Kathleen and May
Encyclopedia
The Kathleen and May is the last remaining British
built wooden hull three masted top sail schooner
. Presently based in Bideford
, North Devon
in private ownership but up for sale, she is listed on the National Historic Fleet, Core Collection
.
, Flintshire
yard, for local shipping company Coppack Bros. Constructed with a doubled frame of oak
, these were covered by 3 inch thick seasoned pitch pine
planks, fastened to the frames with treenails and iron bolts. Equipped with the first known fitting of Appledore roller reefing, the sails are reefed by a ratchet lever that engaged the cogs on the Gaff boom, thereby winding the sail around it, and then locked to prevent the sail unwinding from the boom. Launched in April 1900 under Captain John Coppack, she was named Lizzie May after the Captain’s daughters.
Placed to work on the Irish Sea
, by 1908 she had sailed nearly 40000 miles (64,373.6 km), when she was sold into the coal
-shipping fleet of Martin J Fleming of Youghal
, Ireland
, and renamed the Kathleen and May after his daughters. Fleming modified her, adding before World War I
both a longer lower yard to lengthen the middle sail, and a martingale was fitted to the bowsprit. She now plied her trade between Youghal and the ports of the Bristol Channel
, as a coal lugger.
In 1931 she was sold to Captain Jewell of Appledore
, North Devon. ON arrival in her new home port, she was fitted with an 80 bhp Beardmore
diesel engine
, and with her topsails removed her topmasts were reduced in height. After surviving the storms of February 1936, in 1937 she experienced engine trouble in sight of Youghal’s lighthouse, but managed to make port. In 1943, her engine was upgraded to a 125 bhp Deutz
diesel.
After the death of Captain Jewell in 1945, she passed to his son Tommy. In 1947 he had the martingale removed, but continued to ply her on the Irish Sea coal trade, which was now in severe decline.
in Plymouth
. As one of a number of examples of Britain decaying maritime heritage, he set up the Maritime Trust in London to help preserve Britains maritime history. Subsequently bought by the Trust in 1970 and later moved to Gloucester Docks, they began restoring her as a typical West Country schooner.
After the Maritime Trust failed to secure a £2 million National Lottery
heritage fund bid, businessman Steve Clarke from Bideford
, Devon
bought her. Towed by sea to Bideford, in February 1999 she was hauled out of the water by two 1000 tonne heavy lift mobile cranes, and placed on to the disused Brunswick Wharf at East-the-Water. 70% of the original planking was stripped from the frames, enabling most of her internal timbers to later be refitted. While the stern of the ship was stripped down to the keels, the reconstruction of the bow required the replacement of 6.5 tonnes (6.4 LT) of sacrificial oak timber. Once the frames were refitted, the residual surviving parts of the original frames were steam cleaned
at 3000psi, to kill fungal spores.
After equipping the ship with a 400 bhp Detroit diesel
ex-lifeboat engine, the single prop was replaced by a pair of hydraulically driven props. The ship now carries enough fuel to do 2000 miles (3,218.7 km) under engine power alone. Redecked with new seasoned timbers, she was given a second refit, with all masts and rigging restored to the originally constructed and researched 1900 specification. On completion, she underwent a rigid MCA CAT2 inspection.
As a result of his efforts in restoring Kathleen and May, now councillor Steve Clarke was awarded the OBE in 2008.
, since her restoration Kathleen & May now regularly sails across the Bristol Channel and the Irish Sea. She has returned to Youghal, attended various festivals, and sailed across the Bay of Biscay
to Bilbao
as the paid guest of the Guggenheim museum
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
built wooden hull three masted top sail schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
. Presently based in Bideford
Bideford
Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
, North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
in private ownership but up for sale, she is listed on the National Historic Fleet, Core Collection
National Historic Fleet, Core Collection
The National Historic Fleet, Core Collection is a list of museum ships located in the United Kingdom, under the National Historic Ships register.The vessels on the National Historic Fleet are distinguished by:...
.
History
She was built in 1900 by Ferguson and Baird at their Connah's QuayConnah's Quay
Connah's Quay is the largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the River Dee, near the border with England. It can be accessed by road from the A550, by rail from the nearby Shotton station and also lies on the National Cycle Network Route 5. It is situated near the region's industrial...
