A Morbic-12 built in 2020.
“Proteus” is one of the few (possibly the only) Morbic-12 with the option to configure as Lug rig or Sloop lug.
Morbic-12 is a Francois Vivier design based on a Breton inshore fishing craft. There are about twelve afloat in UK, a further half-dozen in build, and about 120 worldwide. They are a remarkably seaworthy craft as proven by surviving unscathed during the cancelled race at Falmouth Classics 2023.
Constructed in South Oxfordshire from kit by the two owners, we never intended Proteus to be a “Lock-down” project; that challenge struck us after we’d started. One builder in his garage did much of the hull; the other worked on the mast, spars and a multitude of details in his garden. Materials teleportation mysteriously occurred during shopping trips.
Proteus has featured at Henley on Thames (Oxfordshire), Chichester Harbour (Sussex), Newport (Pembrokeshire), Clywedog (Mid Wales), Falmouth & Helford (Cornwall), Dittisham (Devon), Golfe du Morbihan (Brittany), Friesland and Overijssel (Netherlands).
She is registered for Douarnenez 2026.
The name “Proteus” hints at the shape-changing nature of our craft – Lug to Sloop-Lug rig – a characteristic attributed to Proteus the Greek god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water.
The UK Morbic Network can be found here https://mymorbic.uk
