HISTORY and DESCRIPTION:
The Vertue was designed by Jack Laurent Giles before the war and has become probably the most celebrated small cruiser ever, largely due to the amazing voyages made in these tough little ships.
It was Humphrey Barton who made the design’s reputation in his blue water voyages in Vertue XXXV and Hiscock spoke highly of the design. He engaged Laurent Giles to design his Wanderer 2 and 3 both designs owing much to the Vertue. Humphrey Barton concluded whilst celebrating his Atlantic crossing that the Vertue was ‘The most perfect small ocean-going yacht that has ever been built’
Fifteen were built in teak by Cheoy Lee of Hong Kong from 1953 and Speedwell of Hong Kong further confirmed the Vertue reputation by sailing home to England from Hong Kong and again sailing to the Caribbean, down to Cape Town and back home. Since these first extended voyages in the 1960’s proving that a well-designed and built small yacht could sail safely off-shore, many Vertues have made similar and longer voyages and a Trans-Atlantic voyage in a Vertue is nowadays regarded as totally normal though still just as challenging.
The early boats had very short coach-roofs with sitting head-room below. After the war, the topsides were raised by a plank and a much bigger coach-roof added extending forward of the mast and raised to a dog-house aft so that Vertues are often identified as “long” or “short” dog-house models.
Cheoy Lee built Vertues are highly sought-after being built of solid teak, yacal, ipol and kapore.
CONTESSINA, Vertue 121 was built in 1963 for L B Walsh Atkins CMG CVO of London to Lloyds 100A1 and remained in class until November 1977. Stationed in Maylandsea, Essex CONTESSINA remained in her original ownership for several decades. Purchased by the present owner in 2017 CONTESSINA has been thoroughly refitted although retaining her original classic style, features and fittings.
Three quarter inch teak hull planking, copper and bronze fastened to ipol timbers. Yacal keel, stem, stern-post and deadwood. Kapore deck beams with recently sheathed marine-ply decks finished with anti-slip deck paint. Varnished teak coachroof and cockpit coamings and brightwork. 4,500 lb ballast keel.
Hull stripped and repainted with Jotun Vinyguard with Jotun Pilot white above the waterline.
Three keel bolts removed for inspection 2019 and found to be sound.
Hollow Sitka spruce mast stripped of all standing rigging, sealed and treated with yacht varnish.
All four spreaders renewed, standing rigging checked and replaced. Mast wiring renewed with new masthead lights and new VHF antenna and cable. Wooden bumkin and chains renewed.
YANMAR 1GM10 DIESEL ENGINE rebuilt 2020 – new cylinder, valves, water pump, anti-syphon and starter motor. Propeller – three-bladed fixed, new 2018. Water lubricated deep sea seal on shaft 2017
INVENTORY:
Cobra F77 VHF radio – 2018
HPA 528 Class B GPS / AIS transponder – 2019
NASA Clipper echosounder – 2018
Baby Blakes toilet – complete service kit 2017
Taylors cabin heater
Taylors two-burner paraffin cooker
Compass
Electric bilge pump 2020
Two Henderson Manual bilge pumps – cockpit and galley service kit 2019
LED lighting throughout 2018
2 EXV90 Enduroline Calcium Leisure batteries 2018
Solar panel and controller
Wooden spinnaker pole
Wooden Folding tiller
Navico Tiller pilot – new 2019
Shore power Mains RCD 30mA consumer unit and fittings
Fuel tank 23 litres.
Sprayhood, new 2019
Ocean Safety four person liferaft – new 2019
Pear-shaped anode connected to prop shaft
SAILS:
New mainsail 2019 – Saunders, cut with increased roach – roller reefing but with slab reef points added.
Furling Genoa on Wykham Martin furler
No2 Genoa – hank on
No 1 Staysail – hank on
No 3 staysail – hank on
Storm sail – hank on.
Cruising chute
Standing rigging renewed about 2003.
Running rigging all renewed 2019
Cabin bunk cushions new 2017.
BROKERS NOTE:
A particularly well presented and maintained Cheoy Lee Vertue built to a high standard with quality timber and materials. These highly desirable yachts offer capable and proven cruising opportunities for either coastal or long-distance. After her recent refit CONTESSINA is in full commission and ready to enjoy. September 2020 lift out, topside re-paint, antifouling and some bilge painting.
Included a rare signed copy of Humphrey Barton’s Book
Early viewing highly recommended.
GUIDE: Sold – March 2021
LYING: North Wales
VIEWING: Through CLASSIC YACHT BROKERAGE – classicyachtbrokerage@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER: Classic Yacht Brokerage offer the details and photographs of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information or images or warrant the condition of the vessel, machinery or rig. Buyers should instruct their representative, agents or their surveyors to investigate such details as the buyer requires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.