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
yard, for local shipping company Coppack Bros. Constructed with a doubled frame of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, these were covered by 3 inch thick seasoned pitch pine
Pitch Pine
The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized pine, native to eastern North America. This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species such as Loblolly Pine , Shortleaf Pine , and Pond Pine The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized (6-30 meters or 20-100 feet)...
planks, fastened to the frames with treenails and iron bolts. Equipped with the first known fitting of Appledore roller reefing, the sails are reefed by a ratchet lever that engaged the cogs on the Gaff boom, thereby winding the sail around it, and then locked to prevent the sail unwinding from the boom. Launched in April 1900 under Captain John Coppack, she was named Lizzie May after the Captain’s daughters.
Placed to work on the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, by 1908 she had sailed nearly 40000 miles (64,373.6 km), when she was sold into the coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
-shipping fleet of Martin J Fleming of Youghal
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and renamed the Kathleen and May after his daughters. Fleming modified her, adding before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
both a longer lower yard to lengthen the middle sail, and a martingale was fitted to the bowsprit. She now plied her trade between Youghal and the ports of the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
, as a coal lugger.
In 1931 she was sold to Captain Jewell of Appledore
Appledore
-Places in England:* Appledore, Mid Devon, near Tiverton* Appledore, Kent* Appledore railway station* Appledore, Torridge, Devon, near Bideford-Ships and shipbuilding:* Appledore II , schooner based in Camden, Maine...
, North Devon. ON arrival in her new home port, she was fitted with an 80 bhp Beardmore
William Beardmore and Company
William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish engineering and shipbuilding conglomerate based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area. It was active between about 1890 and 1930 and at its peak employed about 40,000 people...
diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
, and with her topsails removed her topmasts were reduced in height. After surviving the storms of February 1936, in 1937 she experienced engine trouble in sight of Youghal’s lighthouse, but managed to make port. In 1943, her engine was upgraded to a 125 bhp Deutz
Deutz
There are multiple topics for Deutz* Deutz, Cologne, a former town, since 1888 a quarter of Cologne, Germany* Deutz AG, a diesel-engine manufacturer based in Cologne, Germany* Deutz-Fahr and Deutz-Allis, an agricultural equipment company....
diesel.
After the death of Captain Jewell in 1945, she passed to his son Tommy. In 1947 he had the martingale removed, but continued to ply her on the Irish Sea coal trade, which was now in severe decline.
Restoration
Laid up as a hulk in 1961, she was discovered in 1968 in bad repair by the Duke of EdinburghDuke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. As one of a number of examples of Britain decaying maritime heritage, he set up the Maritime Trust in London to help preserve Britains maritime history. Subsequently bought by the Trust in 1970 and later moved to Gloucester Docks, they began restoring her as a typical West Country schooner.
After the Maritime Trust failed to secure a £2 million National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
heritage fund bid, businessman Steve Clarke from Bideford
Bideford
Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
bought her. Towed by sea to Bideford, in February 1999 she was hauled out of the water by two 1000 tonne heavy lift mobile cranes, and placed on to the disused Brunswick Wharf at East-the-Water. 70% of the original planking was stripped from the frames, enabling most of her internal timbers to later be refitted. While the stern of the ship was stripped down to the keels, the reconstruction of the bow required the replacement of 6.5 tonnes (6.4 LT) of sacrificial oak timber. Once the frames were refitted, the residual surviving parts of the original frames were steam cleaned
Steam cleaning
Steam Cleaning involves using steam for cleaning. Its uses include domestic applications in cleaning carpets, and industrial uses in removing grease and dirt from engines.See:* Vapor Steam Cleaners* Carpet Cleaning with steam....
at 3000psi, to kill fungal spores.
After equipping the ship with a 400 bhp Detroit diesel
Detroit Diesel
As a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
ex-lifeboat engine, the single prop was replaced by a pair of hydraulically driven props. The ship now carries enough fuel to do 2000 miles (3,218.7 km) under engine power alone. Redecked with new seasoned timbers, she was given a second refit, with all masts and rigging restored to the originally constructed and researched 1900 specification. On completion, she underwent a rigid MCA CAT2 inspection.
As a result of his efforts in restoring Kathleen and May, now councillor Steve Clarke was awarded the OBE in 2008.
Present
Based in Bideford on the River TorridgeRiver Torridge
The River Torridge is a river in Devon in England. It was the home of Tarka the Otter in Henry Williamson's book. The Torridge local government district is named after the river....
, since her restoration Kathleen & May now regularly sails across the Bristol Channel and the Irish Sea. She has returned to Youghal, attended various festivals, and sailed across the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
to Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
as the paid guest of the Guggenheim museum
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, built by Ferrovial, and located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. It is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao to the Atlantic Coast. The...
.