Schooner Malcolm Miller

Greenheart

Greenheart

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Is Helena C, ex-Malcolm Miller, still moored-up without her masts, in the west country?

I saw her (or it could have been the Winston Churchill) mid-Solent in October 1994. Pics I've seen of her, post-refurbishment, were fantastic.

Then I heard there was a fire, and...no news since. That was maybe 18 months back though. I hope they'll get her sailing again.
 
Classic tops'l Schooner T.S.

Thanks for that...I'm mainly curious about what's happened to both these classic training ships. Before the set-back, the vessel which the 40 y/o Malcolm Miller had become, was as glamorously converted for Riviera life as any swish new super-yacht. I'm wondering how badly she was damaged - I've never read a word on her prospects, since. Very sad if she's not put back where she very nearly was.
 
Malcolm Miller lay off Falmouth for a long time with a tent over her. She was moved up river last summer before Falmouth week and it sounds as though she stayed there. I haven't seen any signs of work being done on her.
 
Who crewed her?!

Thanks, to you who've posted. I'm slightly surprised, that out of all the hundreds, the thousands of crewmen who must've taken their places as trainees on the Malcolm Miller or Winston Churchill over several decades, not even one has a single word of response, damning or full of respect, for one of the old hulls lying longterm in a Cornish river.

Aren't there any tales, any memories, opinions? That's more weird than anything else. Why aren't there? The ghost-storyist in me begins to form theories...feel free to add to them...
 
I may be way off target here but I'm sure I saw the (ex) Winston Churchill somewhere in Greece, I think Attica way about 2003/4. She was under the Greek flag and had sprouted all sorts of Radio/telephone comms aerials like big white mushrooms festooning her rig. She had lost her beauty....
 
dancrane said:
Thanks, to you who've posted. I'm slightly surprised, that out of all the hundreds, the thousands of crewmen who must've taken their places as trainees on the Malcolm Miller or Winston Churchill over several decades, not even one has a single word of response, damning or full of respect, for one of the old hulls lying longterm in a Cornish river.

Aren't there any tales, any memories, opinions? That's more weird than anything else. Why aren't there? The ghost-storyist in me begins to form theories...feel free to add to them...
Click to expand...


Well, the OPs question was about where she is now not about what a good time we had on her........
 
Let's recall a fine old ship as her crew would wish

Perfectly true, I was curious where she is, not why she's there. But, now, I'm thinking, high time the hull was either put back under sail, or alternatively, sent down where we'll all end up; why this weird hiatus? Who owns the Helena C, and when'll they do what they'd had in mind, again?

I guess it makes me miserable, seeing once-glorious sailing ships reduced to antenna-bearing barges.

If any of you gents have tales recalling sailing days aboard those T.S.s...I wanna hear them!
 
I did a week on the Malcolm Miller & thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but you asked what had become of her & I hadn't a clue. Still been keeping an eye on the thread, just seemed little point in commenting on the past.
 
Tell all, Searush.

There's the very unhappy possibility of this nice old boat just silently disappearing because no-one heard her go, and because her decrepit state couldn't be quickly paid back into cost-effective usefulness. Rather sad, when so many must've shared great days and weeks of sailing on board.

Anything, to revive the spirit her comissioning must have given everyone involved. Is there any voyage that a big 3-masted schooner can't undertake?

Here, or wherever else is possible (I'm still new at this), I'd like to read all, and any, accounts of trips in the Malcolm Miller, or the Winston Churchill, before they're just distant memories, and before the vessels' renovation has been overlooked as something this century has retained no interest in...
 
A very long time ago,I happened to be 'Bosun's day worker' whilst anchored off St Ives in a SE 7-8 aboard the 'Churchill' as a trainee.The dawn was breaking-a grey face- we heard that the 'Mickey Mouse' had just passed Land's End, and was on a broad reach heading passed us, and on up to Lundy for a BBq with the Crew, and a film crew on board.As She hove into sight,I asked the Bosun's permission to go below and get my old 2 1/2 inch camera.
'No',He replied,'You're mine for the day'
'I don't care'I said,'this is a once in a lifetime experiance for me'and went below for my camera.
I took some still pictures,video had not been invented in those days,those pictures are still on the wall in my stairway.
The Malcom Miller came passed us at about 10 knots.Reefed staysail,fully reefed foresail,fully reefed main,storm trysail.She gybed passed us.She dipped her ensign.If that wasn't enough,there was some geezer up on the mast blowin a 'kin bugle!!
'That'I said to myself out loud,'is the Ship I wanna be on'.
She carried on up towards Lundy at a reported 14K.
I did go aboard Her a couple of times as Watch Leader after that.Outstanding sailing,and a bit of adventure,and an experiance for a youngish man.
I happened to be up the Fal in November 2010 and saw the MM exactly as described moored by the pub.I've often wondered about the fate of the two old STA Ships.They have touched a lot of lives over the years,mine,for the better.
Cheers

