Name Daisy

Built in 1884 by Aldous of Brightlingsea as an oyster smack, DAISY's hull is carvel built with oak frames and Swedish pine planking. She is a yawl with two timber masts. Originally called DAISY, she worked under sail until 1932 when she was sold and converted to a yacht and renamed DUSMARIE.

She sailed twice to the Baltic and was left in Sweden for the duration of the Second World War. Rescued in 1945, she was in need of an almost total rebuild during which her rig was changed to a yawl. Two engine changes followed, in 1952 a Stuart Turner 8hp was fitted and, in 1972, this was changed to a 10hp single cylinder Saab.

During the 1950s and 1960s she was used as an adventure sail training ship for parties of schoolboys. Later, as a training ship for a Sixth Form College near Ipswich, she took part in the 1974 Tall Ships Race with an all female crew. She was sold again in the 1980s and based on the River Deben in Suffolk. 

Under her then owner, she reverted to her original name of DAISY in 2020.  A restoration project was begun, and in 2020 she underwent significant repairs to her planking, plus a new stem head and other repairs, but the project was never completed. The current owner has finished the hull works apart from the new main hatch and some decking, but unfortunately has been unable to complete the restoration.  Her current location is Downs Boatyard, Maldon. 

Update, February 2024: Vessel under new ownership.