Elite 45 Tall Rig
Description
The Elite 45 Tall Rig is a high-performance, offshore cruising yacht from the mid-1980s, designed by Philippe Briand and built by Jeanneau’s Elite Yachts Division in France. It represents the largest model in the Elite lineup (which included the 32, 37, 42, and 45), blending Briand’s racing pedigree with Jeanneau’s robust yacht-building expertise. Produced between 1984 and 1989, with an estimated 80–100 hulls built, the Elite 45 was conceived as a light, strong, and fast cruiser-racer that maintained offshore comfort. The Tall Rig version introduced a longer mast and larger sail plan—about 7% more sail area than the standard rig—giving enhanced performance in lighter winds and improved upwind capability. Its balsa-cored fiberglass hull, balanced spade rudder, and deep fin keel made it both responsive and seaworthy. Below deck, the Elite 45 offered a spacious layout with three double cabins, a full galley, and fine French joinery.
Construction Details
| Designer | Philippe Briand |
|---|---|
| Builder | Jeanneau’s Elite Yachts Division |
| Length | 45.000 ft |
| LOA | 45.000 ft |
| LWL | 37.083 ft |
| Beam | 13.167 ft |
| Displacement | 21400 lb |
| Ballast | 8600 lb |
| Max Draft | 7.330 ft |
| Year Built | 1984 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 58.01 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 17.42 ft |
| p | 52.03 ft |
| e | 17.06 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58.01 ft | 17.42 ft | 52.03 ft | 17.06 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Elite 45 Tall Rig - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 52.03 ft - (15859 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.06 ft - (5200 mm) |
| Leech | * 54.02 ft - (16465 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 87.98 ° |
| Diagonal | * 54.18 ft - (16514 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 443.36 ft² |
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Elite 45 Tall Rig - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 48.46 ft - (14771 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.84 ft - (6962 mm) |
| Leech | * 42.5 ft - (12954 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.03 ft - (6105 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 485.32 ft² |
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Elite 45 Tall Rig - GENOA
| Luff | * 57.54 ft - (17538 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 27.94 ft - (8516 mm) |
| Leech | * 54.35 ft - (16566 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 26.13 ft - (7964 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 751.84 ft² |
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Elite 45 Tall Rig - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 57.54 ft - (17538 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 31.36 ft - (9559 mm) |
| Foot | * 31.36 ft - (9559 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 1533.79 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator |
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.
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