Glossary · Dimensions
Displacement
Also called: Déplacement, poids, masse, weight
The mass of the boat ready to sail, equal to the mass of water it displaces.
A floating boat displaces a mass of water equal to its own (Archimedes' principle): hence the word displacement. In racing, lightness rules, because a light boat planes earlier and accelerates faster.
Published figures vary with what they include (light ship, with or without sails, food and water): the source usually states the condition.
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No source yet · updated 30 Sept 2026