No designer is listed, although references describe the boat as being in the Herreshoff style or based on a former Herreshoff design. The drawings came from Cheoy Lee’s engineering offices, not from L. Francis Herreshoff. Cheoy Lee had moved into fiberglass construction, and the Offshore 33 combines a solid-glass hull with iron ballast and a long keel.
Design and Construction
Cheoy Lee built the Offshore 33 with a solid-fiberglass hull and a solid-fiberglass deck. Published displacement is 10,482 pounds, including 2,500 pounds of iron ballast—less than half the ballast carried by comparable ketches.
That light displacement produces a displacement/length ratio of 254 and a sail area/displacement ratio of 17.4. The comfort ratio is a low 26, while the capsize number is very close to the maximum advisable value of 2.
Rig and Handling
The Offshore 33 has a split ketch rig, full keel, and moderate draft. Its mizzen is larger than was usual on early CCA yawls, and it intrudes much farther into the cockpit than a yawl’s mizzen would.
The light displacement makes the boat lively. She performs best on a broad reach and while running in all conditions, but especially in a breeze. Upwind performance is good in very light air. As the wind builds, however, the light displacement and very low ballast prevent her from carrying sail, and performance falls off sharply.
Known Issues
The very low ballast weight and ballast/displacement ratio limit the boat’s ability to carry sail as the wind rises, making reduced performance in a stronger breeze inherent in the design. The capsize value near 2.0 and comfort ratio of 26 are consequences of the same light-displacement approach.
The Verdict
The Offshore 33 is a Hong Kong-built ketch whose light displacement and modest iron ballast make her quick downwind and acceptable upwind in light air. Once the breeze hardens, however, her performance becomes limited. She’s best suited to sheltered or light-air cruising.
Pros
- Sporty displacement/length and sail area/displacement ratios for a full-keel ketch
- Strong performance on a broad reach and while running, especially in a breeze
- Good upwind behavior in light air
- Traditional ketch styling with a larger mizzen
Cons
- Very low ballast limits sail-carrying ability in stronger wind
- Comfort ratio of 26 and capsize number near 2.0 constrain the margin
- Mizzen intrudes heavily into the cockpit
