Anne Marie is a unique part of British Maritime Heritage, which, after spending several decades on the West Coast of North America, is preparing for a voyage home to the UK, where she will sail in her home waters which she has not visited now for over half a century. She will undergo full restoration before joining the busy European regatta scene, where she will once again race with competitors sh
e last faced more than sixty years ago. Having had an illustrious early history including being raced by the King of Denmark, she is now somewhat dilapidated after a few sorry years and she requires plenty of essential repair works before being fit for the arduous 9,000 mile passage back to the UK. The task of preparing Anne Marie for sea is considerable. Fortunately her teak, elm and oak hull appears to have stood up remarkably well to her 105 years, no doubt largely due to her original high build quality, Lloyds special survey 18A1. She will still need to be hauled out, inspected, and anything not satisfactory put right. Her rig has been cut down somewhat over the years, having had her mizzen mast removed, and around 8 feet from her bowsprit. To restore her to her original rig will be one of the main objects of the current refit, and it has been started by the previous owner, having had a new topmast, topsail spars, and squareyard built. However, she still needs a new Mizzen mast, along with a boom and gaff, possibly a new bowsprit, and possibly a new main boom. This does not just involve the woodwork, but also blacksmith work for the traditional metal fittings, and traditional rigging skills for the wiresplicing, serving, seizing, and of course ropework. There are many more jobs of a more mundane nature to be carried out on Anne Marie in this preparation for sea, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, to name but a few. The challenge of restoring her original rig, however is the most exciting part. To accurately research and then build and fit the spars is a great project, and it will pay dividends at sea as the boat will be a lot handier for the passage home, as well as restoring those classic good looks!
