Chris Hawkins had successfully raced Ebblake III a production Westerly Pageant which had been race-tuned. After discussions with David Sanders; Westerly’s M.D. and Dick Stower of Laurent Giles & Partners the designers were commissioned to develop the lines and detailed drawings for a Quarter Tonner which would ultimately become the prototype of the first Westerly club racer.

The design was undertaken primarily by LG & P Partner Peter Anstey and the cold moulded mahogany 24 footer was built at Aquaboats Ltd at Lymington, just two hundred yards from the Laurent Giles offices on Quay Hill. Three more of these yachts were constructed in the UK in that year

This was the first Laurent Giles pure offshore racing yacht design since the 74’ 6” Stormvogel in 1960, and Ebblake IV campaigned throughout the 1974/5 season was raced successfully in the Solent Points Class V (British Level Rating Association) winning the coveted  B.L.R.A. Pimms Trophy for Quarter Tonners.

Early in 1974 early designs were prepared for a G.R.P production version but it was not until later in that year after additional modifications that Westerly Marine Construction then took up the option take the design as the GK 24 class (design number 0709) offering two basic versions of which three hundred and twenty were built.