Westsail 32 Cutter Rig

Description

The Westsail 32 (often called the Westsail 32 Cutter) is an iconic American bluewater cruiser designed by W.I.B. "Bill" Crealock (who adapted it for fiberglass construction) based on William Atkin's Thistle design (itself derived from earlier Colin Archer-inspired Norwegian double-enders like the Eric). It was built by Westsail Corporation (USA, originally starting as Kendall Yacht Corp.) from 1971 to 1981, with approximately 830–834 hulls produced—about half sold as kits or bare hulls/decks for owner completion, making it one of the most successful heavy-displacement cruisers of its era. It gained legendary status for exceptional seaworthiness, proven in numerous circumnavigations and ocean passages, thanks to its robust hand-laid fiberglass hull (very thick layup), full long keel with transom-hung rudder for straight tracking and stability, heavy displacement for comfortable motion in rough seas, cutter rig (most boats featured a single mast with mainsail, staysail/forestaysail, and yankee jib on a bowsprit, plus a boomkin for the backstay—extending LOA to ~40 ft), clear side decks with external chainplates, and a spacious, traditional interior (often with V-berth forward, saloon, galley, nav station, and quarter berth) suited for liveaboard or long-distance cruising.