Overview
The Cavalier 39 is a Bob Salthouse design from Cavalier Yachts in New Zealand, built from 1973 until a 1979 sales tax surcharge ended the original company. Jim Lawry revived it as Export Yachts, and boats were built into the 1980s.
Design and Construction
sailboatdata.com lists a fin keel with a skeg-hung rudder, 39 ft overall on a 29.5 ft waterline, 11.33 ft of beam and 6 ft of draft. Displacement is 18,700 lb with 7,500 lb of ballast, and the masthead sloop carries about 813 sq ft.
Passages
Doug Esterman sailed his Cavalier 39 Fair Seasons singlehanded in the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge from Opua to Southport, finishing eleventh on line honours after nearly twelve days at sea.
Buyers Notes
John Neal rates it 2 of 5 and calls it a fairly good quality boat with a narrow, dated design. Production estimates vary, and boats from the original yard and the later Export Yachts run may differ in detail.
