Historic ship restoration project faces axe
Urgent funding needed to save last of its kind Fishing Smack, securing youth employment project too.
A 109-year-old sailing ship is desperately seeking a new financial lifeline to stay afloat, as her dedicated owners lead a national campaign to save her.
Britannia, the last functional example of an East Coast Fishing Smack, is currently undergoing community restoration in Exeter with the goal of returning her to a working life at sea. However, plans to revive her will shortly run aground if the £250,000 needed to fund the rest of the project isn’t found. Not only does this threaten the future of this last of its kind boat, but it also jeopardises two young boatbuilder apprenticeships, and scuppers the dreams of operating an education programme for disadvantaged young people, once the boat is seaworthy again.
Britannia is the last functional example of an East Coast Smack. Construction was started by the Worfolk Brothers in 1914, a well-known pair of shipwrights, from Friars Yard in Alexandra Dock, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Britannia was launched a year later to become the largest and fasted vessel in the King’s Lynn fleet.
In charge of the ‘Help Save Britannia’ restoration project is Sam and Vicki Samuels, an 80-year-old couple who founded Britannia Sailing Trust in 2014, a charity supporting disadvantaged young people through boatbuilding and sailing. Hailed as ‘beautiful and unique’, the vessel has been an important part of their lives for the past 50 years, restoring her once already while raising their family on board as they sailed across the world. Having sold Britannia in 1996, they crossed paths with her again in 2013 and are now committed to restoring her for a second time after she fell into disrepair. The project marks their lifelong passion for the ship and for sailing, but due to underfunding thanks to rising costs, their dream of seeing Britannia sail again is likely to end in heartbreak, unless more funding and donations come in.
Sam said: “We have nine committed Trustees and the support of many individuals, some of whom have sailed aboard Britannia in the past. It’s got such wonderfully rich heritage and as the last ship of its kind in the UK, is a treasured part of our maritime culture. But the sad reality is, rising costs mean that we are now underfunded and urgently need more support to help us save this lovely boat.”
The Trust’s future in supporting young people is also in doubt. The charity focuses on offering them career-building opportunities while building skills, gaining confidence and improving mental wellbeing.
Sam continued: “Young people are the future of traditional sailing ships. They’re the next generation of boatbuilders, shipwrights, skippers and sailors. The ship will enable the charity to offer training and work experience for individuals to learn how to sail and maintain a traditional sailing boat, part of Britain’s Maritime History. We owe it to them to give them this invaluable opportunity to learn vital life skills.
“We feel Britannia has been an integral part of our lives for so long and it was fate she returned to us again. We want others to experience the same joy she has brought us but we’re heartbroken at the prospect of not being able to revive her. We hope people can do whatever they can, however they can through donations, and sharing our plea for help. We shall be eternally grateful.”
Britannia has a rich history including ribs built from oak trees in the Royal Sandringham Forest, encounters with a German U-Boat in World War One, rescue of a Russian ship in distress, and she has even sunk at least once. It’s a rich history worth preserving, offering an ongoing opportunity for the Trust to teach skills, and offer opportunities for disadvantaged young people.
To donate, please visit the website. Further details of the campaign can also be found on the crowdfunding page.
