About Gothik

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Gothik is a Westerly GK29.

 

Built in 1979 by Westerly Yachts Ltd, Gothik has a yard number of 62 in a total production run of 182 boats. Designed by Michael Pocock for Laurent Giles and Partners the GK29 came in two versions:

  • Family Racer - with cast iron keel, deck stepped masthead rig and 4 winches.
  • Half Tonner - with lead keel, keel stepped fractional or masthead rig and 6 winches.

Gothik is a Family Racer with 2 additional winches fitted.

 

Click for a larger imageSmall Ships Register SSR01533. Sail number 5303Y.

 

The principle dimensions are:

LOA

8.7m (29’0”)

LWL

7.8m (25’7”)

Beam

3.15m (10’4”)

Draft

1.8m (5’8”)

Displacement

3.08 tons

 

Gothik is kind to her crew. With a high freeboard she stays relatively dry, rarely shipping water in the cockpit in anything below a force 8 or 9. Her rig, fin keel and transom hung rudder are well balanced, all leading to good performance and easy handling.

 

The sail locker comprises of a roller reefing dacron headsail, a beautiful slab reefing mylar mainsail from Goacher Sails, plus a couple of conventional spinnakers and a cruising chute. A number of spare hanked on headsails are also carried along with a conventional dacron main. The backstay is split two thirds of the way down from the masthead and can be tensioned via a block and tackle system. She also has a babystay with block and tackle tensioner but the effect of this is minimal.

 

Auxiliary power is provided by a Yanmar 2GM20 (20hp) diesel engine driving a Gori 2 bladed folding propeller.

 

Below decks is a double berth forward cabin, a head (with door!), a wash basin and wet locker. The saloon (with 6’ headroom) has two settee berths on either side of a large table. The table can be folded away completely. This is a real bonus when at sea since the cabin has a large floor space which becomes entirely free of obstructions. Above the port settee is a pilot berth on a pull-out shelf. Further aft is the nav area with half size chart table and aft of that a quarter berth. To starboard, opposite the chart table, is an L shaped galley with two burner gas stove, grill and oven. Sink, draws and cupoards are also located in the galley.

 

Typical for a GRP boat of this age, the deckhead is lined with the foam backed vinyl. Sadly this needs replacing. Not a small job and one that will probably have to wait until next year.

 

The cockpit accommodates four people reasonably well and six at a push, although working the sails in a cockpit with six people is not much fun - either for you or the other five! Other than reefing the main, all sail triming can be done from the cockpit. For a short while I considered leading the reefing lines to the cockpit but the main reefs so easily that it hardly seemed worthwhile. It does mean that single-handing is not a safe option.