PS.I apologised to the Bosun later,and made sure that I was not found lacking in my day work.
 
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I was once honoured to be given a trip on Royalist, after her officers had seen my little boat beating into a bit of a blow.

One of the people I met aboard was the ( or 'a' ) skipper of the Malcolm Miller & Winston Churchill; he was an impressive chap to sail with, while he was not in overall charge he still managed to get us fine reaching into Portsmouth at one hell of a pace !

I always thought there was something distinctly fishy about the deal giving away the Malcolm Miller and Winston Churchill in return for a job named after a Greek squillionaire; and it's amazing how many pubs / ships etc which are insured but are going through financial difficulties happen to catch fire... :rolleyes:
 
Seajet said:
I was once honoured to be given a trip on Royalist, after her officers had seen my little boat beating into a bit of a blow.
Click to expand...

I was at the |Nautical College Pangbourne and as such were dressed as RN Cadets (very similar to Dartmouth chaps). I ended up on Royalist with a mate from the college and had a great week with a load of Sea Cadets - everyone got on brilliantly and a lot was learnt, a brilliant week on the South Coast - we even made it to Dartmouth!
 
Great stories, thanks gents.

I wonder if a marine surveyor has taken a look at the MM since that fire. Considering how great she looked in advertising material just two years back, it'd be very fine to see both ships passing in UK waters, regularly, once again.

If that big lottery prize comes to this address, count on it.
 
Money for a lot of old rope...

I've only just seen that sistership Sir Winston Churchill may be chartered in Greece for 50,000 euros per week!

The quicker the Malcolm Miller (or whatever her inactive current owners choose to rename her) is sailing again, the sooner she too might be raking it in...
 
I was disappointed & surprised that they were both sold off when they were,not that I was lucky enough to sail in either of them.Just having seen them sail in & out of Hamble often enough I thought they were magnificent ships.Why were they got rid of when they were?
Like the Halcyon that was moored at the mouth of the Hamble river for ages & never went anywhere it seems like a bit of a scandal to me.:(
 
I'm not sure they ever were a paying proposition. They were designed ot be labour intensive. There were no winches, everything was gang-hauled, "Two-six, HEAVE", swigging lines were needed to catch the halyards before the tension was lost in tying off.

It's a long way up the rigging to furl a sail when reefing in a blow & the motion is worse, the higher you climb. I was sent aloft when already feeling green once, knowing working aloft was voluntary I asked to be excused. "Get up there & stop moaning" I was told, so I did. It was really hard to grip the stiff, wet canvas swelled by the wind, your nails are the first things to go & blood on the sails is a common sight. My sickness was affecting my concentration, but I just managed to shout the traditional warning "BELOW" before jettisoning my entire meal in a single hurl. Carrots were added to the blood on the sail, but on deck, the watch leader heard my call & looked up - just in time to catch my meal right across his upturned face.

Now that's what I call Karma. :D

On the following day, entering St Hellier in brilliant sunlight, I was on the wheel & we manned the yards. It's a helluva sight that, even under engine & being allowed to bring her alongside (being very careful not to knock me mates off the yards) made me feel 10' tall.

If you want to read about sailing windjammers, read Alan Villiers, RH Dana, Adrian Seligman, et al.
 
Great story, Searush. I guess the Sir WC, in the Med, relies on a lot of powered winches rather than tear guests from their Beluga and Bollinger, or their nails from their hands.

Any more memories out there? I'm thinking of just how many went aboard these ships, who're now skippers themselves, and must be chock full of tales. I dare the Malcolm Miller's current owner to drop in and tell us what his plans are for her...
 
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