Westsail 43 Ketch

Description

The Westsail 43 Ketch (also known as the Westsail 43 Aft Cockpit) is an iconic American bluewater cruiser designed by William I.B. "Bill" Crealock (who crafted it as a no-compromise passagemaker with heavy displacement and traditional lines influenced by proven offshore hulls). It was built by Westsail Corporation (USA) starting in 1974–1975, using the same hull molds as the center-cockpit Westsail 42, with production continuing until around 1979 (West sail built ~113 hulls total for the 42/43 series), after which Jomarco produced an additional 6 hulls (total ~119 across the shared hull). The ketch rig (along with cutter and occasional yawl options) was popular for splitting sail area to enhance balance, ease of handling in heavy weather or short-handed conditions, and versatility for long-distance cruising. It earned legendary status for exceptional seaworthiness—proven in numerous circumnavigations and ocean passages—thanks to its ultra-heavy displacement, long keel for excellent tracking and stability, thick hand-laid fiberglass hull, comfortable motion in rough seas, spacious aft-cockpit layout (private aft cabin, saloon, galley, nav station, and berths for 4–6), and robust construction ideal for liveaboard or serious offshore use.