As far back as 1889 the Teign Corinthian Sailing Club, as it was then known, carried out racing for open centreplate dinghies between 12 and 15ft. Many boats were locally made by such experts as Pengelly, Foote and George Lavis in Exmouth. Local regattas were very popular and were indulged in by those who could afford to indulge themselves in individually built boats built for racing.
About the turn of the century Morgan Giles became very interested in this area of boating gaining both the practical and theoretical experience to design and build his own boats. He also became an expert helmsman and won many races as did his future wife Ivy Carus-Wilson.
As we have seen previously in this section Morgan Giles went on to design and build dinghies of all types including the One-design. The one that probably interested him most of all being the One-design for the Teign Corinthian Sailing Club in 1938. This was a three-quarter decked 16ft centreplate sloop. The boats had a clinker planked hull and a had generous forward and amidships depths, the wetted surface was reduced by a marked rise floor and the hull form had low resistance. Six were ordered by December 1938 ready for the 1939 regatta season where the club Commodore, Captain Lindsay-Smith offered a perpetual trophy for the class and a prize to be won outright.
Specification:
LOA – 16ft
Beam – 5ft 10in
Draught – 5ft (plate lowered)
Sail Area – 160 sq ft
Iron Ballast Keel – 200lb
