Sailing Zephyr IV · video

What this video covers

A 76-year-old skipper aboard the Westerly Oceanquest 35 *Zephyr IV* encounters sustained 40–45-knot winds and heavy breaking seas on a passage from Weymouth back to Gosport, with a first-time sailor aboard. The crew departs on a brief forecast window after a two-day gale pins them in Weymouth; conditions deteriorate sharply off St. Alban's Head, where several nearby boats broach.2:39 A badly executed gybe in the Solent — forced by a Fastnet race competitor that fails to give way — blows out the mainsail.4:31 The skipper drops the damaged sail off Lepe Beach in 40 knots and continues under jib alone, finding the boat far more controllable: towed from the bow, *Zephyr IV* stops yawing in gusts and the novice crew member can steer again.4:52 The inflatable Avon dinghy, hung across the transom, catches the wind against the backstay and acts as an improvised mizzen.5:06 The boat arrives in Gosport dry in the bilge with no structural damage.5:59 Separately, a day sail to Wootton Creek on the Isle of Wight with four Derbyshire guests passes without incident.6:25 Running under jib only in storm conditions proved more manageable than carrying a reefed main.

Boats in this video

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