Perry Design Review: Santa Cruz 52

The existing Santa Cruz 50 is light, narrow and, while undeniably fast, may not be the best answer for a wide variety of weather conditions. So, if you have always admired Bill Lee's superb building job but wanted a beefier platform, the new Santa Cruz 52 may be just the answer you've been looking for. The 52 is not aimed at any specific rating system because, according to the sales brochure, "Basic boat speed is successful under any reasonable handicapping system."

Lee's lines have always combined low displacement — in this case a D/L ratio of about 105 — with low wetted surface and ultra clean lines. Compare the shape of the hull as indicated by the deck plan of this design with that of the Farr 44. Draft is 8 feet, 6 inches, with a straight fin with elliptical leading and trailing edges. Comparing this design with the Farr design, I think the rudder is almost identical in proportion to the keel fin. Still, we see here two distinctly different design approaches.

Designers often take the immersed areas of the hull and plot the areas on a curve called the displacement curve. This curve shows how the volume is distributed in the boat. Some designers start each new design with a displacement curve and match the sectional areas to the predetermined displacement curve. I would love to see how Lee's curve compares with Farr's.

What a nice, powerful cruiser this would make. There is a comfortable quarter cabin with double berth, a roomy, if spread-out galley, and a wide-open main cabin. There is obviously enough room to starboard for another quarter cabin. I have always liked Bill Lee's style of interior finish. It is clean, functional and cleverly detailed to hide the fact that every ounce has been considered.

The SC 52 is a masthead sloop with the mast stepped just forward of station 4. The headstay is pulled aft about 18 inches. The SA/D ratio is 25.62. I think the America's Cup boats are going to boost SA/D ratios. We are talking horsepower and, whether we are talking the family yacht, minivan or ski boat, few of us are immune to its attraction. In a racing boat it means you have the power to execute your tactics rather than sit and wait.

The SC 52 may be a boat that defies labels. Whatever you choose to call it, I'm sure it will be fast.

Boat Specifications

This story originally appeared in Sailing Magazine, and is republished here by permission. Subscribe to Sailing.