First Centaur sail - Littlehampton to Chichester Harbour - over-long film

[Iliade]

You do need to time your departure to take the Looe channel the next time you pass Selsey. It's easy and can be most entertaining in the full flow of a spring tide (6-7 kt IIRC). Also the Owers must offer some shelter from the swell.

 

[dylanwinter]

You do need to time your departure to take the Looe channel the next time you pass Selsey. It's easy and can be most entertaining in the full flow of a spring tide (6-7 kt IIRC). Also the Owers must offer some shelter from the swell.

thanks for that......

I was told to leave 90 mins before high tide

and did not fancy leaving littlehampton at 3.30

it would also have got me to chichester and had me entering on the ebb

which I did not fancy

so I took the long slow way round - and even then had to kill time

I did come through the gap in the slug seven years ago the last time I was in the solent

then it was a really powerful flood and I could see a wall of agitated white water - I was a bit concerned until I saw a bloke in a small rib playing in it

I am really enjoying Chich harbour

just like the blackwater

 

[greggron]

Not overlong at all. One of your best to date. You certain look very at home in a centaur too.

 

[30boat]

Great video.Made me realize what I'm missing but work comes first.Is that a Bukh I hear?

 

[dylanwinter]

Great video.Made me realize what I'm missing but work comes first.Is that a Bukh I hear?

volvo 2002 - 18 hp I believe

quite modern compared to the slug

been out for the past couple of days

I did no work on the boat for the first time since I bought her

D

 

[Greenheart]

Now that you've spent a bit of time aboard, and have sailed her too, are you suddenly aware of anything missing on board?

It occurs to me that on calm, midge-infested warm nights with 4 adults aboard (2 holed-up in the V-berth forward), a couple of powerful fans, and enough amps to keep 'em running quietly all night, might be vital to comfort when hatches are shut. Especially if they can suck in ducted, filtered air from outside, rather than just sitting on a shelf, recirculating farts.

No offence, regarding your excellent Centaur & family crew - but the prospect of sharing a restricted, plastic space with several others always makes me dread inadequate ventilation.

 

[dylanwinter]

good point

Now that you've spent a bit of time aboard, and have sailed her too, are you suddenly aware of anything missing on board?

It occurs to me that on calm, midge-infested warm nights with 4 adults aboard (2 holed-up in the V-berth forward), a couple of powerful fans, and enough amps to keep 'em running quietly all night, might be vital to comfort when hatches are shut. Especially if they can suck in ducted, filtered air from outside, rather than just sitting on a shelf, recirculating farts.

No offence, regarding your excellent Centaur & family crew - but the prospect of sharing a restricted, plastic space with several others always makes me dread inadequate ventilation.

three fragrant women

my son - so all non farters

just me and the dog

it is scotland so heat will not be a problem

midges might be a problem though

gonna buy some insect screens for the hatches

 

[Greenheart]

Hmm. Okay, I'm delighted on your behalf - although it's amazing how persons who one had always believed were agreeably fragrant, having known them in a spacious environment, turn out to be fearful little methane factories in circumstances of restricted space. Perhaps it depends upon the shipboard diet.

I like the idea of a built-in vacuum system, to discreetly suck cabin-air out through the foot of a quarter-berth, drawing in the fresh stuff through screened, open overhead hatches.

 

[30boat]

three fragrant women

my son - so all non farters

just me and the dog

it is scotland so heat will not be a problem

midges might be a problem though

gonna buy some insect screens for the hatches

Isn't there one of those plug in thinghies that works on midges?You could run one through a small inverter.

 

[Daydream believer]

Dylan
As i understand it you are now the proud owner of 2 boats. You intended to buy this one for the trip round the north of Scotland & having achieved your aims you intended to sell this Centaur
I have a feeling that you might become attached to this boat & come sales time it might not be the Centaur that gets sold

I wonder if forumites should have a bet on whether I am correct
It is probably too early for someone to set up a " Will Dylan flog the Centaur?" post, but in the future !!!!! who knows

 

[dylanwinter]

Dylan
As i understand it you are now the proud owner of 2 boats. You intended to buy this one for the trip round the north of Scotland & having achieved your aims you intended to sell this Centaur
I have a feeling that you might become attached to this boat & come sales time it might not be the Centaur that gets sold

I wonder if forumites should have a bet on whether I am correct
It is probably too early for someone to set up a " Will Dylan flog the Centaur?" post, but in the future !!!!! who knows

I was out friday and yesterday in some fairly chippy winds - single reef in the main and half a genoa and she behaved perfectly - in Katie L it would have been a case of downing the sails and motoring into the wind

the Centaur is also a much more stable platform for filming

the engine is quiet compared to sharing a cockpit with an outboard and under engine she will slam along at 6 knots - altyhough five feels more comfortable for the engine

there is no denying that the space is lovely to have and the the 90 cm draft is no barrier to creek crawling

mast dropping is a trauma I have yet to deal with

It is possible that I might want to hang onto her

... but only if my finances take sudden and unexpected upward swing as thousands of westerly owners decide to buy the DVDs to the point where the sort of bills that can come with an inboard hold no fear for for me.

