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Westsail 43
Designer: William Crealock  ·  Builder: Westsail Corp. (Usa)/Jomarco  ·  First built: 1974
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About the Westsail 43

Building on the legendary reputation of its smaller sibling, the Westsail 43 represents William Crealock's vision of the ultimate bluewater cruising yacht. Launched in 1974, this substantial vessel stretched the proven Westsail formula to create a more spacious offshore cruiser while maintaining the seaworthiness that made the brand famous among serious voyagers. With her traditional long keel and cutter rig, the Westsail 43 embodies classic ocean-crossing design principles. The generous 31,500-pound displacement and substantial 11,000-pound ballast provide exceptional stability and sea-kindly motion in rough conditions. Her impressive comfort ratio of 44.16 confirms this yacht's suitability for extended offshore passages, while the conservative capsize screening value of 1.65 reflects her inherent safety margins. Though only 61 hulls were completed during the production run, each Westsail 43 was built to expedition standards with robust fiberglass construction. The spacious 13-foot beam creates comfortable living spaces below, while the efficient sail plan delivers respectable performance under most conditions. This yacht attracts serious cruisers seeking a proven platform for world voyaging, trading some speed for the reliability and comfort essential for long-distance sailing adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.92 ft / 13.08 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 33.33 ft / 10.16 m
Beam 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
Max Draft 5.67 ft / 1.73 m
Displacement 31,500.00 lb / 14,288 kg
Ballast 11,000.00 lb / 4,990 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 948.00 ft² / 88.07 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer William Crealock
Builder Westsail Corp. (USA)/Jomarco
First Built 1974
Number Built 61
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 159
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
 15.27
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
 34.92
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
 379.8
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
 44.16
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
 1.65
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. 7.74 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.14
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. 1,548.19 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.27
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.50 ft / 15.09 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 20.50 ft / 6.25 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.00 ft / 13.11 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 20.50 ft / 6.25 m
SA Fore 507.38 ft² / 47.14 m²
SA Main 440.75 ft² / 40.95 m²
SA Total (100%) 948.13 ft² / 88.08 m²
Est. Forestay Length 53.58 ft / 16.33 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 82
Resources & Community
⚓ Class Association Westsail Owners Association 💬 Owners Forum Owners Forum & Discussion
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