rustler 42 sailboat

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Cruising Yachts 40' to 45'

The Rustler 42 Sailboat Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Rustler 42 cutter was designed by Stephen Jones and built in the UK by Rustler Yachts Ltd.

Designed by Stephen Jones, this cutter rigged Rustler 42 sailboat is designed and equipped for ocean cruising.

Published Specification for the Rustler 42

Underwater Profile: Fin and skeg-supported rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 42'0" (12.8m)

Waterline Length: 33'5" (10.2m)

Beam: 13'4" (4.1m)

Draft: 6'2" (1.9m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 26,000lb (11,794kg)

Designer: Stephen Jones

Builder: Rustler Yachts Ltd (UK)

Year First Built: 1999

Published Design Ratios for the Rustler 42

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.4

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 40.0

Displacement/Length Ratio: 309

Comfort Ratio: 35.4

Capsize Screening Formula: 1.8

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Rustler 42

eBook: How to Avoid Buying the Wrong Sailboat

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.4 suggests that the Rustler 42 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 40.0 means that the Rustler 42 will initially stand up reasonably well to her canvas in a moderate breeze, but she'll need a reef in the main to avoid heeling excessively in a gust.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 309, tells us the Rustler 42 is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 35.4 suggests that crew comfort of a Rustler 42 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.8 tells us that a Rustler 42 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

Rustler 42 Sailboat: A Classic Ocean Cruiser with Modern Style

Are you looking for a sailing boat that combines traditional elegance with modern performance? Do you want a yacht that can handle blue water cruising with comfort and safety? If so, you might want to check out the Rustler 42 sailboat, an iconic ocean cruiser with an encapsulated keel.

The Rustler 42 is a classic-looking yacht that was designed by Stephen Jones and built by Rustler Yachts Ltd. in the UK since 1999. It has a cutter rig, a long fin keel, a skeg-hung rudder and a spacious interior. It is a boat that can take you anywhere in the world, while looking after you and your crew along the way.

In this article, we will give you an overview of the Rustler 42 sailboat, its accommodation, hull and deck, mast and rigging, keel and rudder.

Overview The Rustler 42 is a boat that has been constantly developed over the years, based on customer feedback and demand. It is a boat that has a loyal following among recreational sailors who appreciate its sea-kindly characteristics, its directional stability, its stiffness and its good load carrying ability.

The Rustler 42 has a length overall of 42 feet (12.81 m), a beam of 13 feet 4 inches (4.06 m) and a draft of 6 feet 2 inches (1.89 m). It has a displacement of 26,000 lbs (11,791 kg) and a ballast of 10,300 lbs (4,671 kg). It has a sail area of 1,135 sq ft (105.44 sq m) with a main sail of 440 sq ft (40.88 sq m), a yankee of 536 sq ft (49.80 sq m) and a staysail of 179 sq ft (16.63 sq m).

The Rustler 42 has a Nanni N4.50 diesel engine with 50 hp and a 100 amp alternator. It has a fuel capacity of 60 gallons (227 liters) and a water capacity of 120 gallons (454 liters). It has a stainless steel stemhead fitting with bronze rollers, a stainless steel pulpit and pushpit, Andersen winches and Furlex furling gear.

The Rustler 42 is available in different versions, such as an owner's version or a charter version. You can also choose from different mast height options, rig options, draft options and cockpit options. You can customize your interior layout, your woodwork, your upholstery and your electronics.

Accommodation The Rustler 42 has a spacious and comfortable interior that can sleep up to six people in three separate cabins. The interior is finished in high quality teak woodwork with solid teak trims and fiddles. The cabin sole is made of teak and holly plywood with access panels to the bilge.

The forward cabin is the master cabin, with a large double V-berth with storage underneath. It has an ensuite head with shower, sink and marine toilet. It also has a hanging locker, shelves, drawers and a vanity unit with seat.

The main saloon is open plan and features a U-shaped settee to port that can convert into a double berth. It has a large saloon table that can seat eight people comfortably. It also has storage lockers behind the settee, bookcases, bottle storage and lee cloths.

To starboard, there is another settee that can be used as a single berth. There is also a forward facing chart table that can accommodate a folded admiralty chart plus the usual navigation instruments and switches.

The galley is located to port aft of the saloon. It has a gimballed three-burner stove with oven and grill, a top-loading refrigerator with freezer compartment, twin stainless steel sinks with pressurized hot and cold water, ample counter space and storage lockers for pots, pans and provisions.

