My wife, Helena, and I are looking for a solid blue water boat to do some cruising for a few years. We have crewed with Eric Forsyth on Fiona (W42 cutter) for a thousand miles down the coast of Brazil (when he was on the way to the Antarctic), and across the Caribbean (when he was on his way home), so know the W42 pretty well. 

Actually, considering the amount of grease I had on my clothes by the end of the trips, you might say intimately well! ;-)

I'm particularly interested in the ketch version, since I found Fiona's (heavy duty) mainsail to be a real bear to handle. Am I correct in thinking the mainsail on the ketch is smaller? I haven't been able to find any specific sail plan data on the Internet.

Has anyone sailed on both versions? Enough to compare the ketch vs cutter for sail handling? 

TIA for any comments.

Brgds: John

Hi.  I have the factory tall rig 43ft cutter.

Easy to sail.  I when single handling keep the main with a single reef. (Reefing the main in a blow while single handling is very possible but at times challenging)  Just 2 days ago was out and about and the true winds were double the forecast and the main wasn't reefed as usual because it had last been sailed by a few friends who had three aboard.

Anyways it is very easy to set up to sail.  Jib on a good furler.  Self tending staysail.

Main with two or 3 reef points.

Also Nomad is a nice 42 in Moss Landing, CA.  Was docked next to it for a long time.  Haven't been inside but it looks like a sturdy vessel.

Don't know the owner.

Don't hesitate to ask any questions.  Also if you are in California give me a shout and I'll take you out. 

If I was looking I'd sail all the configs.  More importantly I think ithan the sail plan is the difference between the center cockpit 42 and rear cockpit 43.   You may like one better than the other.