At 27,558 pounds displacement, including 8,818 pounds of ballast, the Regina 43 is a substantial boat. Her 32 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio and 1.73 capsize screen value point to a hull designed with offshore stability in mind rather than minimalist coastal daysailing.
Design and Construction
The hull measures 43.5 feet overall and 36.09 feet on the waterline, giving her the long-keel-on-paper proportions of a vessel intended to track well under autopilot. Her solid fiberglass hull and deck contain no core materials in the structural shell. This straightforward construction avoids the hidden routes to delamination found in cored hulls.
Beam is a moderate 13.06 feet. A displacement-to-length ratio of 261.72 places the Regina 43 toward the heavy, seakindly end of the cruising spectrum, rather than among modern lightweight, high-volume designs.
Draft is fixed at 5.91 feet, with no choice between shoal- and deep-draft versions. That simplifies the used-boat market but restricts access to shallow anchorages.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries 979.5 square feet of sail area, producing a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.17. That figure reflects a conservatively canvased boat: quick enough to make progress in a breeze without being overly powerful for a short-handed crew. The trade-off is limited light-air performance.
The mast rises 61.02 feet above the waterline, tall but not extreme. A fin keel and skeg-hung rudder give the boat a defined pivot point aft.
Theoretical hull speed is 8.05 knots, the natural ceiling for a displacement hull with this waterline length. A comfort ratio of 36.29 suggests a motion that absorbs chop rather than transmitting it directly to the crew.
Engine and Tankage
The Regina 43 was fitted with an 85-horsepower Yanmar diesel. It’s a robust auxiliary for a boat of this displacement, providing ample thrust for maneuvering and battery charging.
Tankage presents a striking contrast. Recorded fuel capacity is just 14 gallons (53 liters), exceptionally small for an 85-horsepower diesel in an ocean-capable hull. Water capacity, meanwhile, is 396 gallons (1,499 liters), an unusually generous amount that suggests a design brief focused on long, self-sufficient stays aboard rather than extended motoring.
The modest fuel reserve deserves particular attention because it affects passage planning more than any other single system figure.
Verdict
The Regina 43 is a deliberately traditional bluewater cruiser: heavy, conservatively rigged, and solidly built in single-skin fiberglass by a Swedish yard. She suits an owner who values stability and water independence more than speed under power or access to shallow anchorages.
The 14-gallon fuel tank is the one glaring limitation in an otherwise well-considered cruising platform.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck, with no core to delaminate
- High ballast ratio and capsize screen suited to offshore work
- Generous 396-gallon water capacity for extended cruising
- The 85 hp Yanmar provides strong auxiliary power
Cons
- The 14-gallon fuel capacity is very small for the hull and engine size
- Fixed 5.91-foot draft limits access to shallow anchorages
- The conservative sail plan isn’t designed for light-air performance
