Laurent Giles Sloop

Wooden Ships Comments on this Laurent Giles Sloop

35′ bermudan sloop designed by Jack Laurent Giles, built by JJ Bickford Ltd of Topsham, Devon in 1956.

The basis for the Rambler design which was slightly smaller in length but otherwise very similar.

Designed and built for the director of Seagull outboard engines, her original build was to a very high standard using the best available materials.  He wanted a safe and comfortable offshore cruising boat that could be easily handled, and although never designed to win races, she has proved to be both safe and capable with several thousand miles of cruising in the current ownership.  The original specification and full set of construction drawings are available to confirm her provenance.

After purchasing the boat in 2014, the current owner has taken part in various classic regattas and sailed her across the Atlantic, around the Caribbean and back to the UK via Bermuda and the Azores.  Subsequently cruised north to Scotland, Faroe Islands and on to the east coast of Iceland.  The crew experienced some severe weather conditions during these various voyages the boat performed admirably the whole time taking the storms in her stride and looking after the crew.

In September 2022 a second hand low hours Yanmar 39hp diesel was installed.  This is an excellent modern engine with only 600 hours, professionally installed in September 2022.  Full professional service April 2025.

This is a really lovely and seemingly sound cruising boat, well proven in recent years with money spent in all the right places by the current owner.  Spring maintenance this year sees her looking smarter and she is now away for the early part of the 2025 summer on a cruise around Ireland.

2018 survey available.

Length on deck                 35’

Length waterline              27’6”

Beam                                    9’9”

Draft                                      4’3”.

Tonnage                              11.TM

Sail area                               430sq’