The aft cabin is located to starboard aft of the chart table. It has standing headroom, a full-width double berth with storage underneath, hanging lockers, shelves and drawers. It also has an access hatch to the cockpit.

The aft head is located to port aft of the galley. It has a shower unit with electric pump out, sink with pressurized hot and cold water, marine toilet and a wet oilies locker.

The Rustler 42 has plenty of ventilation and natural light throughout the interior, thanks to the opening ports, hatches and dorade vents. It also has LED lighting, 12V sockets and 240V shore power outlets.

Hull and Deck The hull of the Rustler 42 is made of hand-laid fiberglass reinforced polyester (GRP) with Lloyds approved materials. It has a white gelcoat finish with a blue cove line and boot top. It also has a teak rubbing strake with stainless steel capping.

The deck of the Rustler 42 is also made of hand-laid GRP with a balsa core for stiffness and insulation. It has a white gelcoat finish with molded non-slip areas. It also has a teak toe rail and teak laid decks.

The cockpit of the Rustler 42 is spacious and comfortable, with high coamings and good protection from the sprayhood and dodger. It has a single wheel steering system with a leather covered stainless steel wheel, a pedestal with compass, engine controls and instrument pod. It also has a folding cockpit table, cockpit cushions, cockpit lockers and a gas locker.

The deck gear of the Rustler 42 is well laid out and easy to use. It has stainless steel bow and stern cleats, midship cleats, fairleads and chocks. It has a stainless steel stemhead fitting with bronze rollers, an electric anchor windlass with remote control, a self-draining anchor locker with 45 lbs CQR anchor and 200 ft of chain. It also has a stainless steel pulpit and pushpit, stanchions and guardrails, boarding ladder and stern gate.

The Rustler 42 has a spacious foredeck with plenty of room for sunbathing or working on the sails. It has a self-tacking staysail track, two Andersen 28ST mast winches, two Andersen 46ST halyard winches on the coachroof, eight Spinlock clutches and two Lewmar hatches.

The Rustler 42 has a wide side deck with good handholds and easy access to the shrouds. It has two Andersen 58ST sheet winches in the cockpit, two genoa tracks with cars and blocks, two staysail tracks with cars and blocks, two Lewmar hatches and four opening ports.

The Rustler 42 has a large aft deck with an access hatch to the aft cabin, a lazarette locker, an outboard bracket, a stern light and an ensign staff socket.

Mast and Rigging The mast of the Rustler 42 is made of aluminum alloy with double spreaders. It is keel-stepped for strength and stability. It has an internal conduit for wiring, an LED tricolor light at the masthead, an LED steaming light on the front of the mast, an LED deck light under the lower spreaders and an LED anchor light on the front of the mast.

The rigging of the Rustler 42 is made of stainless steel wire with swaged terminals. It includes a forestay, a cutter stay, forward and aft lowers, cap shrouds and a backstay. The backstay is adjustable with a hydraulic tensioner for fine tuning the sail shape.

The sails of the Rustler 42 are made of high quality Dacron fabric by Sanders Sails. They include a fully battened mainsail with three reefs and a Selden MDS car system, a yankee with UV protection and Furlex furling gear, and a hanked-on staysail with UV protection. The mainsail cover is also included.

The Rustler 42 has a cutter rig as standard, which gives it versatility and balance in different wind conditions. The cutter stay can be tensioned or released with a Highfield lever on the deck. The staysail can be used as a storm jib or as an extra sail when reaching or running.

The Rustler 42 also has options for different mast heights, rig types and sail materials. You can choose from a standard mast (58 ft), a short mast (54 ft) or a carbon fiber mast (56 ft). You can also choose from a sloop rig or a ketch rig. You can also choose from different sail materials such as HydraNet or Spectra.

Keel and Rudder The keel of the Rustler 42 is a long fin keel with an encapsulated lead ballast. It gives the boat stability, performance and protection from grounding. The rudder of the Rustler 42 is a skeg-hung rudder with a stainless steel stock. It gives the boat good directional stability and control in all sea states. The rudder is connected to the wheel by cables and pulleys.

The Rustler 42 also has options for different draft versions. You can choose from a standard draft (6 ft 2 in), a shallow draft (5 ft 3 in) or a lifting keel (3 ft 3 in to 7 ft 6 in). The lifting keel version has a hydraulic system that allows you to adjust the keel depth from the cockpit.

Conclusion The Rustler 42 sailboat is a boat that has it all: classic looks, modern style, performance, comfort and safety. It is a boat that can take you on any adventure, from coastal cruising to ocean crossing. It is a boat that can be customized to suit your preferences and needs.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.

