Name Mermaid

MERMAID is a gaff cutter, designed and built by Alfred E. Payne at Northam, Southampton, in 1860. Her official number was 105779. Her hull is carvel built with oak frames and pitch pine planking, fastened with bronze treenails. She has a pointed bow, a counter stern and a plumb straight stem.

In 1873, she was owned by E. Ricketts, a member of the Southern Yacht Club and the Thames Yacht Club. Her sails were made by Scovell at that time. By 1878, she had been sold to Lieutenant F.G. Innes-Lillingston of Coillimore House, Lochalsh, Ross, Scotland; a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

She was purchased by John M. Morant in 1883, but was sold again in 1888 to John W. Foakes M.D, a member of the New Thames Yacht Club. She had new sails made by Lapthorn.

In 1896, she left the Foakes family ownership and was sold to Charles Smith of Woodgreen, Middlesex; a member of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. In June of that year, MERMAID was entered in a race held by the Royal Burnham Yacht Club and was first across the line, although she also spent five minutes aground on Foulness Island and therefore was unplaced.

In 1907, she was bought by George Pardy of Uxbridge. She was sold again in 1922 to A. Boyes of Stanley Park, Brightlingsea. However, he only kept her two years before selling her to A. Leslie Jasper of Blackmore, Chelmsford. She was transferred in 1928 to S. I. Veale, but was owned by Arthur E. Hagg from 1931 to 1933. At this time, she was fitted with a Morris four cylinder petrol engine.

In 1937, she was sold to W. H. Johnson of Newham, Weybridge. Her rig was Bermudan, with Ratsey’s sails. After the Second World War, she was owned by Hopkins of Shepperton, before being sold to Richard James Ross of Twickenham, and berthed at Moody's Yard, Bursledon from 1950 to 1956.

In 1957, she was bought by Mrs Daphne Bradley (later Mrs. Goodley) for the sum of £400. It is believed that a wheelhouse was added during this period. C. E. Colbourn of Caldecote Hall, Nuneaton purchased MERMAID on 2 April 1959 and she remained in his ownership until about 1967 when she was sold to Kemp’s Shipyard. The following year, she was sold to R. W. Taylor of Mill Hill, London.

In approximately 1970, MERMAID was discovered by Christian Herluf Rodskjaer of Southampton, and bought for £100. He laid her up for two years at Camper & Nicholson’s yard until he retired and then sailed her to France and in the Solent. He is believed to have covered the decks with plywood and canvas, rebuilt the 'wheelhouse', removed the engine, and rigged her as a ketch for single-handed sailing. He probably also added the wheel steering. Subsequently, she was sold to Mr. Thomas of Truck Line who gave her to his son, Saul Thomas. Saul Thomas worked at Weir Quay Boatyard, Bere Alston, Devon, and lived on the boat there. He fitted a Yanmar diesel engine with a new stern chute through the port quarter.

In 1987, she was bought by Michael Plumtree, who sold her through Sotheby's in 1989 to Julian G. Tregoning of Lavington, Midhurst, W. Sussex. Sotheby’s estimate for the boat had been £4,500 to £6,000, but in the event she only fetched £3,500. Until 1996, MERMAID was moored at Weir Quay Boatyard. She was then sold for the price of one pound to Tim Lawrence of Stoke, Plymouth.

Bought by new owners in 1997 and transported to Mickleover, Derbyshire for restoration. 

Under new ownership since 2019 and now moored in Levington Marina, Ipswich, Suffolk.