Sailing Zephyr IVvideo

Perfect Sailing Weather | 76-Year-Old Takes Zephyr IV to Sea

6 December 2025 · 12 min · 5K views · Gosport

What this video covers

Dave, 76, sails the Westerly Yachts Ltd. Oceanquest 35 Zephyr IV from Portsmouth to Chichester Harbour in mid-September with crew Bill, a friend from their shared gliding days at Lee-on-Solent.Watch The primary purpose of the Chichester leg is a haulout at Burden Pool Marina, which is accessible only a few hours either side of high water and requires entering via a lock — the boat is pressure-washed and returned to the water before the tide drops.0:31 Returning to Portsmouth in light air of six to seven knots, the wind dies entirely and they motor home.0:59 A second trip heads west along the Solent: 16–19 knots of breeze pushes Zephyr IV to 6.2–6.3 knots.1:58 They anchor in Newtown Creek in nine feet of water near a resident seal, then motor almost to Hurst Castle before a gentle northerly allows Dave to set the asymmetrical spinnaker.3:30 The passage continues to a mooring at Castle Cove Sailing Club.5:30 Bill navigates using both paper chart and chart plotter; a GoPro mounts to the pushpit.5:34 The autopilot steers the return leg to Gosport.6:20 Dave closes by noting this is the final segment of Zephyr IV's first year, with winter layup work planned.12:08

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Boats in this video

Westerly Yachts Ltd. Oceanquest 35Their boat

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