"Northwest Passage", Wauquiez Gladiateur 33 Sailboat
Northwest Passage is a 1984 Wauquiez Gladiateur 33 sailboat, hull #278.
Her specifications are approximately:
- 11000 lb. displacement, 4800 lb. fin keel (lead ballast), full-skeg rudder
- 32' 10" overall length, 27' 3" water-line, 11' beam
- 6' draft per original specs., but about 6' 4" for actual Northwest Passage draft
- 50' total air draft (vertical clearance)
- 490 sq. ft. sail area with standard jib, 640 sq. ft. with genoa
- 7.0 knot, 8.1 mph hull speed
- Tankage: 20 gal. diesel, 40 gal. water
- Volvo MD-7B diesel, 17 hp, auxilary power
The Wauquiez Gladiateur 33 is a French-built cruising boat built by the small yard of Henri Wauquiez
when he was building high-quality, performance-oriented cruising boats, before Wauquiez was
acquired by Beneteau.
I bought and am outfitting Northwest Passage for my post-retirement cruising plans. Wauquiez boats are uncommon in North America,
and were previously unfamiliar to me. I will be assessing Northwest Passage's offshore handling on my
cruising in Northwest waters beginning in 2010, and after that I will decide if I want to outfit her further
for crusing to Mexico and perhaps beyond.
Northwest Passage has a sail inventory of full-batten mainsail with two deep reefs, No. 1 135 genoa, No. 2 working jib, No. 3
Hasse Sails small jib on pendant for heavier air, and a large asymmetric spinnaker with snuffer for light air.
Among Northwest Passage's amenites are rear perch seats that I designed and built and provide a good view when sailing or
motoring in light air, and which expand the seating capacity for taking people day-sailing.
For further information on the Wauqueiz Gladiateur 33 see:
