Can anyone identify this boat?

[willyd]

Found this wooden sloop on craiglist and went down to look at it yesterday. The owner of the yard says its a wooden 1938 26' sloop, supposedly used in the Normandy Invasion. It has a (broken) bumpkin and a mast that must have been 35' (also broken). Here are some photos.

[chuck53]

I doubt seriously that it was involved in the Normandy invasion, but very possibly was used in the evacuation of Dunkirk. The Brits used just about anything that floated for that.

[deniseO30]

Old as it is, just can't help but admire the joinery.

[w1651]

There's lettering on the bow what does it say. I couldn't make it out from your pics.

[TQA]

These guys can help I think my boat took part in Operation Dynamo | Association of Dunkirk Little Ships

As it adds to the value most boats with verifiable claims are registered by now.

[spearfishlaketales]

Cool boat, and if it was a Dunkirk veteran it would really be something special -- but it sure looks like it would take a lot of work to bring it back to pristine condition.

[tdw]

At a guess I'd say a Vertue. Designed by famed British naval architect Laurent Giles. Certainly looks like a Giles design, typically "cods head and mackeral tail".

The first Vertue was built in the late 1930's so the timing fits. As previously mentioned would not have been Normandy but quite possibly Dunkirk.

The Vertue was the basis for one of the most famous of all cruising yachts , Wanderer III, in which Eric and Susan Hiscock circumnavigated in the 1950s. Hiscock had Giles re draw the Vertue to 30'. Hiscocks previous boat Wanderer II was also based on a Vertue but in that case reduced to 21'.

http://www.viking-boats.com/Pdf/Vertue.pdf

Vertue History

http://www.bluemoment.com/hiscocks.html

[willyd]

Originally Posted by w1651

There's lettering on the bow what does it say. I couldn't make it out from your pics.

It appears to say "Jenica."

TQA - thanks. I didn't see the name there, nor were any of the 1938 boats similar.

TDW - wow, thanks. That certainly looks to be the same boat.

Now all I need is for someone to lend me a place to work on it and fix it up. It's in remarkably good shape above the waterline. Only on a few places in the hull and where the ribs go into the keel was there some bad wood. Except for the sole, the inside of the cabin was in great shape.

[Hartley18]

Quite a find! Sure looks like an original un-modified (ie. rare) Vertue to me.

She needs a lot of work, but from the photos you've posted it doesn't seem to be too far gone. If you can get her cheap enough and you're up to it, the results would be well worth your while.

Vertues have a reputation even today as being the "ideal yacht" (for a wooden boat of that size) and hence command decent prices on the 2nd-hand market, especially one with a pedigree. Check the registration number with RYA, but 6 digits = old!

[JoeDiver]

I'd give $800 for that boat if there's no extensive rot and she's solid...just needs restoration. She'll be quite a gem once brought back!