Other sailboats in the Rustler range include:

A Rustler 36 sailboat at anchor at Jolly Harbour, Antigua

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Another cruising wonder from the stable of Stephen Jones, first launched back in 1999 she marked the start of a slightly new direction for Rustler and the start of a long standing relationship with Rustler and Stephen. The design ethos was to create something which was classic looking but with a modern twist and the result was a lovely yacht that sails well and beautifully in all conditions.

The Rustler 42 is of course a classic looking yacht with a high bow and elegant sheerline leading aft to an overhanging transom. Her coachroof is low, maintaining her elegant look but it is long and wide creating plenty of space below decks. Below the water she has a long encapsulated fin keel and large skeg hung rudder, enhancing her grip on the water and fantastic upwind performance.

Her rig setup is powerful but easily handled by a couple. She comes cutter rigged as standard, giving a huge range of sail plan options. She bares all the Rustler ethos and philosophy first seen in the Rustler 36 , including the well regarded sea kindly motion.

Below decks, you descend the companionway to the very well thought through galley to port which has been designed to be the perfect space for cooking at sea. Opposite the galley on the starboard side is the forward facing chart table, which has been specified to be the correct size to take a folded admiralty chart. Every detail is thought through. Aft of the chart table is a pilot berth and the day heads. The pilot berth has a purpose built chart drawer underneath. The heads which is a wet room and is practically located at the bottom of the companionway and has specific storage for wet weather gear.

Moving forward you have the magnificent saloon which can comfortably seat 8 around the beautifully hand crafted drop leaf table. Plenty of stowage all around the saloon with specific book, bottle and glass storage and lee cloths to port and starboard seats fitted as standard.

The master cabin is forward and has a large double V berth with ample stowage beneath. Being the master, the cabin has an en-suite which has its own separate shower. The cabin also features a vanity unit and seat! Being a two cabin yacht, her 2nd cabin is aft and entered aft of the galley. There is plenty of headroom and stowage as to be expected from these fine cruising yachts.

Available Yachts

Rustler Yachts - Rustler 24
Rustler Yachts - Rustler 33
Rustler Yachts - Rustler 37
Rustler Yachts - Rustler 41 Motor Yacht NEW
Rustler Yachts - Rustler 42
Rustler Yachts - Rustler 44
Rustler Yachts - Rustler 57

Contact Details

Alan Baines Berthon USA Tel: (401) 846 8404 E-Mail: [email protected]

Yacht Specifications

LOA:	42ft – 12.81m
Beam:	13ft 4in – 4.06 m
Draft:	6ft 2in – 1.89 m
Ballast:	10300lbs – 4671kg
Displacement:	26000lbs – 11791kg
Main:	440sqft – 40.88sq.m
Yankee:	536sq ft – 49.80sq.m
Genoa:	670sq ft – 62.25sq.m
Staysail:	179sq ft – 16.63sq.m
Hull:	GRP
Deck:	GRP
Designer:	Stephen Jones
Hull:	A hand laid up system, using glass fibre reinforced polyester (GRP) in accordance with Stephen Jones construction drawings and using Lloyds approved materials.
Deck:	Glass fibre reinforced polyester (GRP) using hand laid up system.
Sails:	Fully battened mainsail with 3 reefs and Selden MDS car system. Cutter rig standard. UV protection to yankee and staysail. Furlex 300S furling gear to yankee, hanked on staysail. Mainsail cover.
Spars:	Anderson 28ST mast winch with clutch above. All standing rigging stainless steel 1 x 19 10mm wire throughout and including forestay, cutter stay, forward and aft lowers, cap shrouds and backstay.
Deck Wear:	Anderson 58ST sheet winches. Stemhead fitting in stainless steel with bronze rollers. Pulpit and pushpit in stainless steel.
Engine Options:	Nanni N4.50 (50hp) diesel engine with 2:1 mechanical gearbox.
	100amp alternator
	Engine is flexibly mounted with built-in drip tray.
	The engine is located over the keel, perfect for weight distribution.

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Sailboat Guide

Rustler 42 is a 41 ′ 11 ″ / 12.8 m monohull sailboat designed by Stephen Jones and built by Rustler Yachts Ltd. starting in 1999.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
LOA: Length overall in feet
Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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The Rustler 42 is a classic looking yacht with moderate height to the topsides, a sweet sheerline, pleasing overhangs and a long, wide and low cabin top. The Rustler 42 adds a performance element to other essential blue water attributes like directional stability, stiffness and good load carrying ability. Below the waterline she looks conservative, with a deep canoe body, long fin keel and a big skeg hung rudder. Read More

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Bluewater Sailboat – Rustler 42

One of the most attractive and capable yachts for a couple to sail the globs is the Bluewater Sailboat Rustler 42. Stunning room in a classic design.

