Nightwind 35
Description
The Nightwind 35 is a high-performance American racer-cruiser designed by renowned Canadian naval architect Bruce Kirby (famous for the Laser dinghy and other performance boats). Built by Ft. Myers Yacht & Shipbuilding (or Fort Myers Yachts) in Florida, USA, starting around 1980–1982 (with production in limited numbers—likely low dozens to perhaps under 100 based on rarity in listings and historical mentions; some sources note only a few built before the yard shifted focus). It features solid fiberglass (GRP) construction with an Airex-cored hull and Klegecell deck for stiffness/lightweight, a fractional sloop rig for easy handling and good power control, a keel/centerboard (shoal draft) setup for versatility (deep draft access to shallower waters or beaching), spade rudder for responsive steering, and a surprisingly comfortable interior for its performance focus (typically 2 cabins with 5–6 berths, galley, heads, and good storage). It's praised for excellent upwind performance, speed (often 8+ knots in moderate conditions, with strong PHRF ratings ~114–152 in fleets), stiffness/stability, and seaworthiness as a "go-fast" cruiser-racer—well-built, competitive in club racing, and suitable for coastal/offshore passages despite its modest size.
Construction Details
| Designer | Bruce Kirby |
|---|---|
| Builder | Ft. Myers Yacht & Shipbuilding in Florida |
| Length | 34.670 ft |
| LOA | 34.670 ft |
| LWL | 28.120 ft |
| Beam | 11.500 ft |
| Displacement | 11400 lb |
| Ballast | 5000 lb |
| Max Draft | 7.250 ft |
| Min Draft | 2.750 ft |
| Year Built | 1980 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 48 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 13.50 ft |
| p | 43.50 ft |
| e | 15.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 ft | 13.50 ft | 43.50 ft | 15.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Nightwind 35 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 43.5 ft - (13259 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 15.5 ft - (4724 mm) |
| Leech | * 45.5 ft - (13868 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.01 ° |
| Diagonal | * 45.67 ft - (13920 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 336.77 ft² |
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Nightwind 35 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 39.89 ft - (12158 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.54 ft - (5346 mm) |
| Leech | * 35.33 ft - (10769 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.53 ft - (4734 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 309.72 ft² |
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Nightwind 35 - GENOA
| Luff | * 47.37 ft - (14438 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 21.51 ft - (6556 mm) |
| Leech | * 44.94 ft - (13698 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.25 ft - (6172 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 479.64 ft² |
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Nightwind 35 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 47.37 ft - (14438 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 24.3 ft - (7407 mm) |
| Foot | * 24.3 ft - (7407 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 978.43 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.
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