Torbay Lass’ History

Built in  1923 by  R Jackman and Sons  for Alf Lovis  "Torbay Lass" She was the last of many hundreds of Brixham sailing trawlers built from the late 19th century onwards. In view of this symbolic significance, she holds the present status of being one of some 200 vessels of all types and functions listed in the National Historic Fleet.

Her construction marks the beginning of the end of fishing under sail from Brixham and her configuration was traditional and basic. She had no engine, but did have a coal-fired steam boiler to power the hauling winch for the nets (a feature common to sailing fishing vessels from around the coasts of the UK from the early 20th century). There was no deck house, with the crew of four being accommodated aft with very basic provision for sleeping and eating.

Records show that she had a distinguished career and was a notably good sailing vessel, being involved in 1935 in rescuing the disabled  3 masted schooner  Welcome with a cargo of 200 tons of coal, the Torbay Lass towed her under sail away from Pendeen Head back to Newlyn , preventing her from being wrecked on the Wolf Rock .

 In 1936 Torbay Lass was awarded the King George V Cup for winning the Brixham Trawler Race in that year, thereby demonstrating her capabilities and turn of speed.

Torbay Lass can be seen winning the 1936 Kings cup via the Youtube link below.

 In 1937 she was 'retired', bought by an Essex builder named Bradshaw who converted her at Rainham for pleasure yachting with the addition of twin engines. He took her on a voyage in 1938 just before Hitler invaded Poland. She was ordered off the water while cruising along the East coast, spending the war years inland behind Lowestoft (as did many tall-masted boats) acting as a deterrent to Germans  landing gliders there. Her war years are largely lost to us, but being well-fettled and fitted she was used as accommodation for officers-on-leave for R+R. 

She is mentioned in Lady Claude Hamilton's memoirs "A Stone's Throw" being purchased by said lady in 1945 at the end of hostilities and was further developed  with luxurious accommodation  and  renamed "Kenya Jacaranda"she was copper clad to the waterline and other changes  appropriate for activity in warm tropical waters. The memoirs do not mention her subsequent fate, but her owner inherited her mother's substantial estate in Surrey and the boat is never again mentioned.  She was moved to the Hamble after the war and was never used again

What we know for certain is that, in 1949, still copper clad and still owned by Lady Hamilton she was wallowing in mud in a creek near Southampton. Rescued from the Hamble she went into service on the Thames, training Sea Cadets out of The Lower Pool, in 1951.

 Kenya Jacaranda (Torbay Lass) had taken some 4000 young people to sea between 1951 and 1979 when she was squeezed out of her London berths by Docklands developments. At the same time the Bermondsey Sea Cadets were finding it almost impossible to maintain her.

 The ship was moved 'temporarily' to Tilbury Dock in 1980 retaining mostly the original people, who re-grouped as the "Mayflower Sail Training Society" and carried on more or less as before, enabling youngsters from deprived areas of Greater London to sail a traditional sailing vessel at an affordable price.

She was still berthed in Tilbury over 30 years later, although she had been seen now and then in her old haunts up-river as late as 2007. 

 Between 1980 and 2006, Kenya Jacaranda 'enabled' some 3000 young people (and an unknown number of adults). She competed in the Brixham Trawler Race at least twice, with MSTS crew. The Mayflower Sail Training Society was disbanded in 2007.

A new charity was formed to look after her “Kenya Jackaranda Heritage Sailing”

 In 2014 with a lack of funding she was in the process of being transferred to Trinity Sailing in Brixham to be rebuilt with the help of a Lottery Grant, unfortunately this application was withdrawn after an initial grant and the future of the vessel was then unsure, Tilbury Docks wanted the vessel removed and a temporary home was offered  in Maldon and she was moved to the River Blackwater up to Downs Road Boatyard on the 15th June 2014 where she made the last 1/2 mile under tow from Danny Cardy in his tug Edgar as one engine failed and the other gearbox developed a rather worrying noise.

The charity was handed over and renamed Heritage Marine Foundation – Based out of Downs Road Boatyard, Maldon, Essex. The Foundation focuses on giving future generations the skills to Conserve, Maintain and Operate historically significant vessels and in doing so provide training and work experience to those unable to sponsor themselves through a dedicated program.

We understand that many trades in the traditional maritime industry such as shipwrighting, rigging and sailmaking are becoming endangered due to aging professionals, lack of funding, short supply of certain materials and a lack of recognised qualifications and training.

This is why we believe the time is crucial to train and give young people the funding and experiences they need to go out and carry on these traditional skills in the maritime industry for the future of our historic fleet.

 To deliver a meaningful training program, the foundation is looking to carry out the complete restoration of two historically significant vessels that are in danger of being lost to the wider public.

One being the Brixham trawler Torbay Lass. Torbay Lass will be managed by a lead shipwright with 6 young people getting hands on experience of rebuilding a 102-year-old wooden sailing vessel.

Now awaiting restoration she is subject to the Heritage Marine Foundation’s lottery bid to restore her to sail again. Our long-term plan for Torbay Lass is to restore her as far as possible in her original design and configuration, both above and below deck, using traditional methods and materials where possible. The future use of the Torbay Lass is not intended to be as a conventional sail training vessel but be a more unique learning platform to promote the objectives of the charity, including education on maritime history, and researching marine pollution and environmentally friendly methods of cargo transport and fishing.