After the First World War sailing was resumed and the Essex Yacht Club found itself in a strong financial position and an increased membership. The old 17ft design had been going for some 17 years, Morgan Giles was commissioned to design for them an 18ft boat for racing in the Southend area. This was to be a One-Design modelled on the pre-war Morgan Giles designed Thames Estuary One-Design. There were differences specified; the new boats would have a harder bilge carrying the beam further and consequently have a wider transom, Bermuda rig was specified with McGruer hollow spars and a heavier centreplate at 225lbs as against the Thames Estuary 140lbs. The boats were built by Cole & Wiggins of Leigh-on-Sea.
The design worked well and produced a boat that was slightly faster, especially in a breeze and more powerful. A lively first seasons racing was expected and did not disappoint. The Essex boats outstripped the Thames Estuary ones so the owners of these modified their rigs, which were Gunter sloops and heightened the sail plan. These changes made them faster than the Essex boats so sail height in these was increased and their superiority was restored. The TEOD’s changed to Bermudian rig and the EOD’s increased the length of theirs still further which appears to be the final result of this quite comical scenario.
The design worked well and accounted for their ability in the short seas of the Thames Estuary. Nine boats were built for members in 1920 and in 1925 the Whitstable Yacht Club also took up the class and by 1929 inter-club racing was started. Within a few more years the Royal Temple Yacht Club, the Herne Bay Sailing Club and the Medway Yachting Association had all taken up the same design. A tribute to the skill in design made by Morgan Giles.
Specification of the Essex One-Design:
LOA – 18ft
LWL – 16ft 9in
Beam – 6ft
Draught (with C.B.) – 5ft
Displacement – 1,864lb
Centreboard – 225lb
Planking – Wych Elm clench laid
Timbers – American Elm
