Fast Passage 39 Cutter by William Garden & Philbrooks Shipyard

The Fast Passage 39 was designed by William Garden and constructed in 1977 to the high standards of Philbrooks Boatyard in B.C. Canada.

History of the Fast Passage 39 Sailboat

Fast Passage 39 sailing through the ocean — sailboatdata.com

The Fast Passage 39 enjoyed a ten-year production run totaling 40 boats throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Most were built at Philbrooks Shipyards in Sydney, British Columbia, and a handful from Tollycraft in Kelso, Washington.

Length · 39'0
Year · 1977
Construction · GRP
Underwater profile · Fin
Sleeping berths · 6
Engine · 1 x diesel 50hp, Perkins 4-108

Fast Passage 39 Specifications

LOA: 39’6″ (12.0 m.) LWL: 33’6″ (10.2 m.) Beam: 11’2″ (3.4 m.) Draft: 5’6″ (1.7 m.) Ballast: 7,500 lbs. (3,402 kgs.) Disp: 22,000 lbs. (9,979 kgs.) Sail area: (100%) 735 sq. ft. (224 sq.m.) Ballast/Disp: .34 Disp/Length: 261 SA/Disp: 15 Designer: William Garden

Philbrooks Shipyard

Design

At 39’6″ with a beam of 11’2″ and a draft of less than 6’ (5’6″), the FP 39 is roomy, efficient, manageably sized, and instantly popular with would-be voyagers. Two interior versions were offered: a traditional “stateroom” or a sunken deckhouse option. In the stateroom version, a passage berth is starboard of the companionway stairs, with a chart/nav area and head just forward of that.

On the port side, the private cabin with loads of storage makes a great owner’s stateroom. The engine shares part of this space, but in most boats, lots of insulation and ventilation make it a fine layout. The traditional U-shaped galley with aft-facing sinks provides a secure work area while underway.

Garden describes the forward area as a “good two-berth coast cabin with lockers and a sit-around saloon.” Storage is adequate, and depending on the interior finish, the space can be both functional and pleasing to the eye.

The underbody shows a less wetted surface than expected for a cruising design from the 1970s with a moderately long and shallow fin keel, skeg-hung rudder, and cutaway forefoot.

The reasonably fine, raked bow with the canoe-like bustle aft gives a unique, pleasing, and functional appearance.

Brochure spread of Fast Passage 39 cutter sailboat — Fast Passage 39 Brochure

Francis Stokes and Moonshine, Another FP 39

Another Fast Passage 39 sailed to distinction was that of Moonshine by Francis Stokes. Francis sailed Moonshine in the inaugural 1982-83 BOC Challenge singlehanded around-the-world race.

Aboard Moonshine, Stokes captured a second-place finish in Class 2, one of 10 finishers in a fleet that numbered 16 at the start.

Francis Stokes described the Fast Passage as an excellent all-around sea boat, noting that when sailing against a Valiant 40, he would shorten sail quicker but always seemed to go as fast.

In writing about Mooneshine’s performance in the 1982-1983 BOC Challenge, he said, “I am sure that the 39 is very effective in the light going, despite being a true cruising design… The 5’6″ draft seems to work well downwind in those more anxious times…”

He noted that he used small headsails going to weather, often with a double-reefed main, staysail, and storm jib. Leeway was a problem with heel greater than 20 degrees, so reefs in the main were a regular drill.

A good test of any boat considered for passage-making is how easily it can be steered by a wind vane and/or autopilot. Francis remarked that his wind vane and autopilot worked well in almost all conditions; the boat was directionally stable even when surfing.