Southern Cross 28 Short Rig
Description
The Southern Cross 28 (Short Rig) is a variation of the highly regarded Southern Cross 28, designed by Thomas C. Gillmer, the same naval architect known for the Allied Seawind and Southern Cross series of ocean-capable cruisers. Built in the late 1970s through the mid‑1980s by C. E. Ryder Company in Bristol, Rhode Island (USA), the SC28 was designed as a heavy-displacement, full‑keel bluewater cruiser, remarkably capable for its modest length. The “Short Rig” version was introduced for sailors who wanted improved balance and easier handling in strong winds, while retaining the same rugged hull and offshore pedigree of the standard model. The Southern Cross 28 features a cutter rig with a canoe stern, Hartley‑type full keel, and strong hand‑laid fiberglass hull with an Airex‑cored deck. The short‑rigged version carried a reduced mast height and slightly smaller sail plan, lowering the center of effort for heavy‑weather control—popular among offshore sailors and those cruising higher latitudes or windy waters.
Construction Details
| Designer | Tom Gillmer |
|---|---|
| Builder | C. E. Ryder Company in Bristol, Rhode Island (USA) |
| Length | 28.250 ft |
| LOA | 28.250 ft |
| LWL | 22.000 ft |
| Beam | 8.580 ft |
| Displacement | 8500 lb |
| Ballast | 3400 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.500 ft |
| Year Built | 1978 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 33 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 13 ft |
| p | 28 ft |
| e | 11.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 ft | 13 ft | 28 ft | 11.75 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 28 ft - (8534 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 11.75 ft - (3581 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.73 ft - (9062 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 29.98 ft - (9138 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | * 169.76 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 28.37 ft - (8647 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.93 ft - (5465 mm) |
| Leech | * 23.76 ft - (7242 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 14.95 ft - (4557 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.02 ° |
| Area | * 212.04 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 32.75 ft - (9982 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 14.5 ft - (4420 mm) |
| Leech | 24.75 ft - (7544 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 79 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 10.27 ft - (3130 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 23.39 ° |
| Area | * 168.22 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - GENOA
| Luff | 32.5 ft - (9906 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
| Leech | 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 145.23 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.88 ft - (5755 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.45 ° |
| Area | * 306.85 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - GENOA
| Luff | 33.67 ft - (10263 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 21.58 ft - (6578 mm) |
| Leech | 31.25 ft - (9525 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 19.5 ft - (5944 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.88 ° |
| Area | * 328.24 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - DRIFTER
| Luff | * 33.69 ft - (10269 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.63 ft - (6898 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.55 ft - (9007 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perp | * 19.5 ft - (5944 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 9 ° |
| Area | * 328.45 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | 34 ft - (10363 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 22 ft - (6706 mm) |
| Leech | 31 ft - (9449 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 561 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - STAYSAIL
| Luff | 25 ft - (7620 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 9.5 ft - (2896 mm) |
| Leech | 21.25 ft - (6477 mm) |
| Length Perpendicular | * 7.9 ft - (2408 mm) |
| Area | * 98.77 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 19.51 ft - (5947 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 10.26 ft - (3127 mm) |
| Leech | * 15.03 ft - (4581 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 60 % |
| Length Perp | * 7.8 ft - (2377 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 19 ° |
| Area | * 76.11 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Southern Cross 28 Short Rig - STORMTRYSAIL
| Luff | * 11.74 ft - (3578 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 10.79 ft - (3289 mm) |
| Leech | * 9.78 ft - (2981 mm) |
| Length Perp | * 9.78 ft - (2981 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * -25 ° |
| Area | * 49 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.