The model formed part of the Regatta range created for Westerly in 1993 by interior designer Ken Freivokh. Its 29-foot overall hull has a 23-foot-7-inch waterline and a beam of 9 feet 11 inches. Buyers could choose between a five-foot-draft fin keel and twin keels drawing just 3 feet 4 inches.
Design and Construction
Dubois drew the Regatta 290 as a development of the Merlin 28. It belonged to the three-range model structure Westerly adopted in 1993, alongside the Oceans and Victorias ranges.
The boat displaces 7,694 pounds and carries either 2,987 or 3,329 pounds of ballast, depending on the keel configuration. The twin-keel option continued Westerly’s tradition of bilge-keeled cruisers. Its 3-foot-4-inch draft suits shoal-water cruising, while the fin-keel version draws five feet and offers more upwind bite.
The aft-cockpit arrangement puts the helm and primary controls behind the cabin trunk, following the conventional layout for a boat of this size.
Rig and Handling
The Regatta 290 is a masthead sloop with the sail code R290. It carries a 208-square-foot mainsail, a 236-square-foot No. 1 genoa, and a 129-square-foot No. 1 jib. Its total working sail area is 330 square feet.
The sail plan is moderate for a 29-footer. Combined with the boat’s displacement, it places the 290 in the light-displacement cruiser bracket rather than among heavier offshore types.
The twin-keel version trades some windward ability for the ground tolerance and shoal-water access of its 3-foot-4-inch draft. The fin-keel model uses its deeper blade to hold a line closer to the wind.
Accommodation
Below, the Regatta 290 has seven berths and a single head. That berth count is generous for a 29-foot hull and reflects Freivokh’s work on the Regatta interiors, fitting maximum sleeping capacity into the beamy, 9-foot-11-inch hull.
One head serves the full berth complement without a second bathroom space. That’s a typical compromise aboard a boat of this length designed to accommodate a crew or family.
Verdict
The Regatta 290 is a rare, short-run Dubois design that distilled Westerly’s late-1990s Regatta philosophy into a compact, configurable 29-footer. With only eleven built, it’s an uncommon sight. Its twin-keel option and seven-berth interior nevertheless make it a distinctive pocket cruiser for shoal-draft waters.
Pros
- Choice of fin or twin keels for draft flexibility
- Seven berths in a 29-foot hull
- Dubois design lineage through the Merlin development path
Cons
- Only eleven built, limiting spares and the scale of the owner network
- A single head for a seven-berth layout
