Description

Sestina was bought by her current owners in January 2008 with a view to sailing an Atlantic circuit. A trip we made in our previous boat in 2003/2005. The lessons learned during that voyage were put to good effect choosing and refitting Sestina for the task.
She has proved an admirable cruising boat. A reasonable turn of speed, we normally passage plan at 5.5kts. She inspires confidence when the weather turns nasty. Whilst on our return from Halifax, Nova Scotia to France, she spent 5 days under storm canvas including 24 hours hove-to under trysail alone whilst it blew 50kts. At no point did we have any qualms about her construction or seaworthiness. At all times she has proven easy to handle and an ergonomic cockpit means comfortable watch keeping on passage.
In harbour comfort has not been compromised, shaped upholstery makes for lounging around. 8 people, at a pinch, can eat at her saloon table. Often there are appreciative comments as to her comfort and ambience. With extra hatches, sun awnings, fans and a good heating system means she is a happy ship in most climates.
Good seagoing galley makes for tasty meals offshore with good stowage close at hand for stores, condiments, crockery, and utensils.
There is a proper chart table that can be worked both standing and sitting. A secure place for the PC means it and the radar can be viewed from the cockpit through one of the opening portlights, whilst remaining protected from water.
The head is a decent size and with a proper thermostatic shower mixer and ample hot water, it is always preferred to the dubious delights of the marina ablution block.
Bearing in mind she was sold by Oyster Yachts some 32 years ago the support the company gives is terrific. They maintain an archive on every yacht they have built. Prior to the start of the 2010 ARC, a works team of 7 people gave her a thorough check over, including a top down rig inspection and test of all her systems and provided a written report, all free of charge! All our neighbours on our pontoon were seriously impressed, us included. Their Newport, Rhode Island office was a great help when we had a problem with the GPS aerial for our AIS transponder.
Sestina is now for sale as her owners wish to go inshore racing again, for which they require a rather different boat! Also, elderly relatives mean we will have to remain nearby for the foreseeable future.
For further information on what it is like to cruise an Oyster Heritage see https://sailwiththeflo.wordpress.com/ Florence is a Mk I Heritage. The differences are in the cockpit sole and quarter berth area.

Specifications

Accommodation

Full teak veneer fit out

Construction

Osmosis treatment by Fox’s 2008. At the same time, other hull and structural works were completed by Fox’s:

Repair of the main bulkhead where damaged by water ingress from the shower tray. The reinforcement of the baby stay chainplate, with a stainless steel strap, running down the bulkhead and then glassed to one of the floors.
These two faults are endemic to the Oyster Heritage. Before we bought Sestina, we inspected 6 other examples. All showed signs of trouble with these points.

2017 - Topsides resprayed with Awlguard 2000 in oyster white by Fox’s.

2019/2020 - Teak decks removed and after filing and fairing, including all the coachroof and cockpit areas painted with Jotun professional quality products, namely Penguard HB epoxy primer then Hardtop HB topcoat finishing with SML coatings non-slip deck paint. During this work nearly all the deck fittings were lifted and rebedded with Sikaflex mastic. The poorly performing Rutland 913 wind generator was removed. Interior revarnished.

Steering:

Whitlock Cobra system, professionally overhauled 2020.

Raymarine SPX-10 autopilot, core pack, display head, and compass replaced 2012. Type 1 linear drive.

Hydrovane self-steering gear.


The rudder blade, like many other yachts, suffers from water ingress, so regular draining and filling with epoxy resin has been done under current ownership.

Equipment

Ground tackle:
Goiot electric windlass with warping drum.
50m 8mm chain from Griff Chains, one of the last chain makers in the West Midlands, oversize links at both ends.
15kg genuine Bruce anchor
35lb genuine CQR

Batteries and electrics:
4 x 105ah 12v flooded deep cycle Trojan batteries. New 2018
1 x 95ah 12v engine start battery 2016
Batteries charged via engine alternator, top-up solar panel and Mastervolt 25ah charger.
Monitored by Blue Sea digital ammeter/voltmeter.
2008 - 220v ring main with 3 x double plug sockets one with double USB charge points. RCD and circuit breaker protected. Spur to 750w immersion heater.
2 x 400w inverters 220v and 110v
Galvanic isolator.
Mostly LED bulbs below decks and tricolour
3 x Caframo fans
1 x Hella fan
Mikuni blown air heating. Switch reachable from in bed!

