Brick (Herbulot) Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The story of the Herbulot Brick begins in 1964, a period when French yacht building was experiencing a vibrant boom, with Chantier Mallard emerging as a leading manufacturer of pleasure boats. The shipyard, with a long family tradition in naval construction dating back to 1896, was known for its commitment to quality and collaboration with top designers. The Brick itself was built with a wooden hull and deck.

Herbulot, a prominent figure in French sailing, specialized in designing boats, often of plywood construction, that were intended to be accessible for home builders or for use in sailing schools. He was a prolific designer, credited with approximately one hundred sailing crafts of various sizes. While specific design goals for the "Brick" are not widely detailed, its fractional sloop rig and fin keel suggest a design aimed at a balance of performance and manageability, consistent with Herbulot's ethos of functional and seaworthy yachts.

Sailing Performance and Handling

Measuring just over 26 feet in length overall with a waterline of 21.33 feet, the Herbulot Brick offers a lively sailing experience, particularly for its size. Its sail area to displacement ratio (SA/D) of 17.41 suggests a moderate to light displacement boat, indicating good performance in lighter winds while still being manageable as the breeze picks up.

With a ballast to displacement ratio (Bal/D) of approximately 0.39, the Brick demonstrates reasonable initial stability, capable of standing up to a decent amount of wind without excessive heeling. While not in the class of exceptionally stiff offshore designs, this ratio is typical for a performance-oriented daysailer or light cruiser of its era. The displacement to length ratio (D/L) of around 183 further classifies the Brick as a relatively light to medium displacement vessel, contributing to its responsive handling and ability to accelerate quickly. Anecdotal accounts suggest that, contrary to what its name might imply, the Herbulot Brick has a reputation in France as a capable daysailer and even a racer, indicating a surprisingly spirited performance on the water.

Accommodations and Layout

Given its length of 26 feet, the Herbulot Brick is designed to maximize usable space while maintaining its sailing characteristics. The boat features a maximum headroom that would offer basic standing room in key areas. As a boat from the mid-1960s, its interior construction would likely feature traditional wood joinery, reflecting the builder's focus on quality carpentry and the wooden hull material. Typical layouts for a vessel of this size from the era would generally include a forward V-berth, a small galley area, and a basic head compartment, with a compact salon providing seating. However, detailed specifics on the interior arrangement, finish quality, or ventilation are not widely documented in available resources.