Around 40 Typhoon 37s were built before the model was revamped as the Regatta 370 in late 1993. The design remained in production in various guises until Westerly’s demise a decade after its launch.
Design and Construction
Dubois’s design carried forward the strengths of the Fulmar while adding a larger interior and a higher standard of finish. The solid hull was hand-laid largely in the same manner as other Westerlys, using chopped strand mat. It also had two layers of osmosis-resistant isophthalic gel coat, with isophthalic resin used for the first mat layer. Biaxial cloth with unidirectional fibres provided additional reinforcement in strategic areas.
The deck moulding has a foam core, which is less likely than balsa cores to develop problems if moisture gets in. The hull carries Lloyds construction certificates.
Below the waterline, the Typhoon has a bulb fin keel and spade rudder. The bulb’s low centre of gravity makes the boat likely to be considerably stiffer than its published 36.7 ballast-displacement ratio would suggest.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Typhoon 37 has a powerful fractional rig on a single-spreader mast, which could be either deck- or keel-stepped. An inner forestay can carry a staysail, adding versatility.
The fractional arrangement allows the backstay to flatten the large mainsail as the wind builds. Reefing is quick and easy from the cockpit, which helps keep that big main manageable.
Under sail, the Typhoon proved easy to handle and strong upwind. She was well behaved on a reach and willing to surf, while remaining easy to control in a quartering sea. Her generous sail area helps in light air, and the fin keel and spade rudder give excellent manoeuvrability. Test sailors found her lively and very light on the helm, and recorded speeds above eight knots in moderate winds.
Accommodation
Practical Boat Owner judged the Typhoon 37’s galley and navigation station to be among the best in the Westerly range. The saloon was also open and airy by the standards of its period.
Early boats had a two-cabin layout. Their single aft double was significantly larger than the usual quarter cabin and included extra floor space and a small settee. On later hulls, buyers could instead choose a smaller double quarter cabin on one side and a separate single cabin opposite.
Forward, the choice was between offset single bunks with good foot room and a conventional double vee-berth. Both forepeak arrangements included an en suite heads and basin, in addition to the aft heads.
The interior has less volume than the 36-foot Corsair, while its darker woodwork admits less natural light than most modern yachts. Even with those limitations, the accommodation is very civilised in either layout.
Engine and Deck Equipment
Earlier Typhoons were fitted with a 28hp Volvo Penta 2003 diesel. Later versions, including the Regatta 370, used the Perkins-based Volvo Penta 2030, which is widely regarded as the more robust engine.
Standard deck equipment included stainless steel stanchions and lifelines, teak coachroof handrails, and an anchor locker with an electric windlass. There were two cleats at the bow and two at the stern, two winches on each side of the cockpit for sheets and halyards, and a pair of large sail lockers.
Lineage and Successors
Around 40 Typhoon 37s were completed before the late-1993 revamp created the Regatta 370. That version featured a radical Ken Freivokh interior aimed at French competition, but only eight were sold.
A further makeover produced the Ocean 37 in 1999, this time with a more conventional, high-quality interior. Only two were completed before Westerly closed for good. In total, 50 boats were built on this hull. They remain desirable and have held their value better than comparable designs of similar size and age.
Verdict
The Typhoon 37 is a genuinely performance-oriented Westerly that retains the marque’s disciplined construction and praised interior. It trades some interior volume and natural light for stiffness, pace, and balanced handling.
It suits a sailor looking for a Dubois-designed, fin-keeled cruiser that’s quick upwind, easy to reef from the cockpit, and better finished than its Fulmar ancestor.
Pros
- Stiff, quick, and easy to handle
- Powerful fractional rig with a staysail option
- Galley and navigation station ranked among the best in the Westerly range
- Foam-cored deck and osmosis-resistant laminate details
- Better value retention than comparable designs of similar size and age
Cons
- Darker woodwork and less natural light than modern yachts
- Less interior volume than the Corsair
- Only around 40 Typhoon 37s were built
- The desirable later engine was not fitted universally