This Bluewater Sailboat has a traditional appearance, with a lovely sheerline, attractive overhangs, and a long, wide, and low cabin roof. Its topsides are quite tall. Along with other crucial blue water characteristics like directional stability, rigidity, and strong load bearing capacity, the Rustler 42 also adds a performance component. She appears conventional below the surface, with a deep canoe body, a long fin keel, and a large skeg-hung rudder.

Looking for a used sailboat for sale? Check out the bluewater sailboat data and specs to make an informed decision. Ocean Wave Sail has data for over 10000+ boats that can help you select one to meet your sailing needs.

LOA: 42ft – 12.81m
Beam: 13ft 4in – 4.06 m
Draft: 6ft 2in – 1.89 m
Ballast: 10300lbs – 4671kg
Displacement: 26000lbs – 11791kg
Main: 440sqft – 40.88sq.m
Yankee: 536sq ft – 49.80sq.m
Genoa: 670sq ft – 62.25sq.m
Staysail: 179sq ft – 16.63sq.m
Designer: Stephen Jones

The renowned design team of Holman & Pye’s conventional long-keeled designs gave rise to the Rustler name, which had been used for many years. The 31 and 36, which had a transom-hung rudder and a small beam, were essentially a GRP version of their wooden designs from the 1960s.

They weren’t the fastest sailboats, like the majority of boats of that type, but they were tough, had excellent seakeeping abilities, and a well-deserved reputation for taking care of their personnel. Originally constructed in the countryside, Orion Marine acquired the moulds in the 1980s and shifted manufacture to Falmouth.

Focusing on the 36, Orion started to upgrade the design with extra teak, a premium finish, and a number of features not found on earlier boats, such as wheel steering.

Another cruising marvel from the portfolio of Stephen Jones, she was first introduced in 1999 and represented the beginning of a long-lasting partnership between Rustler and Stephen as well as a little fresh orientation for Rustler. The goal of the design was to produce something with a classic appearance but a contemporary twist, and the end product is a magnificent yacht that sails smoothly and exquisitely in all weather situations.

Westward, a Rustler 42 designed by David Sketchley, was debuted in 2021. She was the first Rustler 42 to have a carbon fibre mast, but more than simply her rig was innovative. She was named after the renowned 1910 Herreshoff racing schooner. She also boasts a distinctive interior design and state-of-the-art power management and battery charging technology.

These Bluewater sailboats sold well and it was evident that there was still a large need for a reliable yacht of good build quality, even if it came with a hefty price tag, despite the design appearing somewhat dated in compared to the offerings from practically every other yard in the industry.

Every sailboat builder must eventually make the choice of either building a larger boat or staying within the present size range. Orion Marine bravely made the daring decision to create a new 42-ft design after sensibly deciding that it would be foolish to ignore the demand from owners looking to trade up to a larger yacht.

Of course, the Bluewater Sailboat Rustler 42 has a classic appearance, with a high bow and a graceful sheerline extending aft to an overhanging transom. Her coachroof is long and wide, allowing for lots of space below decks while still preserving her exquisite appearance. She boasts a huge skeg-hung rudder and a long enclosed fin keel below the water, which improve her grip on the water and great upwind performance.

They chose design guru Stephen Jones to create a yacht with classical style, a moderate freeboard, and a beautiful sheer because they wanted to maintain their historic ideals but inside a bigger volume, more modern framework.

She would be faster and more manoeuvrable than her long-keeled predecessor with a long fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, and with a roomier canoe body, she would have much more internal space to make living aboard her for longer periods of time comfortable.

The 42 was created to be well balanced and, freed from the restrictions of an inherited design like the 36, which had many of the design restrictions of her time, had the engine installed beneath the saloon table. This design decision was undoubtedly influenced by Stephen Jones’ successful racing designs. This had the additional benefit of making the engine very accessible, which made repairing and maintaining it as simple as possible.

The sailboat maintained tradition in other ways as well, not the least of which was sticking with an island kitchen with the sinks near the waterline, which is still, in the opinion of many, the greatest configuration for a safe, ocean-ready galley.

Owners affirm that the 42 is a quick, stable, safe, and well-balanced yacht in all weather situations. It is cutter rigged and has a basic, strong spar. Although her setup is powerful, a couple could manage it. She is typically cutter rigged, providing a wide variety of sail plan options. She displays the entire Rustler attitude and philosophy, including the renowned sea-friendly motion, which were originally seen in the Rustler 36.

A manually constructed system employing materials certified by Lloyds and glass fibre reinforced polyester (GRP) constructed in accordance with Stephen Jones construction drawings For optimal resistance to porosity and tropical climates, the hull features a double gel coat and isophalic resin lay-up throughout with matched chopped strand mat and woven roving.

All deck fittings are reinforced with 12mm marine ply pads, while the coachroof and interior coamings are stiffened with 12mm balsa core. The bulwarks that come from the overlapping GRP laminate joining the hull and deck are covered with teak.

Stanchion bases and cleats are through-bolted to the top mounting surface. The hull and decks can be painted in a variety of colors, although the typical boat comes with white topsides and off-white decks. A non-slip coating has been sculpted into the side decks. Side decks made of teak can be added as an option. Two coats of antifouling in the owner’s preferred color have been applied to the hull, along with a boot top.

The interior joinery of this Bluewater Sailboat is made from premium materials and is built using only the best yacht building techniques. Solid European oak and marine faced plywood are the standard materials for joinery finishes. Below the waterline, the inside hull is floated, and above the waterline, it is lined with a substance that resists moisture. All drawers and locker doors have safe push-button latches. Skyscreens and drapes are options that can be installed.

You descend the companionway below decks to the very well-designed galley to port, which was built to be the ideal location for cooking at sea. The forward-facing chart table, which has been designed to be the right size to take a folded admiralty chart, is located opposite the galley on the starboard side. Every aspect is carefully considered. A pilot berth and the day heads are located behind the chart table. A specially constructed chart drawer is located beneath the pilot’s bunk. The heads, a wet room with designated storage for wet weather gear, is almost at the bottom of the companionway.

The spectacular saloon is next, with 8 people being able to sit around the exquisitely made drop leaf table in ease. There is plenty of storage space throughout the salon, with dedicated book, bottle, and glass storage as well as lee cloths installed as standard on the port and starboard seats.

A big double V bunk with plenty of storage space is in the master cabin, which is located forward. The cabin, which serves as the bedroom, features an en suite with a separate shower. There is a sofa and vanity in the cabin as well. A two-cabin yacht, her second cabin is located behind the galley and is accessed from there. Since these great cruising vessels are to be expected, there is plenty of headroom and storage.

Performance

This Bluewater Sailboat is not exhausting to sail for days on end, unlike some of the lighter displacement boats, which can be thrilling to sail but not for extended durations.

You may leave the harbour and head out to sea at 5 to 6 knots by running the Yanmar engine at 2,000 to 2,500 rpm. The batteries may only be 60% charged after 24 hours if you leave the mooring, raise the sails, and set sail while using the autopilot, instruments, fridge, and electric winches, among other things. After 40 minutes of cruising, they are fully charged once they are back on the mooring.

The Watt & Sea generator excels over longer journeys. With the Hyrdovane, you may enjoy sailing without having to run the motor for charging.

She is wonderfully balanced as she tacks and holds her way through the tack. She will simply sit there, hove-to, if you tack with the staysail sheeted and you have three reefs remaining in both the mainsail and the staysail.

She is a nice boat to live on in addition to being a fantastic sailing vessel. You will adore being on this boat because it does everything you want and is absolutely wonderful; it is comfortable. It’s challenging to single out just one aspect of the boat because it is so incredible—the way it sails also living on board.

Quick Notes

This bluewater sailboat is wonderfully balanced as she tacks and holds her way through the tack. She will simply sit there, hove-to, if you tack with the staysail sheeted and you have three reefs remaining in both the mainsail and the staysail.

She is a very intimate vessel, and she sails westward with ease and simplicity. About half of the time, she has been piloted alone, with only infrequent use of the electric winches, etc.

If someone were considering purchasing a Rustler, they shouldn’t think twice about it if that’s the kind of boat they want: a yacht that will take care of them, sail well, and carry them wherever in the world.

Now you can also precisely calculate the expenses related to boat ownership so that you can make smart choices based on your budget and sailing needs. Use this bluewater Sailboat Calculator to explore different options and make the best decision.

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Planning a Circumnavigation

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Last Updated on September 13, 2023 by Amy

Plotting world circumnavigation routes is a lot easier than it sounds. There are cruising boats LITERALLY all over the world. There are boats in the Northwest passage (up and over Canada), in the Antarctic, and everywhere in between. There are a few key things to take into consideration, but 95%* of circumnavigation routes follow the same general course.

