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Centaur 26 Westerly
Designer: Laurent Giles  ·  Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd.  ·  First built: 1969
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About the Centaur 26 Westerly

Built during Westerly's prolific era of small cruiser production, this 26-footer represents the British manufacturer's commitment to creating affordable yet seaworthy family sailing boats. The Centaur 26 emerged as part of Westerly's successful line of fiberglass cruisers that helped democratize recreational sailing throughout the 1970s and beyond. Designed primarily for coastal cruising and weekend adventures, this compact sailboat strikes a practical balance between comfort and performance. The boat's modest dimensions make it an ideal choice for new boat owners or those seeking a manageable vessel for exploring protected waters and nearby coastal areas. Its Westerly pedigree suggests solid construction typical of the yard's reputation for building robust, no-nonsense cruising boats. The Centaur 26's appeal lies in its straightforward approach to small boat cruising. While not intended for serious offshore passages, it offers enough accommodation and seaworthiness for comfortable coastal exploration. The design reflects Westerly's understanding of the British sailing market, where reliability and practicality often trumped racing performance. For sailors seeking an honest, unpretentious cruiser with proven British engineering, the Centaur 26 delivers traditional sailing values in an accessible package.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.33 ft / 6.50 m
Beam 8.42 ft / 2.57 m
Max Draft 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Displacement 6,700.00 lb / 3,039 kg
Ballast 2,800.00 lb / 1,270 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 324.00 ft² / 30.10 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Twin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG/balsa cored foredeck
Designer Laurent Giles
Builder Westerly Marine Ltd.
First Built 1969
Last Built 1980
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
14.63
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
26.66
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.79
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.19
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
1.5
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 641.73
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 31.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.16
P (Mainsail Luff) 29.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.5
SA Fore 157.48
SA Main 166.75
How It Compares

vs. Chieftain 26 Westerly, Kingfisher 26, S2 80 B

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
26.0 ft
Chieftain 26 Westerly
26.0 ft
Kingfisher 26
26.0 ft
S2 80 B
26.0 ft
LWL
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
21.3 ft
Chieftain 26 Westerly
21.3 ft
Kingfisher 26
21.0 ft
S2 80 B
21.4 ft
Beam
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
8.4 ft
Chieftain 26 Westerly
8.4 ft
Kingfisher 26
7.7 ft
S2 80 B
8.0 ft
Displacement
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
6 lbs
Chieftain 26 Westerly
6 lbs
Kingfisher 26
4 lbs
S2 80 B
4 lbs
Ballast
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
2 lbs
Chieftain 26 Westerly
2 lbs
Kingfisher 26
2 lbs
S2 80 B
1 lbs
Sail Area
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
324 sq ft
Chieftain 26 Westerly
325 sq ft
Kingfisher 26
270 sq ft
S2 80 B
282 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
14.6
Chieftain 26 Westerly
14.7
Kingfisher 26
15.2
S2 80 B
16.4
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
26.7
Chieftain 26 Westerly
26.7
Kingfisher 26
21.9
S2 80 B
19.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
1.79
Chieftain 26 Westerly
1.79
Kingfisher 26
1.82
S2 80 B
1.93
Hull Speed
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
6.2 kts
Chieftain 26 Westerly
6.2 kts
Kingfisher 26
6.1 kts
S2 80 B
6.2 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Centaur 26 Westerly ★
1.5
Chieftain 26 Westerly
1.5
Kingfisher 26
S2 80 B
2.6
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