Back to Search
Westwind 42
Designer: George H. Stadel Iii  ·  Builder: Blue Water Yacht Builders  ·  First built: 1981
+ Add to Compare
About the Westwind 42

Produced during an era when bluewater cruising gained significant popularity among offshore sailors, the Westwind 42 is a capable passage-making sailboat designed with serious ocean cruising in mind. Built for those who want a reliable and comfortable vessel for extended voyages, this 42-foot cruiser carries a reputation for being a sturdy, seaworthy platform suited to both coastal exploration and open-water passages. While detailed specifications for the Westwind 42 are limited in available records, boats of this size and intended purpose typically offer a well-balanced hull form, generous interior volume, and the kind of stability that long-distance sailors prioritize over raw speed. For the prospective buyer, this type of vessel appeals most to liveaboards and bluewater cruisers seeking a self-sufficient yacht capable of handling challenging conditions with confidence. Researching a Westwind 42 purchase is best approached by connecting with current owners and dedicated sailing communities, where firsthand accounts of the boat's handling characteristics, build quality, and maintenance history can provide invaluable insight beyond what formal specifications alone can offer.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.00 ft / 10.36 m
Beam 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
Max Draft 5.50 ft / 1.68 m
Displacement 28,500.00 lb / 12,927 kg
Ballast 9,200.00 lb / 4,173 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 751.00 ft² / 69.77 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Staysail Ketch
Construction FG
Designer George H. Stadel III
Builder Blue Water Yacht Builders
First Built 1981
Related Sailboats ["Passport 42" · "Whitby 42" · "Valiant 42" · "Lancer 42" · "Tartan 42"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a Westwind 42? Submit a known issue

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
 180
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
 12.93
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
 41.87
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
 1.64
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. 7.81
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
 1.27
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 47.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 19.8
P (Mainsail Luff) 40.8
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.0
SA Fore 465.3
SA Main 285.6
How It Compares

vs. Lancer 42, Valiant 42, Whitby 42

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Westwind 42 ★
42.0 ft
Lancer 42
42.0 ft
Valiant 42
42.0 ft
Whitby 42
42.0 ft
LWL
Westwind 42 ★
34.0 ft
Lancer 42
35.3 ft
Valiant 42
34.5 ft
Whitby 42
32.7 ft
Beam
Westwind 42 ★
12.5 ft
Lancer 42
13.8 ft
Valiant 42
12.8 ft
Whitby 42
13.0 ft
Displacement
Westwind 42 ★
28 lbs
Lancer 42
21 lbs
Valiant 42
24 lbs
Whitby 42
23 lbs
Ballast
Westwind 42 ★
9 lbs
Lancer 42
7 lbs
Valiant 42
9 lbs
Whitby 42
8 lbs
Sail Area
Westwind 42 ★
751 sq ft
Lancer 42
906 sq ft
Valiant 42
849 sq ft
Whitby 42
875 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Westwind 42 ★
180 s/nm
Lancer 42
—
Valiant 42
138 s/nm
Whitby 42
153 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Westwind 42 ★
12.9
Lancer 42
19.1
Valiant 42
16.1
Whitby 42
17.1
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Westwind 42 ★
41.9
Lancer 42
26.5
Valiant 42
34.9
Whitby 42
33.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Westwind 42 ★
1.64
Lancer 42
2.00
Valiant 42
1.76
Whitby 42
1.82
Hull Speed
Westwind 42 ★
7.8 kts
Lancer 42
8.0 kts
Valiant 42
7.9 kts
Whitby 42
7.7 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Westwind 42 ★
1.3
Lancer 42
2.8
Valiant 42
1.9
Whitby 42
1.5
Find a Westwind 42 For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace