At just over 44 feet long, with an 8.37 ft beam and displacement near 12,125 lbs, the Wasa 55 is a substantial monohull. She has a lead-ballasted fin keel and spade rudder.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are fiberglass, with a sandwich-layup deck over a solid-glass hull. The keel’s lead ballast produces a ballast ratio of around 53 percent, while the displacement-to-length figure is 125—a stout, heavy-displacement cruiser profile.
An immersion rate of about 1,023 lbs per inch speaks to a deeply loaded hull that sits firmly in the water. Wetted surface measures roughly 387 square feet. With a length-to-beam ratio of 5.29, the Wasa 55 is comparatively narrow for her length, favoring seakeeping over interior volume.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Wasa 55 has a fractional sloop rig. Her reference sail area produces an SA/D of 18.0, rising to 20.9 with a 135% genoa. She carries more rig than 46 percent of similar sailboats, placing her mid-fleet in sail-power density.
Standing and running rigging dimensions are generous. Halyards run 36.7 m and are 14 mm in diameter; sheets run 13.5 m and are 16 mm in diameter; and the mainsheet stretches 33.8 m. The fractional configuration and modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio suggest a boat tuned for controlled power rather than outright acceleration.
Performance and Handling
The Wasa 55’s calculated maximum speed is about 4.6 knots, while theoretical displacement hull speed reaches 7.9 knots. Relative Speed Performance is indexed at 14.
Her capsize screening value is 1.46, and the Motion Comfort Ratio is 29.0. Both indicate a stable, comfortable offshore character. The ballast-heavy configuration likewise supports her behavior in a seaway rather than flat-out speed.
Accommodations
Below, the Wasa 55 has seven berths, a galley, and a teak-finished interior. Three-cabin owner layouts and alternative arrangements were offered. The teak-faced accommodation reflects the norms of period Scandinavian cruisers rather than making a bespoke interior statement.
Draft and Marina Access
The fin keel draws between 6.40 and 6.70 ft, depending on load, restricting the Wasa 55 to major marinas. Combined with the 35.1 ft waterline, this draft means shallow anchorages and tidal creeks are largely off the menu without careful planning.
Verdict
The Wasa 55 is a thoughtfully engineered Swedish cruiser-racer built in limited numbers. She pairs a narrow, heavily ballasted hull with a moderate fractional rig and rewards sailors who value stability and comfort over sprint speed—and whose cruising grounds can accommodate her deep draft.
Pros
- Lead fin keel with an approximately 53 percent ballast ratio for offshore stability
- Sandwich deck over a solid-fiberglass hull
- Seven berths, a galley, and a teak interior
- Motion Comfort Ratio of 29.0 and capsize screening value of 1.46 indicate a seaworthy posture
Cons
- Draft of 6.4–6.7 ft limits marina and anchorage choices
- Calculated maximum speed of only 4.6 knots under the power/sail model
- Fewer than 100 built, so spares and class support are thin