LPG system professionally overhauled 2018, new flexible hoses and regulators fitted, system pressure tested. 2 x Camping Gaz 907 cylinders 1 x Calor 3.9 kg propane.
Spinflo Nelson cooker with two hob burners, separate grill, and thermostatically controlled oven. During her current ownership, roast chicken dinners and Dundee cake have been a regular menu item.

Fridge: Frigoboat keel cooled evaporator plate system with ECOnomy temperature control improving efficiency.

Fresh water: 460 litres in two tanks. Pressurised system with back up hand pump in the galley
Katadyn 40e water maker, delivering 5 litres per hour using 5 amps. Noisy but works well.

30 litre hot water cylinder heated by engine and 220v immersion. Fitted 2016.
Saltwater pump in the galley.

Head: Manual Lavac, discharge either overboard or to holding tank, estimated capacity 70 litres.

Pumps and other safety equipment:
Double acting Henderson MkV manual bilge pump in cockpit.
Rule electric bilge pump with automatic air pressure switch.
Whale Gulper 220 galley sink pump new 2011
Jabsco water puppy shower drain fitted 2010.

3 x aqueous foam fire extinguishers
Automatic halon replacement extinguisher in the engine compartment.
Galley fire blanket
Double jackstays – harness leashes clip to large bow shackle.

2009 Avon 4-person life raft in canister (due for service)
Life buoy
Firdel Blipper radar reflector mounted on mast.

Navigation Equipment

Raymarine ST60: Boat speed and log, wind.

Garmin 160C colour fish finder – much more useful than a basic echo sounder.

Furuno GP-31 GPS

Raymarine bridge SeaTalk/nmea 0183/R232 to serial port for connection to PC.
We use a Panasonic Tough Book as our plotter and email communicator – not for sale!

Digital Yacht AIS transponder with USB output

ICS Nav6 Navtex

Icom IC-M45 EURO VHF with deck speaker

Icom 802 SSB + ATU and backstay antenna with Pactor PCT 11-USB modem.

Furuno 1622 radar

Sea-Me active radar target enhancer with switchable buzzer.

Sony DRIVE-S CD/USB/ AM-FM radio with remote controller.

Electronic weather station.

Engine(s)

2008 Westerbeke 35 D three (Mitsubishi) 31hp 3-cylinder diesel engine driving a 3 bladed Maxprop via a heavy duty PRM Newage 150 hydraulic gearbox. Ambassador Marine rope cutter.

Fast coastal cruise at 2,100 rpm will give 6.3 knots and burn 2 litres per hour. WOT will give 7.3 knots. 2490 hours to date; a full maintenance log will be provided. Numerous engine spares including a spare alternator, lift pump, and fixed 2 bladed propeller. Adverc BM alternator controller fitted.

Sails & Spars

Rig: Masthead sloop. Mast, boom, and whisker pole made by Kemp Spars.

New standing rigging by Fox’s fitted 2017.

Harken Mk IV headsail furler fitted 2017.

Dyneema halyards. Removeable inner forestay for heavy weather and storm jib.


Sails:
NB: Sail number GBR 723R to be retained.

Mainsail:
2016 Dolphin Sails in Hydranet, 3 reefs, perfect.
Dolphin dacron,3 reefs, age unknown, well worn.
Steven Ratsey Sails dacron not used during current ownership.

Genoa:
2009 132% Quantum cruising Pentex, with padded luff, used.
130% Dolphin Cruising Pentex, with padded luff, good.
140% Dolphin crosscut dacron, good
Old Dolphin genoa adapted for twin headsail trade wind rig.
2008 Dolphin heavy weather jib hanked for inner forestay.

Spinnaker:
2008 Dolphin asymmetric with snuffer and Selden bowsprit.

Storm sails:
Storm jib and trysail. Trysail has independent mast track. Unlike most yachts these have been used in anger and they work well.

Location Map