During that run, the Centaur became the most popular British-built sailing yacht. Production is recorded at 2,444 hulls, although other period reviews cite more than 2,500. Its importance wasn’t merely commercial. The Centaur broke new ground in Europe by the standards of the late 1960s and, in the words of one review, was clearly the UK’s most successful mass-produced boat.
Design and Lineage
The Centaur’s origins offer a pointed lesson in design discipline. Laurent Giles’ first proposal developed the existing Westerly 25, but David Sanders judged it “all curves and no substance” and made his disappointment clear to Jack Giles. Jack Giles replied, “so you want a proper yacht?” That exchange marked the birth of the Centaur as we know it.
Compared with the Westerly 25 it replaced, the Centaur gained an 8ft 5in beam—a 15% increase—as well as higher freeboard and a longer, 21ft 4in waterline. Together, these changes created much more interior space. A flared bow and a long, high, wide cabin trunk give the boat a somewhat chunky appearance, but the trade-off is genuine volume below.
Construction and Twin Keels
Westerly built the Centaur from heavy chopped strand mat. Boats of this era are often described as extremely tough and robust, with the solid Westerly build makes the sailing experience very forgiving for the novice skipper.
The hull is a straightforward fiberglass composite. Westerly was also among the first builders to make extensive use of fiberglass liners for interior components that contributed to the vessel’s structural integrity. These liners incorporated hatches for inspection and maintenance.
The defining feature is the twin bilge-keel arrangement. Fixed cast-iron keels were offered exclusively in this configuration. They are aerofoil-shaped, toed in by 2°, and splayed so that the leeward keel stands more upright when the boat heels. Jack Giles had recently taken part in extensive tank testing for a 50ft twin-keel yacht, and that work informed the Centaur’s appendage design.
With a shallow 3ft draught and the ability to dry out, the Centaur is ideal for exploring estuaries and rivers.
Rig and Sailing Qualities
The Centaur is primarily a sloop. The 1974 brochure introduced a ketch-rig option with wheel steering and a short bowsprit, but fewer than 20 were produced because few buyers accepted the added cost and complexity.
Under sail, the Centaur isn’t a spirited upwind performer, though it can be fast on a reach. The bilge keels’ extra wetted surface adds drag downwind in light airs. Testers also noted that each keel behaves differently through the water as the boat heels, reducing speed and pointing ability in light winds.
Yachting Monthly found her not the most close-winded of boats. Weather helm develops when she’s pushed hard in a breeze unless the crew reefs early, and sailing effectively upwind in a seaway takes some skill.
She is not designed for heavy weather. Her relatively light, shallow hull and high windage can also make her skittish at anchor, although the shallow draught allows her to creep close inshore in search of shelter.
Early boats had a rudimentary spade rudder with less structure than modern practice would specify. Later Centaurs gained a more substantial, skeg-supported rudder.
Accommodation
The Centaur’s interior is a genuine strength. Large windows in the big, boxy coachroof flooded the cabin with natural light in a manner exceptional for its era.
Within the 26ft hull is a full-height cabin with five berths and a good-sized head. The most common arrangement has a V-berth forward, followed by a full-width heads compartment between the forecabin and saloon. The main saloon has a convertible dinette to port and a galley to starboard, with quarter berths aft. Minimum standing headroom is 6ft throughout, and every berth measures 6ft or more.
Several layouts were offered during the production run:
- Early A-layout boats provided 5–6 berths, including two quarter berths.
- The 1971 B layout substituted an L-shaped settee to port.
- By the mid-1970s, the C layout moved the galley aft and exchanged one quarter berth for a large cockpit locker.
Reviewers considered the Centaur’s accommodation better than that of either the Pearson 26 or the H-26.
Known Issues and Ownership
Period reviews caution that quality control wasn’t always perfect. The limited structural-engineering tools available at the time also underestimated the loads on the splayed keels, particularly as the tide lifts the boat. The keel roots therefore require careful inspection by a surveyor.
The long cabin trunk brings several practical compromises. It leaves little foredeck or side-deck space, and shorter people can struggle to see over the cabin top from the cockpit. Bilges are practically nonexistent.
Despite these quirks, the Centaur developed an enthusiastic following. The 10th hull built is still sailed by the third generation of one family.
The Verdict
The Westerly Centaur is a proper family cruiser with a fairly comfortable motion and an easily handled rig. It suits sailors moving up from dayboats or dinghies, as well as coastal daysailing and the occasional fair-weather cross-Channel hop. Its weaknesses are straightforward and largely rooted in the engineering limits of the 1960s rather than neglect.
Pros
- Shallow twin bilge keels allow the boat to dry out and explore estuaries.
- Tough chopped-strand construction, with access hatches in the structural liners.
- Roomy, light-filled interior with 6ft headroom and berths of at least 6ft throughout.
- Forgiving, novice-friendly handling and a comfortable motion at sea.
Cons
- Keel-root loads were underestimated, making careful surveyor inspection essential.
- Extra wetted surface hampers light-air performance and pointing ability.
- The long cabin trunk leaves minimal bilges and limited deck space.
- Early spade rudders are lightly structured compared with the later skeg-supported type.
