Irwin Citation 40
Description
The Irwin Citation 40 is a fiberglass masthead sloop (with optional ketch or cutter rigs) designed by Ted Irwin and built by Irwin Yachts in St. Petersburg, Florida, primarily from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Part of the Citation series, it was designed as a racer-cruiser, blending performance influences from Ted Irwin’s successful racing designs (e.g., the SORC-winning Razzle Dazzle) with comfort for coastal cruising and moderate offshore passages. The Citation 40 targets sailors seeking a balance of speed for club racing and livability for family cruising or liveaboard use, with options for fixed shoal keel or keel/centerboard for shallow-water versatility. Approximately 100-150 hulls were produced, making it less common than smaller Citations like the 34 or 31. It’s well-regarded for coastal routes (e.g., Chesapeake Bay, Florida to Bahamas) but requires upgrades for extended blue water voyages.
Construction Details
| Designer | Ted Irwin |
|---|---|
| Builder | Irwin Yachts |
| Length | 40.000 ft |
| LOA | 40.830 ft |
| LWL | 31.170 ft |
| Beam | 12.170 ft |
| Max Draft | 6.250 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 16.50 ft |
| p | 44 ft |
| e | 14.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 16.50 ft | 44 ft | 14.75 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 44 ft - (13411 mm) |
| Foot | * 14.75 ft - (4496 mm) |
| Leech | * 45.76 ft - (13948 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.02 ° |
| Diagonal | * 45.92 ft - (13996 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 324.16 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 42.12 ft - (12838 mm) |
| Foot | * 21.97 ft - (6696 mm) |
| Leech | * 36.39 ft - (11092 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.98 ft - (5785 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 399.66 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 50.02 ft - (15246 mm) |
| Foot | * 26.74 ft - (8150 mm) |
| Leech | * 46.94 ft - (14307 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 24.75 ft - (7544 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 618.89 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 50.02 ft - (15246 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 29.7 ft - (9053 mm) |
| Foot | * 29.7 ft - (9053 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 1262.75 ft² |
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.