1979 Westsail 42 for sale in North Saanich, BC

Overview & History

Introduced in 1974 by the Westsail Corporation, the Westsail 42 was conceptualized as a no-compromise vessel for a cruising couple. Following the massive popularity of the smaller Westsail 32, designer William I.B. "Bill" Crealock was given a clean slate to design the ultimate long-distance cruiser. Between 1974 and 1980, Westsail Costa Mesa produced hulls 1 through 116, with a few more finished by Jomarco. The related Westsail 43 is identical in hull shape but features an aft cockpit.

Design & Construction

The hull is legendary for its "tank-like" structural integrity. Heavily laid hand-glass, often inches thick, provides immense peace of mind in extreme offshore conditions. Built with a long keel and an attached rudder, the boat tracks beautifully in heavy seas and performs exceptionally well on self-steering gear. The center-cockpit layout houses a spacious, liveaboard-friendly interior. The factory standard featured hand-rubbed varnished teak, a full galley, a navigation station, and a private stern cabin with an aft head.

Accommodations

The center cockpit design splits the interior into a main cabin and an aft cabin. The engine room occupies the space beneath the cockpit between the two cabins. The distance between the main and aft cabins allows for a degree of separation, both physically and psychologically. To starboard of the engine room is a passageway connecting the main and aft cabins. The passageway includes a large storage locker along the outboard side. A workspace is located within the engine room, to port of the engine.

Starting from the bow and moving back toward the stern are the forward chain locker storage over; the head and shower; the main cabin with a settee to port and a raised double berth to starboard. The settee and double berth are convertible to individual sea berths. The double berth is also convertible to a table. Aft of the main cabin are the galley to port and a large navigation station with flip top desk to starboard. Beneath the galley/nav area are water tanks and fuel tanks. The aft cabin contains a double berth, storage drawers and a large hanging locker. Aft of the aft cabin is the stern chain locker.

Sailing Performance & Handling

The Westsail 42 is a quintessential heavy-displacement cruiser, weighing approximately 31,500 pounds with 11,000 pounds of internal lead ballast. Its performance characteristics are defined by a high displacement-to-length ratio, which translates to a motion that is remarkably stable and predictable in heavy weather. Unlike modern, light-displacement fin-keel yachts that tend to "skitter" over the waves, the Westsail 42 uses its mass to punch through head seas, providing a level of comfort that reduces crew fatigue during long passages.

Handling is governed by a long full keel that provides exceptional directional stability. Once the sails are trimmed, the 42 is known to track as if on rails, a trait highly valued by solo or short-handed sailors. According to technical documentation maintained by the Westsail Owners Association, the boat was originally offered with both ketch and cutter rig options. The ketch rig is particularly favored for offshore work as it breaks the sail plan into smaller, more manageable pieces, allowing the crew to maintain balance by dropping the mainsail and sailing under "jib and jigger" in high winds.