Table of Contents - Click to Jump

Insurance Restrictions on Circumnavigation Routes

There are two major restrictions put on us by our vessel insurance; stay out of highly pirated areas and stay out of named storm zones. Insurance restrictions come with the option to ignore them. You can always go to these restricted places, BUT if something happens, your insurance will not be covered. Another option is that you can pay significantly more to be covered in these places as well. We have made the choice for ourselves to follow the restrictions set by our insurance.

By definition, piracy is the act of attacking and robbing ships at sea. By that main definition, the Caribbean is one of the worst places for piracy. Petty theft of boats and their tenders is a major issue in some parts of the Caribbean, and steps should be taken to protect yourself and your assets.

However, the piracy of the biggest concern is murder and kidnapping. There are two main hotspots where our insurance will not cover us; the Philippines and the Red Sea/Suez Canal (hereby referred to as simply Suez). Again, people cruise literally everywhere in the world, and there are people who cruise the Philippines (2015 reports state 200 yachts). The other side of the coin is true too. Just because you avoid the Suez or the Philippines does not mean you will avoid being kidnapped or murdered.

It’s up to you to decide the level of risk you are willing to take when planning out a circumnavigation route.

Tropical Storms

In North America, it’s a hurricane. South of the equator, it’s cyclones. In Asia-Pacific, it’s typhoons. Either way, your insurance probably has a word or two to say about where you spend tropical storm season.

Our insurance requires us to avoid certain parts of the world during storm seasons. This is why there is a mass exodus of boats from the Caribbean every year. Our insurance requires us to be north of roughly the Florida-Georgia line. Now, that doesn’t mean we are safe from hurricanes, but it does mean if something happens, we will have the privilege of consoling ourselves of our losses by applying for an insurance claim.

For those moving quickly, your primary concern is systems in the southern hemisphere. Just make sure you are moving from east to west quickly enough to pass through the storm zone.

World circumnavigation routes, like ours, usually have you dipping out of these storm zones for the season. It’s a great time to haul your boat out for annual maintenance, like we did in New Zealand, Australia, and Thailand.

Tradewinds for Circumnavigating

Around the equator lies the doldrums. This is typically an area with very little wind. However, each ocean has a wind pattern. In the northern hemisphere, winds circulate clockwise. In the southern hemisphere, winds circulate counterclockwise. This means that on either side of the equator lies a band of wind flowing from east to west. This is why 95%* of cruisers plan their circumnavigation routes to sail from east to west.

Factoring the Wind into Outfitting Your Boat

Knowing where you will sail will help you determine what kind of sail performance you are looking for in a boat. For someone doing a typical circumnavigation route, sailing east to west, you’ll be sailing downwind a lot. Some monohull owners have complained to us about how uncomfortable their boat is sailing dead downwind. Catamarans, however, typically perform best downwind. We have a very smooth ride when we are traveling with the wind and waves.

Outfitting your sail locker also factors in where you are sailing. For a downwind circumnavigation, spinnakers are highly useful – or so we hear. We’ve not had terrible success with our spinnaker, but find our screecher to be very useful. That could possibly be because we deviate enough from the standard downwind route.

For more about sail configurations in a cruising catamaran, read our Sail Trim blog post.

Those Who Sail West to East Circumnavigation Routes

There are a few who do sail the “wrong way”. It can definitely be done and done fast. However, you need to have a boat that sails well to wind. While most catamarans sail well downwind, we do not sail well into the wind. However, if your catamaran has daggerboards, you’ll sail much better to wind than a catamaran without daggerboards.

Circumnavigation Routes & Bottlenecks

This is why most circumnavigations follow the same basic route. There are major bottlenecks to passing around the continents, so again, we’ve got the 95%* of boats funneling into one narrow part of the world.

Panama Canal

We paid $1300 to transit the Panama Canal because the only other option is to sail against the wind and waves around either North America or South America. Taking one of the high latitudes routes is pretty dang extreme, takes a significant amount of time, and a toll on ship and crew. Ushuaia, a port of call in Argentina, reported 64 boats in 2015, versus 1,079 boats transiting the canal – 95% transiting the canal*.

Torres Strait

The Torres Strait occupies the space between Australia and New Guinea. It’s fairly small, just 650 nm between Thursday Island and Indonesia’s first port of clearance.

