Installing a Bow Sprit

Since her launch in 2000 we had always complained that Windrush had suffered with severe weather helm in a force 3 and above. Talking to other Westerly 22 owners, we are told that the addition of a bow sprit greatly improved the handling of the Westerly 22.

We were in the Maritime Trust Boat Yard in Gosport talking to a couple who had owned a W22 who convinced us that the Bow Sprit was the answer to our problems. Then Emailing Steve and Ruth Morley who own "Halcyon of Calne" we found they also had a Bow Sprit and had no problems with weather helm.

Once again  Julie's father John, was commissioned to help install a Bow Sprit and with help of Steve and Ruth Morley, a Bow Sprit was made.

On the 11th June 2004 Windrush was lifted from the water for her annual make over, but this time we chose early summer and rather than using the sailing club facilities. We used Universal Marina and Shipyard. We had just a week to install the Bow Sprit and tidy Windrush up.

In fact we were able to achieve so much we decided to keep her out for an additional weekend in order to do extra maintenance. The lesson here was we can achieve more in a week in the summer than we can in 4 months during the winter , so from now on Windrush will winter in her moorings and we will do her annual maintenance in early June.

On the 22nd June 2004 she was re-launched and now we look forward to "weather helm" free sailing..... We will update, meanwhile we feel with the Bow Sprit Windrush looks more complete.

We would like once again to thank John for his help, and also Steve & Ruth Morley for their photographs, measurements and advice.