Design and Construction
The Cyclades 43.3 is built predominantly of fibreglass with wood trim, and both hull and deck are fibreglass with a balsa core — a sandwich that keeps weight down and adds stiffness and sound insulation, though it demands disciplined sealing of every deck fitting over the years. The hull carries a slightly raked stem and a walk-through reverse transom with a swimming platform, while an internally mounted spade rudder is controlled by dual wheels. Below, a fixed fin keel with a weighted bulb gives a moderate draft of just over six feet. The design belongs to the Cyclades range of yachts, a line aimed at straightforward cruising rather than offshore certification.
Rig and Handling
Above deck the boat is a fractional sloop with a deck-stepped mast, two sets of swept spreaders, and aluminium spars. The cockpit is laid out so that all manoeuvres are really simple, with genoa winches near the helm and a double helm position that improves comfort when sailing and moving about the boat. Instrument supports sit at the cockpit table and on the helm consoles. Yachting World's tester Matthew Sheahan noted a shortage of winches on the Cyclades 43, a consequence of the simplified charter-oriented deck plan. Once trimmed, Sheahan reported she sails well and is stiff, barreling upwind at just under seven knots and reaching eight with ease, and remains easy to steer in a straight line and responsive when twisting over waves — though with the twin-wheel system she is rather heavy on the helm. Yacht broker Richard Jordan wrote that the Cyclades 43 is absolutely not a bluewater boat and that the series is not rated for offshore work, calling it a great coastline sailor better suited to hopping between the Bahamas or cruising the Caribbean.
Accommodations
Below, the Cyclades 43.3 sleeps six in a bow cabin with a double berth and two aft cabins, each also with a double berth, and there are three heads, one serving each cabin. The main salon holds a U-shaped settee and a straight settee, with the galley to port in a straight configuration fitted with a three-burner stove, refrigerator, freezer, and sink. A navigation station sits to starboard in the salon. The arrangement is plainly charter-derived: private cabins with en-suite heads, a social saloon, and a galley that lets a single cook work a busy boat without blocking passage.
Known Issues
Sheahan's report of a winch shortage explains why short-handed sail handling can be laborious when reefing and halyard work share limited hardware. The twin-wheel steering is also reported as heavy on the helm, a point any trial sailor should feel before committing.
The Verdict
The Cyclades 43.3 is a purpose-built charter cruiser that rewards a relaxed coastal sailor with voluminous, well-divided accommodations and a simple, sociable cockpit. It is not a boat for ocean passages, but within its intended trade — island-hopping and shoreline cruising — it is stiff, roomy, and forgiving.
Pros
- Three double cabins each with a private head, ideal for charter or family use
- Simple, helm-forward cockpit layout with genoa winches near the wheels
- Stiff, quick upwind and easy to steer in a straight line once trimmed
- Shared hull with the 43.4 gives buyers a known, repeated production platform
Cons
- Twin-wheel steering reported as heavy on the helm
- Winch count criticized as short for non-charter short-handed sailing
- Not rated for offshore work per broker assessment; a coastline sailor only
