Published light displacement
The starting point before cruising stores, fluids, equipment, dinghy, and personal gear are aboard.
Cruising performance
Balanced performance for bluewater cruising.
Antares performance is measured the way owners actually sail: loaded for passages, balanced across wind angles, and supported by published data, owner reports, and passage results.
Cruising trim
How does the Antares 44 perform when fully prepared for passagemaking?
Evaluate the Antares 44 in cruising trim, not as an empty boat. The useful benchmark is a 23,700 lb cruising-displacement assumption that reflects passage preparation.
From there, performance is best read through a few connected references: sail area, reported owner speeds, World ARC results, sail crossover guidance, and planning polars.
Performance reference points
Three reference points for cruising performance.
Used carefully, ratios help buyers compare sail plan, displacement, and likely cruising behavior with more context.
Cruising displacement
A more useful comparison assumption for owners planning passages and extended time aboard.
Sail area / cruising displacement
The ratio cited for the Antares 44 using mainsail plus genoa against cruising displacement. 24 applies to the Tall Rig configuration.
Ratios with context
Use ratios as a starting point, not the whole story.
Sail area to displacement helps compare available drive against cruising weight. It is most useful when based on cruising displacement rather than light-ship figures.
The ratio still needs context: sea state, sail condition, trim, reefing choice, bottom condition, crew, and loading all influence the day’s result. The strongest performance story combines ratios with owner-reported speeds and actual passages.
Sail plan
Practical sail power across changing conditions.
The Antares 44 sail inventory gives owners practical choices without adding unnecessary complexity. Main, genoa, jib, and optional screecher support different angles, wind strengths, and passage plans.
614 sq ftMain
472 sq ftGenoa
732 sq ftScreecher
The Tall Rig option can suit lighter-air cruising grounds, preferred handling styles, and owners who want more sail-driven performance before turning to engines.
Performance polars
Use polars as a planning reference, not a promise.
The Antares 44 performance polar developed from Steve Killing's design work helps set practical routing expectations before a passage begins. Use it alongside sail crossover guidance, owner reports, and actual conditions underway.
Owner and passage results
Owner passages put the performance data in cruising context.
“We are in front of all the catamarans…”
Jason S., aboard Antares s/v Two Fish, Galapagos to Marquesas leg
Panama to Galapagos
Antares s/v Two Fish placed first among 9 catamarans in the multihull division on the first leg to the Galapagos Islands.
USVI to Cadiz
Blue Dawn, an Antares 44i, sailed from the US Virgin Islands to Cadiz, Spain in a little over three weeks, averaging about 7 knots.
Boat speed data
Reported speeds from Antares owners.
These Antares data points are presented with owner context and owner sailing conditions. They are intended as practical reference ranges, with actual speeds varying by sea state, trim, load, and sail condition.
True wind
Sail combination
Apparent wind
Boat speed
15 kt TWS / 90° TWA
Full main / 130 genoa
50° apparent / starboard bow
7–8 knots
15 kt TWS / 90° TWA
Full main / 130 genoa
60° apparent
9 knots
18–20 kt TWS / 110°–120° TWA
Single reef / 130 genoa
60°–70° apparent
8–11 knots
12 kt TWS / close reach
Full main / 135 genoa
50° apparent
6–8 knots
18–22 kt TWS
Asymmetrical spinnaker
150°–170° apparent
8–10 knots
Performance questions
What to review before comparing boats.
A few practical questions help connect the numbers to cruising decisions.
How is Antares 44 cruising displacement calculated?
Cruising displacement starts with published light displacement and adds anchor, chain, 75% liquid capacity, dinghy, outboard, and personal gear/provisions. Antares uses a 23,700 lb cruising-displacement assumption for this Antares 44 performance reference.
What does sail area to displacement ratio tell a buyer?
It gives a useful comparison point for how much sail plan is available relative to loaded displacement. It is not a full performance prediction by itself, because sea state, trim, sail choice, crew, and loading still matter.
What performance data is most useful for passagemaking?
Reported loaded-cruising speeds, wind angle, sail combination, and passage results give buyers a more useful reference than light-ship numbers alone.
Where does the Tall Rig option fit?
Tall Rig belongs in the sail-plan conversation for buyers who expect lighter-air cruising grounds or want more drive before starting engines. It should be matched to crew, cruising area, loading, and reefing habits.
Are Antares polars available for passage planning?
Yes. Antares performance polars are available as planning references for routing conversations. They are based on Antares 44 performance work and should be used as guidance, not guaranteed performance promises.
