Preview: A Visit Aboard FLYING FISH, A Laurent Giles Vertue 25
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August 20, 2015
Email this Video to a FriendThe Laurent Giles Vertue 25 is a tried and true blue water pocket cruiser – as evidenced by the scores of these classic wooden boats built and sailed over the last 60+ years.
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20 Responses So Far to “A Visit Aboard FLYING FISH, A Laurent Giles Vertue 25”
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ROBERT ROESCH says:
This is such a beautiful sailboat. every detail explored and crafted perfectly.
Good luck on your journeys ahead.
Mark Darley says:
Beautifully crafted Vertue. Having grown up in Lymington, home of Laurent Giles, this is great to see. Not sure about the spirit stove and head. Shades of my youth but perhaps better alternatives now but I get the point…..Glad to see he did not fit a Stuart Turner petrol engine!
I had one on a Folk boat in my youth and I always felt it was an unexploded bomb! I fashioned a 16ft yuloh as a substitute for the engine so I never had to fire it up. Much less worry.
Where is this boat now?
Dean Wilson says:
John, great boat thanks for the walk through
John Simlett says:
Great boat … great video… many thanks all round
Mikhail Protasov says:
Oooooohhhhh!!!! Guess I’ve no words anymore… What an amazing boat!!!
W Arnott Fowler says:
I & my wife Patricia worked for Laurent Giles & Partners, myself as a Draughtsman & Patricia as Secretary to the Partners when Hum Barton, had the idea of sailing Vertue 35 across to America, as Hum wrote the story of the crossing on the way, his writing was difficult to understand. Patricia who typed his Survey Reports, could read his writing, so took on the job of typing his book “Virtue 35”. Wonderful times when boats were designed for a Client, &. beautifully built with dedication.
Michael Vaughan says:
Eximious in every way!!
Alan Roberts says:
Carefully and beautifully built boat from a truly classic design. Laurent Giles certainly had an eye for shape and grace.
As a teenager, I worked (for nothing!) with a boat builder on the Helford River, Cornwall. One of the winter tasks was to check the state of boats laid up in mud berths in Frenchman’s Creek. On one such check, at high water when a Virtue 25 was afloat, I climbed on board and looked around her. Back on deck, I slipped overboard in my welly boots. Thankfully, my boss was right there and fished me out. It was a good lesson in taking care of myself in a boat and I managed not to fall overboard in 10 years of yacht racing and cruising thereafter.
Raymond Morgan says:
Inspirational, and just beautiful.
Jim Thomson says:
Smashing video. Are those Merriman winches you’ve fitted. If they are do you mind me asking where you got them. I’ve been looking for spares for awhile and eventually made new pawls myself. However the handle I’ve got is missing the locking mechanism, which makes it awkward to use safely. In danger of knocking someone’s teeth out with it one day.
John Bassett says:
Hi Jim, sorry for the delayed response. I’ve just returned from sailing the season without internet access and have just completed the annual frenzy of putting the boat up for the year. The sheet winches in the cockpit are of Dutch manufacture. I’m afraid that I’ve forgotten the lengthy Dutch name but they bare the logo “MJ”. My halyard winches are old Willcox-Crittenden that still have some life left to them. Spares for out of production gear can be a bit of problem. Ebay might be one possibility
Jim Thomson says:
Many thanks, don’t know how I missed your reply.
ROBERT ROESCH says:
I might have the winches you are looking for.
I have the handles too.
I updated them on my 54 year old bristol.
ROBERT ROESCH says:
I might have the winches you are looking for.
I have the handles too.
I updated them on my 54 year old bristol.
Daniel Gonneau says:
Having read Humphrey Barton’s book many years ago, I’ve always wanted to get on board a VERTUE. This is as close as I’ve gotten, thank you! Beautiful craftsmanship.
George Palacios says:
Awesome craftsmanship, and, vision, a truly beautiful boat…..Thank You
David Tew says:
Thanks Jack, Carolyn and Eric. Nice video!
Eigil Rothe says:
Beautiful. I love listening to individuals who clearly know what they are doing and everything they do reflects a level of knowledge and respect for the ocean that can only come from significant experience and efficient observation. I learn so much from these kinds of videos. I’m in awe.
John Wujack says:
Beautiful! The old saying, “good things in small packages” comes to mind. Thanks for sharing.
michele del monaco says:
One of my dreams… Thank you