A;; the time I am sailing her there is the thought that a £6,000 bill for a replacement engine could be just minutes away



Of course people who bet on me keeping the Centaur could sway the outcome by buying DVDs and persuading their friends to buy them

those who want me to sell it and keep with Katie L could sway the outcome by not buying DVDs and persuading their friends to not to but them

 

[Daydream believer]

A;; the time I am sailing her there is the thought that a £6,000 bill for a replacement engine could be just minutes away

But there is always the outboard well option !!!!
Or have forumites scotched that idea for you?

 

[BruceDanforth]

She is going nicely. Is the boat dry on board? Will you still be getting your red headsail?

 

[dylanwinter]

But there is always the outboard well option !!!!
Or have forumites scotched that idea for you?

still a possibility

but not while I am up in the North

if I really like the boat then I could sell this one and buy one with a jiggered engine

that is one of the great things about Centaurs - you can alsways buy another one

and I really understand now why they hold their price

lots of people bad mouth them for their sailing qualities - but..... I think that many of those people have never sailed them

no real leaks from the keels, no leaking windows so far, waiting to hear from Jekylls to say when they are ready to make it

D

 

[Zagato]

I did look out for you Dylan Thurs/Fri/Sat. We just missed the poor weather I think. I had the covers back on the boat by Sat pm, a grey few days but good sailing and breaks of sunshine. Best time of year with no one about, especially 7.00 am in the morning.

 

[dylanwinter]

I did look out for you Dylan Thurs/Fri/Sat. We just missed the poor weather I think. I had the covers back on the boat by Sat pm, a grey few days but good sailing and breaks of sunshine. Best time of year with no one about, especially 7.00 am in the morning.

we left HYC at 12.30 Friday morning and then picked up a mooring in the creek and then turned in

man it was a gloomy night - v poor vis

then when we got up in the morning we discovered that the HYC deepwater moorings are not that deep and the Rythe has a little bar so we did not sail until about ten

then we went up to the top of Itchenor reach, up Bisham channel and then after a wonderful reach up to Emsworth with the sun settting across the marshes we picked up a mooring.

the next day we sailed up the Thorney channel, failed to catch some fish at East Head and then back to HYC in time for the rain to start.

D

 

[Zagato]

Must have missed each other by an hour on Saturday but then I wasn't really looking, I spent the morning in my sleeping bag staring out of the cabin anchored off Pilsey doing absolutely nothing. I have a propensity for dozing and staring out into the wilderness for hours on end when I'm on a boat. I can't even be bothered to read, I just switch off

Dell Quay towards Chi marina stretch

Useless camera,

Canned chilli con-carnie and a cheese bap, definitely need to sort my boat menue out.

 

[dylanwinter]

Must have missed each other by an hour on Saturday but then I wasn't really looking, I spent the morning in my sleeping bag staring out of the cabin anchored off Pilsey doing absolutely nothing. I have a propensity for dozing and staring out into the wilderness for hours on end when I'm on a boat. I can't even be bothered to read, I just switch off

Useless camera

saw you twice then

you were moored up above Itchenor I think -

and then saw you come back down towards Pilsey before heading back up again - just jib and mizzen - no main

I have you on film

D

 

[Zagato]

Yes that sounds like me Dylan. Unfortunately I can never watch videos on my 13 year old computer, it just can't handle it, just seizes eventually Can't believe I missed you, I was looking out for you as well! Do you know how many minutes in you have me on film.

 

[dylanwinter]

Yes that sounds like me Dylan. Unfortunately I can never watch videos on my 13 year old computer, it just can't handle it, just seizes eventually Can't believe I missed you, I was looking out for you as well! Do you know how many minutes in you have me on film.

that is the trouble with a Centaur

you see them everywhere and if you have seen one you have seen them all

A drascombe with a lid, however, is always a treat to see