * 16.45 ft - (5014 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.03 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 7.96 ft - (2426 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.02 ° |
| Area | * 74.93 ft² |
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B&R 23 - GENOA
| Luff | * 22.36 ft - (6815 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 11.13 ft - (3392 mm) |
| Leech | * 21.08 ft - (6425 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 10.38 ft - (3164 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.04 ° |
| Area | * 116.06 ft² |
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B&R 23 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 22.36 ft - (6815 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 12.46 ft - (3798 mm) |
| Foot | * 12.46 ft - (3798 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 237 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.