Between 24 and 27 May 2024, Provident, our 2024 Operational Flagship of the Year, was in Brixham to celebrate her 100th anniversary in the port she was originally based in, participating in the Brixham Heritage Regatta and Rally.
Provident was built by Saunders & Co at Galmpton on the River Dart in 1924. She was one of the last trawlers to be built for working under sail for the skipper William Pillar. She is of the medium size Mule class with a gaff-ketch rig. She fished for six years, with a crew of three men and a boy, and was then sold to an American, Captain R H Lagarde, who had her converted to a yacht design by Morgan Giles.
She was privately owned until the 1950s, when she was purchased by John Bayley who founded the Island Cruising Club (ICC). She continued under Club ownership until 1971 when the newly formed Maritime Trust bought her and chartered her back to the ICC so that she could continue her sailing career.
She remained as a community sailing yacht until May 2022 when she was purchased by Angels Share Sailing Holidays, headed by Steve and Morag, and rebased to Oban and the Argyll region. She now operates classic sailing holidays around the Scottish islands, whilst efforts continue to archive her history and keep in touch with the people she has impacted over the years.
This was clear in Brixham, as former crewmembers and people connected with the vessel’s history came aboard and shared their stories with Provident’s current crew. In their social media, Provident stated that “it’s been a fabulous journey of discovery and meeting many people who have been part of Provi’s life over the past century.”
On 26 May, during the Regatta’s award ceremony, Provident’s owners were presented with their 2024 Flagship of the Year pennant and plaque by Luis Vicente, NHS-UK Project Manager, who had gone to Brixham for the occasion. The pennant was raised the following morning before Provident and a crew made up of her former sailors went to Galmtpon where she was originally built.
She is now on her way back to Oban, stopping at Salcombe, Penzance and Dublin.
