The boat is a Westsail 32, hull number WSSF 00900573 which means she is a factory built boat, hull number 90 and completed in May 1973. It took over 100 years to bring her into being starting with a 19th century Colin Archer design of the 47' Norwegian pilot boat Regis Voyager, then progressed in the 1920's when William Atkins reduced and refined Archer's design for his 32' designs Eric and Thistle. In the 1960's the naval architect W.I.B. "Bill" Crealock was commissioned to take the wooden Thistle's lines and convert them for fibreglass construction. The design became the Kendall 32.
Snider and Lynne Vick purchased the tooling for the Kendall 32 after the Kendall operation failed and entered bankruptcy and at that time commissioned Crealock once again to redesign a new trunk cabin of which the end product is what is known as the Westsail 32.
They were manufactured in the USA and nearly 800 Westsail 32's built between 1970 to the closing of the business in 1981. The Westsail 32 is a boat that is not only affordable but has the capabilities of taking you anywhere your dreams lead.
Specifications
LOA: 32.00' / 9.75mLWL: 27.50' / 8.38m
Beam: 11.00' / 3.35m
Draft: 5.00' / 1.52m
Displacement: 19500 lbs./ 8845 kgs.
Engine: Beta Marine 37.5 hp
Water: 80 gals. / 303 ltrs.
Fuel: Diesel 70 gals. / 265 ltrs.
Description
She is cutter rigged with both the genoa and staysail on profurl furlers and has a bowsprit forward and a boomkin with Monitor windvane on the stern. Below the waterline is a very full keel and a large rudder. Enter companionway from cockpit and find U-shaped galley with deep stainless sink, and large refrigerated icebox to port; nav station to starboard. Engine access is under companionway stairs. Forward of galley is raised dinette, and across is settee with pilotberth above. There is abundant storage throughout in drawers, cabinets, and compartments. Through forward salon door is the head to port and large hanging locker to starboard. Double berth is forward with more storage and anchor locker is in the bow.
- The first owner, Joe Cross was a dealer for Westsail in the Pacific Northwest, and kept the boat in Alaska. She was named 'Crosswind'.
- She went through a number of owners, and was sailed to the South Pacific in the mid 2000's as 'Spiritus Invictus'.
- Sold in New Zealand and renamed 'Lona' in March 2007.
- In December 2007 she changed hands in Bangkok and was renamed 'Nagaraj'.
- Sold again in September 2010 and sailed to Mooloolaba in Queensland, Australia where I bought her in September 2011.
If anyone knows more of her history I would appreciate you letting me know.
When I bought her she was named 'Nagaraj'. I have a problem with the name 'Nargaraj' as I and none of my family, friends or the Coastguard can pronounce it. In researching her history I spoke with Bud Taplin from Worldcruiser Yacht Company and found her original name was 'Crosswind' which I think suits her. When I sail her home I will organise denaming / naming ceremonies and change her to that.
