Historic records refer to Rhakotis as a settlement on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast before Alexander the Great founded the famous Mediterranean port city of Alexandria in B.C. 332. Alexandria was an important city of the ancient world; for more than two thousand years, it was the largest city in Egypt and was its capital for almost half of that time. As an important trading post between Europe and Asia, it profited from the easy overland connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Only a few months following its foundation, Alexander left the city named for him, never to return.
Two thousand, two hundred and sixty four years later Jack Laurent Giles had already created five yacht designs of varying type and style embracing a motor launch, a French industrialist’s luxury motor yacht, cruising auxiliary ketches and an 8 metre class sloop for a young British heiress who would by and by marry Jack Giles’ business partner George Gill.
Twelve years earlier in 1919 after the cessation of hostilities the British Boat Club was established in Alexandria, and it was exclusively for members of this club that he prepared the designs of a 22’ 6” one design keelboat in which club members and their guests would enjoy competitive racing in a fleet of restricted and identical yachts.
The hull lines of the Faerey (or Faerie) One Design Class for the British Boat Club, Alexandria, were completed and issued on February 15th 1932 and all of the six working drawings were completed by Giles himself in that month. The first yachts were launched just over a year later.
In many ways the design owes much to the Alfred Westmancott X One Designs which dominate the waterfront at Lymington; open carvel built fractional rig day boats, but with more transom rake and longer bow overhang, 3’ 3” draft and a more slender keel. Giles placed the mast farther forward and although fractional rigged the mast head was supported by a ½” plough steel masthead stay. The forestay was tensioned with runners, and in that way Giles avoided the use of jumper struts.
At least five of these wooden yachts were built and competitive racing was enjoyed – until the abdication of King Farouk in 1952 and the subsequent republican reforms closed this any many other British clubs and societies.
Further details and drawings of this interesting one design racing yacht can be found at:
https://laurentgilesarchive.co.uk/product/faerey-one-design/