Lutine, designed by Laurent Giles, was built for Lloyd's Yacht Club of London at Camper and Nicholsons' Yard, Gosport. She was launched on 29th March 1952. Lutine, a Class 1 Ocean racer, was built to the American Rule (CCA). Once launched, the Bermuda Race on June 21st was Lutine's first challenge. Laurent Giles designed Lutine with the low broad rig of of a yawl in order to exploit the CCA rule which penalised a tall rig.

Constructed with teak planking below the waterline and West African Mahogany above. Lutine measures 41'6" on the waterline extending to 58'6" overall with graceful bow and stern overhangs. Drawing 8'5" Lutine has a beam of 13'9". Under the Royal Ocean Racing Club rating rule she carried an additional 1400 square metres of sail and under the Cruising Club of America rule she carried an additional 330 square metres of sail distributed between the genoa and spinnaker.

Unfortunately Lutine's racing career did not start well and after being shipped to America she finished only sixteenth in her class in the Bermuda Race and she then had to withdraw from the Transatlantic Race back from America after a considerable leak was found at the stem scarph. It appeared that the stem had been strained during shipping and she was repaired in America.

Back in home waters Lutine did well winning her class in the 1953 and 1955 Fastnet Races and the Class 1 Championship in 1955. Lutine had proved her worth in fair conditions, but it was not until the Channel Race of 1956 that she proved herself a good all rounder. in hurricane force winds only five of the twenty three boats which started finished. Lutine thrashed over the line under a trysail to win the race. Thirty three years later she would return to British waters through similar conditions on her final voyage before restoration began.

Lutine's racing career spanned 20 years, but in 1970 Lloyd's Yacht Club replaced Lutine with a Nicholson 55 and she was sold on as 'Lutin'. Lutin spent her next years as a charter yacht generally in the Mediterranean and around Turkey in particular. By 1989 Lutin was in major need of a refit if she was to keep sailing.

Lutine was sailed back from the Mediterranean for restoration. Combes Boatyard began the work, which sadly ceased early on. She remained untouched until the hull was brought to Penpol boatyard in the late nineties. Lutine was purchased in September 1999 by Clive and Gillian Emerson, and an extensive refit began........