Classic_Boat_2016-03

CERINTHE

The Offords have used Cerinthe for extensive cruising

throughout their period of ownership, taking her to the

Caribbean three times and entering Antigua Classics once,

coming third in class and winning a Concours d’Elegance.

“The first time we went,” said Nick, “I took about six

months off work. We took our time sailing to the

Caribbean. Then I flew back and dad took the boat to

Venezuela.” She was shipped back on that occasion, but

the Offords concluded their two other Caribbean voyages

by sailing her home, and they have also cruised her

extensively to the Scillies, France, Portugal and Spain. At

the moment the cruising programme has been somewhat

curtailed, because Nick and his wife have a one-year-old

son. “When our son gets a bit older we’ll sail more. We

are just child-proofing the boat so he can’t climb out of his

Above: The

bulkhead between

galley and saloon

has been cut

back, to create a

more open feel

replaced by a thick varnished veneer, in teak to match the
rest of the brightwork. Although much of the interior is
original, the Offords have made some changes,
particularly to the area immediately inside the
companionway under the coachroof, to give a more open
feel. To starboard there is a chart table, forward of which
there is a berth. This area used to be closed off behind
bulkheads and with access through a sliding door.
Similarly, on the port side there was another small
single-berth cabin and while its bulkheads and door have
been retained, the berth has been removed and the space
converted into a wet locker and second heads.
Furthermore, the bulkhead between the area under the
coachroof and the lower saloon, which previously
separated the two spaces, has now been opened up and
has a large keyhole cut-out in it.
Cerinthe still had her original Perkins 4108 diesel engine
when David bought her but “it was rather unreliable and
leaked a lot of oil” so about eight years ago this was
replaced with a Beta engine of similar horsepower.
Work carried out more recently includes replacement of
the stemhead fitting. “It had got a bit bashed over years
and was never intended to have an anchor stowed in it, so
we made a new one to fit the Delta,” says Nick. Toerails
have been stripped back and re-varnished, the mast has
been painted and all internal lights were replaced with
LED ones that can glow white or red. The hull has hardly
needed any work at all – just the replacement of one
mahogany plank at the waterline aft “where it dips in and
out between sunlight and water, sunlight and water”.
Nick says: “Every year we have a particular project.
The next is to strip the rest of the brightwork back to
bare wood and re-varnish it.”