There are some cruisers (like our friends on S/V Field Trip) who are going over the top of New Guinea to get to Southeast Asia. Getting any further north than that requires dealing with the Philippines – either through or around the top of the Philippines into the South China Sea.

Cape of Good Hope

Traveling around South Africa requires tackling the Cape of Good Hope, which is not to be taken lightly due to the challenges in the winds and currents. The alternative is the Suez. There used to be a rally passing through the Suez. The other alternative is to hire private security, but that’s pretty complex. Reports show 358 boats sailing through Cape Town verses 19 through the Suez – again, 95% choose Cape Town*. I know the Mediterranean is a great cruising ground, but we decided if we want to cruise it, we’d rather cross the Atlantic twice than go through the Suez.

How Long Should a Circumnavigation Take?

Barring racing yachts who are smashing world records, it’s not uncommon to complete a circumnavigation in a year and a half. This is a fairly straightforward and quick route.

The World ARC is a one and a half year rally that circumnavigates the world. They have a fantastic route and schedule on their website.

Longer circumnavigation routes still use the same general track, but add on detours. For example, we extended our South Pacific portion into two seasons by sailing south to spend cyclone season in New Zealand.

We’ve met sailors who have taken 15 or more years to circumnavigate. That’s a lot of detours!

Our Circumnavigation Route

Our sailing circumnavigation route took us four years and three months to travel all the way around the world. You can read the summary of our world circumnavigation for more details.

Book: World Cruising Routes

This is LITERALLY the bible of sailing around the world. If you have ever asked yourself (or, god help you, asked on a forum) “I wonder when the best time to sail from X to Y is?” the answer is in this book.

Even though we know our route, I’m still pulling out this book every so often to look up possibilities. It’s a great guide to planning your circumnavigation route overall and planning each individual passage.

Buy Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Routes .

Book: Cornell’s Ocean Atlas

This handy reference book is full of windgrams – “a summary of wind direction and strength derived from the individual windroses along a specific ocean route “. Basically this means you can open a chart for a particular region and month and you will be able to tell where the wind “usually” blows from.

Buy Cornell’s Ocean Atlas .

Book Review: How to Sail Around the World Part-Time

Who: Linus Wilson and his wife, Janna
Available: Kindle, Kindle Unlimited or Paperback
Published: January 2016
Editing (scale of 1-10, 10 is best): 10

Linus Wilson has been cruising part-time on his 31-foot Island Packet. This is his second book, and in it, he details how one could sail a circumnavigation part-time. I agree – it is possible and might be the solution more potential cruisers should consider.

Wilson pulls a lot of statistics about sailing. Did you know fewer people complete a sailing circumnavigation every year than climb Mount Everest? An hour spent above base camp on Mount Everest is 264 times more dangerous than an hour sailing?

One question unanswered is how long it would actually take to sail the world part-time. Of course, it depends on how much time you dedicate every year, but hypothetically:

Year 1: the Caribbean to Panama, store in Panama
Year 2: Panama to French Polynesia, store in FP
Year 3: French Polynesia to Fiji, store in Fiji
Year 4: Fiji to Australia, store in Australia
Year 5: Australia to South Africa, store in SA
Year 6: SA to the Caribbean

Of course, you’d see a lot less than you would on a 6-year circumnavigation like ours, but you get it done in a fraction of the cost and less risk.

Bottom line: it was a short, interesting, and informative read. If you don’t want to full-time sail, or can’t convince your partner to full-time sail, consider how fulfilling a part-time adventure could be.

*Jimmy Cornell is the foremost expert on tracking cruising boats, and the statistics for this blog post were pulled from his article Where do all the boats go?

23 Comments

Wonderful article. I am from Goa, India. I wish you had come to Goa. I would have happily looked after your boat, and you could have travelled through India and enjoyed its majestic and diverse cultures and sites. I am 67 years old grandfather. I have been coastal and competitive sailing for the past 50 years. I am now planning to go on a circumnavigation on a Leopard 39 sailboat starting from Goa. Hoping to do it in 2 to 3 years. Your article and videos have inspired me. All the best. Thank you for your well written and detailed articles.

Wow, great to hear from you! It is amazing to us when we hear from people like you all over the world! We have some friends who visited Cochin last year on their boat, I think that’s a popular stop for cruisers. I know that formalities in India are complicated.

I have never been, but I love the food and the culture that I’ve experienced so far! I hope we get to visit someday.

Do sail down to Goa anytime you want. I will sort out all you entry formalities. Wish you all the best. Keep inspiring us with your wonderful sailing and videos.

