BoatsWestsail 32

Westsail 32

Cutter · Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder · 1971–1981

A heavy-displacement fiberglass adaptation of William Atkin's Thistle design, built for offshore cruising

Designed by William Crealock, W. Atkin & Colin Archer.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder

See her sail

The Westsail 32, on the water

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

Footage from Sailing Into Oblivion

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 43 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 43
CoastalBluewater

At 1.64 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.64
LightHeavy

419 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 419
EasygoingPowered-up

15.6 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 15.6
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

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

Compared with 428 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Westsail 32, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Westsail 32 is a 9.8-meter cutter-rigged sailboat, built from 1971 to 1981, known for its long keel and transom-hung rudder. Designed by William Crealock, W. Atkin, and Colin Archer, it is a fiberglass adaptation of William Atkin's THISTLE design. Westsail Corporation built 834 hulls, with approximately 400 sold as kits or bare hulls, leading to variations in rig dimensions and ballast. Jerome Rand has sailed his Westsail 32, *Mighty Sparrow*, on multi-week passages, including a transit from North Carolina to Cape Cod, navigating heavy shipping traffic and offshore wind farm construction south of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.6:29 Aboard *Sailing Into Oblivion*, Rand used Navionics on an iPad for primary navigation, supplemented by paper charts.1:43:57 He also singlehanded a Westsail 32 named *Montagna* from Fort Pierce, Florida, to Bermuda.33:53 Rand experienced a knockdown in the North Atlantic while crossing the Gulf Stream, where wind-against-current conditions created large, breaking waves, tearing an external structure of metal piping and solar panels from the hull.45:14 He cut the structure free to prevent damage and planned to replace a damaged GPS antenna and install new solar panels.19:51

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

The channels sailing this model, and where they were last seen.

Little WingAboard the Westsail 32 Little Wing, a solo sailor documents offshore passages, technical equipment upgrades, and the practical realities of managing sail trim.Sailing Into OblivionJerome Rand provides expert offshore sailing instruction, technical maintenance advice, and strategic passage planning for sailors operating small, heavy-displacement cruising vessels.Sailing On SV Glorious - Westsail 32 #42The crew of SV Glorious documents their ongoing sailing adventures and technical explorations aboard a classic 1972 Westsail 32 cutter-rigged cruiser.

Seen 88 times across 4 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Westsail 32 on video

@Sailing With Phoenix | Oliver returns to the show!Jerome Rand and Oliver discuss refit logistics, Cape Horn timing, and sea trial strategies for a circumnavigation.Sailing Into OblivionReality of a Refit with Colin Denker, EP#418Colin Denker's Westsail 32 refit in Beaufort, South Carolina tests motivation, procrastination, and liveaboard endurance.Sailing Into OblivionExercise, Sailing to Charlston, and what's next, EP#417A delivery passage from Fort Pierce to Charleston highlights the risks of overconfidence after easy sailing conditions.Sailing Into OblivionThe Engine Lives! EP#405A worn Perkins 4108 lift-pump lever caused two months of fuel-starvation problems aboard Into Oblivion.Sailing Into OblivionLiving Life and Facing Fear with Shane Pollard, EP#406Jerome Rand and Shane Pollard discuss managing fear and anxiety during solo offshore sailing and adventure writing.Sailing Into OblivionChartering a Yacht with Ian Pedersen, EP#407The Moorings operates 200-plus boats in the BVI across a tiered bareboat qualification system.Sailing Into OblivionSolo Show Updates, EP#408Jerome Rand discusses boat market trends, upcoming speaking engagements, and plans to move his Westsail 32 north.Sailing Into OblivionSelf-Steering Systems, EP#409An Aries wind vane paired with a tiller pilot powers a Westsail 32 through offshore passages on minimal solar.Sailing Into OblivionFireside Podcast from JeromesTown EP#410A solo sailor discusses using the moon and stars for night navigation and managing travel delays.Sailing Into OblivionKnocking Out the Checklist, Pre-departure, EP#412A solo sailor prepares a Westsail 32 for a two-week offshore passage using a comprehensive maintenance checklist.Sailing Into OblivionTime for a Quick Trip in the Atlantic! EP#411A solo sailor prepares his Westsail 32 for an Atlantic passage, timing his departure around inlet conditions.Sailing Into OblivionHolding Fast on the Dock, EP#413A Westsail 32 owner delays an offshore departure to avoid thunderstorms, using the time for boat maintenance.Sailing Into Oblivion

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Westsail 32 may be fitted out entirely differently.

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen for sale
1seen sold
US$150,000Median asking

For sale

  • A specific 1979 Westsail 32, Hull 802, named Montana, is being reviewed and is currently offered for sale at $150,000 after a significant refit

    from Lady K Sailingseen October 20257:26

Sold

  • Marc and Steph sold their Westsail 32 after listing it for under six months on Yacht World; the sale was influenced by Jeromes videos and thorough documentation

    from Sailing Into Oblivionseen March 20266:28

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
35.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.6
Displacement / length
418.6
Comfort ratio
42.9
Capsize screening
1.64
Hull speed
7.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1081
Hull
Hull type
Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1971–1981
Units built
834
Designer
William Crealock, W. Atkin, Colin Archer
Builder
Westsail Corp

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.

Hans Christian 3410.36 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA Robert Perry-designed cutter with a long keel, serving as the rare, original predecessor to the widely produced 36-foot series.
1st GGR2026 BOAT TOUR & INTERVIEW | Gunnar Christensen 🇺🇸 | POMPOEN – Hans Christian 34from Golden Globe Race Official
Hans Christian 339.98 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, designed by Harwood Ives for comfortable, steady offshore passage-making
Hans Christian 33: The Tiny Bluewater Legend Nobody Sellsfrom Practical Sailor
Nauticat 3310.11 mSame hull family0.4 m longerSiltala's inaugural production model, this long-keeled ketch offers a stable, high-comfort platform for extended cruising
Our camper is for sale | Renovated 1993 Toyota Itasca Spiritfrom cruisincasa
Rustler 319.58 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA heavy-displacement masthead sloop with a long keel, evolved from the North Sea 24 and sharing lineage with the Twister 31
Air Tools: The Secret to a Perfect Finish | Practical Boat Owner0:07from practicalboatowner
Beneteau Evasion 329.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA long-keeled masthead ketch that launched the Evasion line and marked a new era for Beneteau
The Cheapest Sailboat That's Actually A Perfect Cruiser 👌0:05from Reversing Entropy
Alden 32 Motor Sailer9.60 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterOriginally known as the Winsome Class, this masthead sloop features a long keel and was available in both sloop and ketch
OPB: 1969 Alden 32 Tour and Sail - msvLaReina (October 2025)0:04from keeldragger

The family

Boats like this

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

Westsail 42A William Crealock-designed long-keel cutter sharing its hull mold with the aft-cockpit 43 for heavy-weather stabilityWestsail 28A heavy-displacement cutter with a long keel, refined through production updates to improve sail area and handlingWestsail 43An aft-cockpit cruiser featuring a long keel and versatile rig options, including cutter, ketch, and yawl configurationsWestsail 39A Robert Perry-designed cutter with a production history spanning three different names and international builds.Westerly 33A center-cockpit masthead sloop offered with fin or bilge keels, designed for stable cruising and long-range comfort

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Westsail 32, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

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