BoatsWesterly Marine Ltd. Ocean 43

Westerly Marine Ltd. Ocean 43

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1997

A Ron Holland-designed masthead sloop built for offshore comfort with a stable, skeg-mounted rudder configuration

Designed by Ron Holland.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Westerly Marine Ltd. Ocean 43, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Sailing Gently

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 37 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 37
CoastalBluewater

1.78 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.78
LightHeavy

287 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 287
TenderStiff

41% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 41%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Heavier than ~88% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~75% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~81% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2535 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Westerly Marine Ltd. Ocean 43, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Westerly Marine Ltd. Ocean 43 is a masthead sloop designed by Ron Holland, built by Westerly Marine Ltd. from 1997 to the present, with a fin keel and rudder on skeg.watch It measures 13.3 meters LOA, 4.2 meters beam, 1.8 meters draft, and displaces 13,499 kg. Aboard *Sailing Gently*, the Westerly Ocean 43 is identified as a capable and comfortable cruiser for long-distance sailing, offering superior handling and interior space.14:42 It is considered a proven, cost-effective platform for circumnavigation when properly upgraded, suitable for couples or single-handers.17:22 The model is noted for its sturdy construction, making it a good choice for blue-water cruising, and is often compared favorably to catamarans for its cabin space and motion in heavy seas.10:22

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 3 times across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Westerly Marine Ltd. Ocean 43 on video

World Cruising BoatA 36-to-45-foot monohull provides the best balance of comfort and manageability for couples planning long-term blue water cruising.Sailing GentlyHURRICANE SEASON SAILINGA Raymarine autopilot failure on a Beneteau highlights the importance of securing steering wheel power connections.Sailing GentlyWhy did I buy this boat?Prioritize build quality and single-handed handling over price or racing features when selecting a cruising sailboat.Sailing GentlyLog Books and BoatsA veteran cruiser shares lessons from owning eight boats, including a 1979 Moody 36 and Elizabethan 31.Sailing GentlyMy dream world Cruising BoatThe Moody 36 and Westerly Ocean 43 serve as reliable, center-cockpit platforms for long-distance blue water cruising.Sailing GentlyLIVEABOARDChoosing a 40-to-50-foot monohull from manufacturers like Moody or Hallberg-Rassy suits most long-distance cruising couples.Sailing Gently

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
40.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
Displacement / length
286.7
Comfort ratio
36.7
Capsize screening
1.78
Hull speed
8.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1765
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1997
Units built
10
Designer
Ron Holland
Builder
Westerly Marine Ltd

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Najad Yachts 440-113.30 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA heavy-displacement cutter with a skeg-hung rudder, designed for stable, comfortable offshore passage-making
Najad 450 and Najad 440 - A yacht delivery from Hamble to Henan return0:24from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Regina 4313.26 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 13.26-metre masthead sloop featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a 1.8-metre draft for versatile coastal cruising
Regina 43 “ARKYLA” Yacht for Sale | A Rare Commodity | Tour with Alan McIlroyfrom Berthon International
Hallberg-Rassy 42 (Frers)13.22 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for blue-water cruising, featuring a stable fin keel and a 181-unit production run.
Hallberg Rassy 42 - Behind the Curtainfrom Practical Sailor
Jeanneau Sun Magic 4413.34 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-volume charter veteran also marketed as the Atlantic 44, built for stable cruising with a 2.12-metre fin keel
We found our next houseboat in Newport, USA | Episode 82 - Chez Team5:25from Chez Team
Columbia 4313.18 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA William Tripp Jr. design featuring a high ballast ratio and a masthead rig, built for offshore performance
Felipe from Velejar Brasil | #SAL #10414:21from Hashtag Sal
Nicholson 4413.18 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn extended Nicholson 42 featuring a modified deck molding that creates a convenient walk-through to the aft cabin
Camper and Nicholson 44 - A Yacht Delivery from Falmouth to Gosport0:34from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Westsail 43An aft-cockpit cruiser featuring a long keel and versatile rig options, including cutter, ketch, and yawl configurationsWesterly Marine Ltd. Ocean 33The final model built by Westerly in the UK, this Ed Dubois-designed fractional sloop shares its molds with the GK35Oyster Marine 43A fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, optimized for performance in the IOR 1-ton class

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