Hi, how many miles is it when circumnavigating around the earth please? Captain cook did it in 60k, but is this because you cant just sail direct around the earth due to islands and storms etc?

Hi! Our circumnavigation was about 34,000 nm. You can read more about it here: https://outchasingstars.com/world-sailing-circumnavigation-summary/

Amy, when you and David are on a long passage, what kind of watch schedule do you keep? Assuming you’re both healthy (unlike your passage to St. Helena), what do you find to be a comfortable limit for the number of days at sea before exhaustion begins to set in?…or does it ever set in for you guys?

We do a soft 7-hour watch. The only actual watch is I do 7 pm to 2 am. Then David goes on watch while I sleep. When I wake up we switch, and he naps. Then when he’s up, I nap. By then it’s time to do the whole thing all over again! The worst night is the second. You’ve been tired, but not tired enough to sleep off your normal routine yet. But after the second night it gets a lot better. Exhaustion does not set in long-term – boredom does!

I really enjoyed reading your article, it’s very informative although that I don’t have a boat, it’s too expensive where I’m from, and it would take a fortune to be registered if it’s allowed in the first place, as authorities put a lot of restrictions for civil citizen to do so after military took over in 60s, for example we can’t camp as a first without a security permit bla bla bla that it raerly issued or thread fishing without a license and permit bla bla bla….etc, there isn’t a proper Marina for docking not even mention the amount of visas that it required. I love to sail one-day but till that time I’m really enjoy reading and watching. I’m from Egypt, and it makes me sad that sailors stop passing by, as we have a great shores, great diving spots, the Suez canal, and the right wind, but to be considered as unstable area for the Somalian pirates acts, and all the Egyptian governmental claims about fighting terrorist and repel ghost they imagine, this is horrible. It’s really tearing me that after around 8000 years on Earth people couldn’t yet handle their conflicts. I’m sorry to make it very long. Glad that some people had the privilege to try and be able to chasing stars and wind. Godspeed

Sarah, thank you for your comment! It’s amazing to us that we have someone reading from Egypt!

I recently read a memoir about a yacht who sailed through the Suez, and it sounded like they had a lot of difficulties, not just with pirates and corruption, but it’s hard sailing too! Egypt is very high up on my list of places I would truly love to visit because of its amazing history and culture.

We hope that somehow you get to enjoy sailing, even if it’s just continuing to follow us along.

You are amazing, all the best in your upcoming, and hopefully everyone can enjoy sailing in Egypt one day, and be able to see you here in the future.

Hi Amy, first, what a nice simple but very informative blog. I have run a ‘sailing for disabled people’ organisation for the last 25 years and as part of our 25th anniversary are planning to build a 20m cat for a round the world adventure. Planned for start in 2025 I need to get people to understand the real dangers and risks of such travel as well as the good things, would you mind if I used your blog in this matter, I would of course say that is yours. Details of us are under the ‘new projects button’ at http://www.disabledsailing.org

Hi Mike! You are welcome to link to our blog post. If you need anything beyond that, send us an email and we can talk more!

Excellent and informative article. I’d just like to point out the following statement where it states: “Ushuaia, a port of call in Chile, reported 64 boats in 2015….”

Please note that Ushuaia is not located in Chile, but rather within the Tierra del Fuego province of Argentina.

Thank you so much for the correction! I will fix it right away. Geography lesson of the day. 😉

Now you can completely delete my comment 🙂 It’s all sorted. Happy and safe sailing to you and your family. Antonella

Nice write up. Very helpful. Keep up the good work. However sailing through the suez is not really that dangerous. My friends Ingo and Maya sailed through from turkey to India and onward to thailand and had no probs with pirates.

I do hear that the piracy situation is improving. I do think there are a lot of good reasons to go around South Africa though, and I am glad we did.

Great informative article, thanks for sharing.

Where do you store your bladder when it is full? Also, thanks for all the info and videos. It has helped us a great deal in preparation for purchasing our boat,

Thank you! I’m glad you’ve found it helpful. We store the duel bladder in the cockpit.

On the longer passages, how much extra fuel do you carry in your blatter tank. What motering range do you think is sufficient for your longer passages?. I’m thinking the Helia goes about 750 miles on 125 gallons of diesel. Thanks Jon

Our fuel tank holds 125 gallons, plus four 5-gallon jerry cans, plus the 50-gallon fuel bladder, to total 195 gallons. If we motor at 1800 rpms with one engine it’s roughly .8 gph. Theoretically, our tanks should take us about 900 nm. Of course, we go months and thousands of miles without using all of our diesel.