Design and Construction
The Regina 38 measures 38 feet 7 inches overall, with a 32-foot-10-inch waterline and a 12-foot-1-inch beam. She displaces 20,944 pounds and carries 7,055 pounds of lead ballast, giving her a ballast-displacement ratio near 34 percent. With a displacement-length ratio above 260, she is a heavy, volume-oriented cruiser rather than a featherweight racer.
The hull is balsa-cored fiberglass. The lead ballast is set in a fin-keel configuration, with a spade rudder aft.
The pilothouse is well proportioned for the boat. It shelters the companionway without dominating the profile. High freeboard defines the topsides and also keeps spray well away from the helm station.
Rig and Handling
The Regina 38 carries a masthead-sloop rig, with the mast standing 54 feet 8 inches above the waterline. Her roughly 807 square feet of sail area produces a sail-area-displacement ratio of 17.
A smallish offset wheel wraps around the helm station, staying out of the way as people move fore and aft. That helps keep traffic flowing on deck during maneuvers.
Test sailors found her performance credible in a real breeze. During a trial off Portland, Maine, she performed well once the wind passed 15 knots. She beat into a moderate chop without difficulty and made around 6 knots while tacking through 95 degrees. With the same 15 knots abeam, she easily topped 7 knots. When the wind gusted to 20 knots, she surged as much as another knot faster on both points of sail.
Throughout the trial, she remained comfortable, with little sense of significant motion in either the cockpit or the main saloon.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cockpit has plenty of room, while the saloon provides a 270-degree view from the dining table. That visibility matters aboard a pilothouse cruiser intended for watching the weather and water from shelter.
The interior is voluminous without feeling cavernous, busy, or cluttered—the sort of balance that suits extended stays aboard in cold, wet conditions. Various shades of mahogany run throughout the interior woodwork, giving the accommodations a consistent northern-European finish that fits the boat’s higher-latitude purpose.
The Verdict
The Regina 38 is a purpose-built, high-latitude pilothouse cruiser with a sheltered helm, a roomy and calm interior, and a hull that handles chop and winds from 15 to 20 knots without drama. She is a comfortable, well-mannered cruiser rather than a speedster. Her construction and layout reflect a clear focus on cold-water voyaging.
Pros
- Pilothouse provides shelter without overwhelming the deck
- High freeboard keeps spray away from the helm
- Comfortable motion in the cockpit and saloon through 20-knot gusts
- Voluminous, uncluttered interior with a 270-degree saloon view
- Solid windward and reaching performance from 15 knots upward
Cons
- Sail-area-displacement ratio of 17 limits light-air pace
- Heavy displacement and generous volume favor cruising over agility
