The Westerly Cirrus 22 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Westerly Cirrus 22 was designed by John Butler and built in the UK by Westerly Marine Ltd.

A Westerly Cirrus 22 sailboat sailing downwind

Published Specification for the Westerly Cirrus

Underwater Profile: Fin keel & spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 22'0" (6.7m)

Waterline Length: 19'0" (5.8m)

Beam: 8'0" (2.4m)

Draft: 3'6" (1.1m)

Rig Type: Sloop

Displacement: 3,240lb (1,470kg)

Ballast: 1,455lb (660kg)

Designer: John Butler

Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd (UK)

Year First Built: 1968

Year Last Built: 1972

Number Built: 398


Published Design Ratios for the Westerly Cirrus

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.1

  • Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
  • 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
  • Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 44.9

  • Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
  • Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 211

  • Under 100: Ultralight
  • 100 to 200: Light
  • 200 to 275: Moderate
  • 275 to 350: Heavy
  • Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 15.8

  • Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
  • 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
  • 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
  • 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
  • Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.2

  • Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
  • Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Read more about these Key Performance Indicators...


Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Westerly Cirrus

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.1 suggests that the Westerly Cirrus 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 44.9 means that the Westerly Cirrus will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 211, tells us the Westerly Cirrus is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 15.8 suggests that the Westerly Cirrus will have the motion underway to that of a lightweight racing boat, although she certainly isn't one. Crew comfort will often be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Upwind in lively conditions the Westerly Cirrus will slam enough to shake your fillings out with a motion that most cruising sailors have no desire to get used to.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.2 tells us that a Westerly Cirrus would not be as good a choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.


Other sailboats in the Westerly range include:


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