Bristol 41.1 Center Cockpit - NEW YANMAR DIESEL 2012

In thirteen years of circumnavigating (one and a half times) she

has proven to be an almost perfect world cruiser

 

In total, 118 Bristol 41s were built in the 1980s and early 1990s. She is a typical East Coast, heavy (26,500 lbs) "racing/cruiser". Calabar is a centre cockpit, centre-boarder, originally with a Sto-boom in -boom furling system, now converted to slab reefing. The centreboard has its pros and cons, raising it is predictably physical, but how many 41 footers have navigated the canals of France??

 

On all points of sail, Calabar is a dream to handle. Her large rudder has never lost hold and the word broach simply does not apply. The wheel is reasonably light at all times. Upwind, she can carry full sail comfortably up to 17-20 knots true, pointing to 40 degrees apparent and making up to 6.5knots. Head off the wind and she has been known to clip along at 7.8 knots, good for her 33.5' waterline. She tacks smoothly but fairly slowly through 100 degrees true. In choppy water she is remarkably steady and the Autohelm 6000 holds here tightly to course. The cockpit is exceptionally comfortable and dry at all times. Moving around the cockpit and deck is simple. Calabar is set up with 3 point slab reefing and is sailed from the cockpit including reefing.

 

We re-engined her in Greece with a 50HP Yanmar 4JH3E engine , driving a 19"

Maxprop. Clean bottom, smooth water cruising at 6.5 knots at 3000rpm. She does reverse, but directional control is as tricky as any heavy full keel design.

 

The original instrumentation has been upgraded to include an Autohelm 6000, and a complete suite of ST60 instruments. Depth, speed and wind instruments are mounted snugly above the companionway, supplemented by a forward-looking depth sounder,

AFTER we hit a reef in Thailand. At the binnacle is a grouping of Autohelm 6000 Autopilot, Magnetic Compass and a small Raymarine chart plotter, which relays information from the radar screen at the navigation station below. At the comfortable Navigation station we have the Radar/Chart plotter, display, an ICOM SSB receiver, with a Pactor II modem . VHF radio and an Iridium satellite phone, plus the usual entertainment systems.

 

Down below the layout is close to perfect for a sailing couple with occasional guests. The aft cabin has a comfortable transverse berth, and an ensuite bathroom, now more closely resembling a lady's wardrobe! Heading forward, the galley is in the starboard passage and is very well laid out. It is a simple (and safe) cooking environment when heeled on both tacks. There is a large refrigerator/icebox. The main saloon has a table capable of hosting

 

8 for Christmas Dinner. Forward of this, there is another ensuite head and large forepeakwith bunks for two . Our favourite ocean crossing crew, Larry, refuses to sleep anywhereelse. We consider this layout ideal in many ways. Perfect sleeping for two owners andthe centre cockpit isolates us from our visitors.