John Laurent Giles

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John ('Jack') Laurent Giles (1901-1969) was a famous yacht designer. He and his company designed more than 1000 boats from cruises, racing yachts to "magayachts". He is best known for his design of displacement sailing yachts like the famous 7.6 meter Vertue of which 230 boats made, or Wanderer III. His famous Myth of Malham a revolutionary small displacement, inspired by developments in aeronautics, The novel design helped win the Fastnet race in 1947 and 1949. The updated Miranda IV of 1951 had a rudder separate from the of the keel which heralded the arrival of the modern period of yacht design.

He was awarded the honour of Royal Designer for Industry in 1951.