In 1927 Laurent Giles was based in Lymington, UK. He worked on three projects for Captain John Illingworth(RN) – the first Maid of Malham and the R.N.S.A 24 Minx of Malham, but most notably the ground-breaking Myth of Malham. Illingworth was an outstanding ocean racing skipper and bought considerable expertise in the design of the sail plan of these yachts before joining with Angus Primrose to form the design partnership Illingworth and Primrose.
Of Jack’s long keel cruising yachts Dyarchy and the Wanderer class are among the most widely known and perhaps his most famous design was the 1936 25ft Vertue of which there had been 140 built prior to Jack’s death in 1968 and another 100 since.
One of his “prettiest designs” was the Lymington L-Class and throughout his prolific and celebrated career Giles drew Royal Ocean Racing Club (R.O.R.C) rule and Cruising Club of America (C.C.A) winning yawls, cutters and sloops and also metric class races including the 12-Metre, Flica II.
Information courtesy of Barry van Geffen
More at www.laurentgilesarchive.com
