When Laurent Giles Partners were asked in 1978 by a major film company to consult on the design of the yacht Dulcibella for a movie that was to commence filming the following year, they probably did not appreciate the difficulty they would encounter finding a vessel which would be of the correct size and also be in the condition which would render it suitable for conversion.

The ex Royal National Lifeboat Insitution Susan Ashley was such a vessel, and it was on this ‘donor’ hull that the development was based.

A hull lines plan was developed, rigging, sail plan and spar plans, interior layouts and deck fittings plan were all created in line with the style and technology that would have been available at the turn of the twentieth century.