Kathleen and May of Bideford
The official unofficial site of the Ship. Made and maintained by the crew and the Friends of the Kathleen & May.
Built in Connahs Quay in 1900 and named "Lizzie May". Sold to Martyn Fleming of Youghal Ireland in 1908 and re named after his daughters Kathleen & May". Working the ports of western England , Wales and the south and east ports of Ireland. Crewed by skipper, boy and four seamen, operating under sail only. Bought by Tommy Jewell in 1931 the ship had an auxilary engine fitted, the top masts taken down and the bowsprit reduced. She continued trading in this manner with now only a crew of four up to 1960, bringing her last cargo from Cardiff to Bideford. Bringing to an end centuraries of transporting cargo under sail. Eleven years later the Kathleen & May was partly restored by the Maritime trust and put on show first in Plymouth then in London.
By 1995 the ship was in a seriously distressed state and required major restoration work. Lacking the essential funds the ship was closed to the public and after having the masts & spars removed was taken round to Gloucester docks to await an uncertain end. Saved in time by Bideford businessman Steve Clarke and bought back to her home port for a full restoration. For his part in the restoration and contribution to our maritime heritage Mr Clarke received the OBE.
The full story of the Kathleen & May is available at only £3.00 plus postage.
The ship is of historic importance, and, as the last of her type, is part of the Core Collection of the National Register of Historic Vessels (NRHV).
Drawing of the ship
This is how the Kathleen & May would have looked between 1900 and 1930. With with square sails to the fore topmast and gaff topsails to the main and mizzen.
Day Sail from Dartmouth to Plymouth
The Kathleen and May will be doing a day sail from Dartmouth to Plymouth on Monday the 6th July.
Departs in the morning for a day sail round the beautiful Devon coast to Plymouth with a light lunch included arriving approx 17:30
Cost £95 a head. No children under 14. Contact 07741 009991.
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Kathleen and May in Sutton Harbour
The Kathleen and May is paying a visit to her old home port of Plymouth where she will be staying for the week in Sutton Harbour, where she stayed from 1971 till 1978 before going on to St Katharine Docks in London.
She will be open to the public between 12pm and 5pm and on Saturday and Sunday evening will be holding wine tastings onboard.
So come try some of the first wine to be shipped into the West Country under sail for over 50 years.
Her next port of call will be Dartmouth for the Classic Channel Regatta. She will leave Plymouth on Thursday 2nd July for a day sail around Start Point to Dartmouth.
There will be a limited number of spaces available on board for the price of £95.00 a head.
Please call in at the ship for more details, or call the ship on 07741 009991.
Penzance, here we come...
Day sail, Padstow to Penzance, taking in Lands End. Departs Padstow, Thursday 25 June 07.30, arrive Penzance 19.00. Cost £100 per person, including a light lunch. Return journey not included.
Sailing from Clovelly
Due to Fair Winds Wine cancelling our next trip, with just 16 hours notice, due to lack of orders, our plans for the passage to Bordeaux are currently on hold.
We find ourselves in the unenviable position of trying to recoup some of the costs we have incurred in setting up for the trip.
Fortunately for our local supporters this means that we will be arriving in Clovelly on Saturday morning, and hope to do trips from there. We are carrying wine from our previous adventures which will be on sale on board.
So now is your chance to help play a real part in the preservation of this wonderful ship by joining us at Clovelly for either 2 hour trips, a day sail or a charter to Lundy.
We are hoping to move on to Padstow at the end of the week and there will be limited space for this 12 hour coastal sight-seeing trip.
For more information please either call Sacha on 07741 009991, or pop down to Clovelly and talk to one of the crew. The itinerary appears here.
Friends of the Kathleen and May
XMAS LIGHTS
Switch on Nov. 28th
Ship can stay on Brunswick Wharf
VIEW PICTURES OF KATHLEEN AND MAY!
http://picasaweb.google.com/kathleenandmay/
Please send any pictures you have of the Kathleen and May to the following e-mail address kathleenandmay@live.co.uk We would love to share your experience of her with others.
About the ship.
The Kathleen and May is the last remaining wooden hull, three masted topsail schooner. Built in 1900 restored 2000.
Thanks to everybody who helped with the last two social events. St Patrick's night and Bill's stew night, two very enjoyable evenings. We look forward to staging more of these functions in the autum.
Out at sea
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