Looe Lugger Guiding Star

Wooden Ships Comments on the Looe Lugger Guiding Star

39′ gaff rigged working boat built in 1907 as a mackerel drift netter for the Soady family of Looe.   One of the last Looe boats built without an engine so her hull lines are sweet and fair giving her excellent sailing performance while still having a generous internal volume, originally to carry home the catch.

Known as one of the fastest boats of her era, she fished until 1936 when she was sold by Mrs Soady while her husband was away crewing on a large yacht.  Bought by a doctor from Paignton, she was converted into a private yacht by Uphams yard in Brixham, rigged as a gaff ketch with Bermudan mizzen and fitted with a teak coachroof which is still in place today.  An interior was fitted to give comfortable berths and a saloon, much of this is still in the boat in the form of some delightful period joinery.

After changing hands a few times, she was purchased in 1960 by Brigadier Jack Glennie, a true character by all accounts who cruised the boat extensively with his pipe-smoking French wife Marguerite around northern Scotland and Norway, taking paying customers on many voyages with the proceeds being donated to Save the Children.

The previous owners purchased from Glennie in 1989 and undertook an extensive 3 year refit with much new planking and framing, new deck and transom.

The current owner took charge in 2016 and embarked on a rolling program of upgrades and maintenance in line with his surveyor’s advice which has kept the boat in good seaworthy condition and improved her sailing performance.  This included new keel bolts, several areas of planking, decking and stanchions, new sails and all new rigging, a full list of work done in the present ownership is available.  She has been a regular visitor to traditional sailing events and regattas in both England and France through recent years and is always well received.

A lovely looking and easily managed boat with a rich history and pedigree and a well documented refit history.

2021 survey available.

The vessel has her own website with further details of her more recent sailing exploits: https://guidingstar1907.com/

 

Length on Deck                 38’9”

Length Overall                   66’6”

Beam                                    10’8”

Draft                                      6’5”

Air draft                               50’

Displacement                    Approx 16 tonnes