May Queen

Current boat name

May Queen

Boat class

7367

Function

Fishing and Hunting

Type

Length (m / ft)

8 / 26ft 3in

Beam (m / ft)

2.62 / 8ft 7in

Leeward

Keel - long

Masts

1 Wood

Rig type

Gaff Cutter

Propulsion

Sail/engine

Designer

Bowden's ?

Date of build

1910 c

Place of build

Porthleven

Present use

Sailing

MAY QUEEN was built in 1910 by a yard, believed to be Bowden's, in Porthleven, Cornwall. Although built as a Polperro gaffer, she was never used as a fishing boat but was an open ferry in Falmouth harbour around 1910/11. Between the wars she was operated as a tripping boat on the Percuil River based at St Mawes where she was laid up on the beach during WWII. Shortly after the war she was used as a work boat and at some point during this period she was fitted with her first engine, a 1928 Ailsa Craig 4 cyl petrol. In 1951 she was purchased by a Mr Allbright of Newlyn who was to keep her until 1979. During this period she was used for cruising to France as a motor boat and kept on the Helford River. She sank at her mooring in 1955 but was recovered and continued to cruise to France and Spain. In 1965 she was registered as REINE DE MAI. She was sold in 1979 and moved to Plymouth where she was refitted and her rig and accommodation changed to what it is today. In 1995 she was sold again, moved to London and reverted to her original name. Later she sailed to Walton-on-the Naze where she was re-fastened and extensively overhauled. Sold again in 2006, her engine was replaced and she was sailed to Ireland during 2007/2008. December 2008 (Archive)