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Kestrel 35 Westerly
Designer: Ed Dubois  ·  Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1992
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About the Kestrel 35 Westerly

Designed by renowned naval architect Ed Dubois, this rare cruising sailboat represents a brief but noteworthy chapter in Westerly Marine's catalog. With only five hulls completed during its short 1992-1993 production run, the Kestrel 35 stands as an exclusive find for discerning sailors seeking a well-engineered coastal cruiser. The boat's moderate displacement of 14,110 pounds, combined with a healthy ballast-to-displacement ratio courtesy of its 5,710-pound keel, creates a stable platform that inspires confidence in various sea conditions. The fin keel and spade rudder configuration delivers responsive handling, while the masthead sloop rig provides straightforward sail management for shorthanded cruising. Ed Dubois's design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and seaworthy characteristics. The comfortable 26.48 comfort ratio suggests this yacht prioritizes stability and motion comfort over pure performance, making it well-suited for extended coastal passages and offshore adventures. The relatively conservative sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.4 indicates moderate sailing performance with an emphasis on control and safety. For sailors seeking a distinctive, well-designed cruiser with proven offshore capabilities, the Kestrel 35's rarity only adds to its appeal as a unique addition to any marina.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 34.58 ft / 10.54 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
Beam 12.25 ft / 3.73 m
Max Draft 4.92 ft / 1.50 m
Displacement 14,110.00 lb / 6,400 kg
Ballast 5,710.00 lb / 2,590 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 560.00 ft² / 52.03 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Ed Dubois
Builder Westerly Marine Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1992
Last Built 1993
Number Built 5
Associations Westerly Owners Association
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
15.4
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
40.47
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
320.03
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
26.48
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
2.03
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.96 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,181.81 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 42 gals / 159 L
Water Capacity 77 gals / 291 L
How It Compares

vs. Contest 35S, Jeanneau 342, Moody 35 Fk, Pearson 34 2, Riviera 35 Westerly

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
34.6 ft
Contest 35S
34.6 ft
Jeanneau 342
34.5 ft
Moody 35 Fk
34.5 ft
Pearson 34 2
34.5 ft
Riviera 35 Westerly
34.6 ft
LWL
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
27.0 ft
Contest 35S
28.6 ft
Jeanneau 342
29.5 ft
Moody 35 Fk
28.8 ft
Pearson 34 2
28.2 ft
Riviera 35 Westerly
27.5 ft
Beam
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
12.3 ft
Contest 35S
11.2 ft
Jeanneau 342
11.8 ft
Moody 35 Fk
11.9 ft
Pearson 34 2
11.5 ft
Riviera 35 Westerly
12.3 ft
Displacement
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
14 lbs
Contest 35S
13 lbs
Jeanneau 342
12 lbs
Moody 35 Fk
12 lbs
Pearson 34 2
11 lbs
Riviera 35 Westerly
15 lbs
Ballast
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
5 lbs
Contest 35S
5 lbs
Jeanneau 342
4 lbs
Moody 35 Fk
4 lbs
Pearson 34 2
4 lbs
Riviera 35 Westerly
5 lbs
Sail Area
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
560 sq ft
Contest 35S
Jeanneau 342
570 sq ft
Moody 35 Fk
Pearson 34 2
550 sq ft
Riviera 35 Westerly
580 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
Contest 35S
165 s/nm
Jeanneau 342
Moody 35 Fk
Pearson 34 2
146 s/nm
Riviera 35 Westerly
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
15.4
Contest 35S
Jeanneau 342
16.8
Moody 35 Fk
Pearson 34 2
17.0
Riviera 35 Westerly
15.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
40.5 %
Contest 35S
42.3 %
Jeanneau 342
35.1 %
Moody 35 Fk
Pearson 34 2
Riviera 35 Westerly
34.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
26.5
Contest 35S
Jeanneau 342
23.2
Moody 35 Fk
24.0
Pearson 34 2
23.5
Riviera 35 Westerly
28.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
2.03
Contest 35S
Jeanneau 342
2.04
Moody 35 Fk
2.04
Pearson 34 2
2.02
Riviera 35 Westerly
1.98
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
320
Contest 35S
249
Jeanneau 342
217
Moody 35 Fk
Pearson 34 2
Riviera 35 Westerly
326
Hull Speed
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
7.0 kts
Contest 35S
Jeanneau 342
7.3 kts
Moody 35 Fk
7.2 kts
Pearson 34 2
7.1 kts
Riviera 35 Westerly
7.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Kestrel 35 Westerly ★
Contest 35S
Jeanneau 342
Moody 35 Fk
2.1
Pearson 34 2
2.3
Riviera 35 Westerly
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