Achilles 24 Zethar

Zethar
(Cornish for Gannet)

Now lets get one thing straight - to use the old cliche, I am Boating on a Budget. Obviously when you do not have a lot to spend your choice is limited, especially when searching for a reasonable sized keelboat that looks right and sails like a witch. Cue the Achilles 24.

I became an Achilles 24 owner on the 20th of December 2000. She had been bought and refitted for racing the year before and was for sale as her owner was emigrating. During August 2000 some of the Achilles 24's sailing from Falmouth raced as a class for the first time during Falmouth Regatta week, and she took two firsts, finishing second overall after six races. Incidentally there is a very active Achilles 24 racing fleet at Loch Lomond Sailing Club.

Almost all the deck fittings were new with Andersen two-speed sheet winches finishing off the set up. A season-old outboard looked like it would easily take care of the motoring duties, and I was seduced by her Dacron racing sails. Being 25 years old meant that she needed a bit of cosmetic tidying up but this could be done over time, and I enjoy that sort of pottering about.

I am very pleased with her, especially the way she sails. I can of course stretch out in the cockpit and she will blow along quite happily as I enjoy the scenery, but if I keep an eye on the breeze and concentrate on the telltales and the sail trim she really goes well.

And the minus points? Well, with 7ft beam with 4ft 6ins headroom she is on the small side below, and the fit out is basic. I do not find this a problem, but someone looking for a roomy comfortable cabin would not have the Achilles on their list.

Zethar is one of the earlier boats with the low coaming at the forward end of the cockpit so if we were to ship a sea it would go straight below. The deck moulding was altered in later boats so that the coaming is the same height as the seats. Leaving the bottom wash board in does the same job, and anyway I do not want to be out in weather where on getting ashore I am able to tell a yarn along the lines of 'It was a good job we had that board in or the cabin would have been full up'.

Getting the outboard in and out of its well is a bit inconvenient, but it only takes a minute or two. It is worth the effort though as she definately sails better when not dragging the propeller and all that water bubbling around in the well. Although it is noisy when motoring the engine controls are right under my nose, and the prop is in the perfect position - on the centreline and just ahead of the rudder, so she handles well under power.

Considering the average price paid for an Achilles 24 the gripes seem to me to be minor, especially when taking into account her sailing performance, which for me is a priority. In Zethar I have a boat that is forgiving while I learn to get the best out of her, and the better I get the better she goes.

To have a look at her follow the link below to the Galleries page, and to see details of the refit work I have done on her look at the bottom of the Achilles 24 Information page.