Where is the "Mary Deare"?

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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the author Ralph Hammond Innes. When he died in 1998 he generously left almost all of his estate and literary rights to the Association of Sail Training Organisations, ASTO.
ASTO is organising a number of events to mark the centenary including a sail training race from Ipswich to Cowes on 27th August. Some of his books are being republished.
Hammond Innes, who lived near Ipswich was a keen yachtsman and owned a yacht called the Mary Deare. ASTO would like to track down the whereabouts of the Mary Deare. Do any of you know where it is? Either let me know here or you can contact the ASTO office directly on www.uksailtraining.org. Thanks
 
Bump. Old thread but seems like there were no replies. Anybody know what happened to this classic yacht?

One of the previous owners also posted a similar question without reply. Is it a mystery to match its fictional namesake?

PS. His books Sea & Islands and Harverst of Journeys, which include accounts of his voyages, are definitely worth a re-read (though unfortunately didn't find on Kindle so had to buy on paper)
 
I was in Troon about 10 years ago and local sailor pointed out a boat as previously owned by him. Can't recall name. Do dimly recall ketch rig and a doghouse
 
Seem to remember reading about his boat being built in steel in Holland and he motored it to UK for the rig and fit out. Awful trip as, without the rig, it rolled horribly.
 
DownWest said:
Seem to remember reading about his boat being built in steel in Holland and he motored it to UK for the rig and fit out. Awful trip as, without the rig, it rolled horribly.
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Yes, the delivery voyage is described in his book - think it is in Harvest of Journeys. Few racing yachts of that era would be able to contemplate a North Sea crossing under "auxiliary" engine only, and this was just one aspect of specially designed and commissioned boat that made it surprisingly modern for the time.
PS Did a second North Sea crossing under engine only later when the faultily built mast broke in a North Sea race, and he decided to motor back upwind to the UK to get repaired rather than take the easy route downwind to the nearest port
 
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dunedin said:
Bump. Old thread but seems like there were no replies. Anybody know what happened to this classic yacht?

One of the previous owners also posted a similar question without reply. Is it a mystery to match its fictional namesake?

PS. His books Sea & Islands and Harverst of Journeys, which include accounts of his voyages, are definitely worth a re-read (though unfortunately didn't find on Kindle so had to buy on paper)
Click to expand...
 
Hi...i just noticed the subject of the "Mary Deare" and thought i'd mention that i sailed on that yacht in the 1970 Middle Sea Race from Malta round Lampedusa, Pantelleria, Sicily then back to Malta. It took us 11 days, whereas now-a-days the big maxies can do that in less than 2 days...it's amazing the transformation in the yachts now!

It would be nice, if any of that crew were still around...!!!
 
Hello all, I know I'm a bit late to the party but thought you'd like to know that back in the latter part of 1987 I encountered the Mary Deare, off Leixoes, Portugal. I won't bore you with the details but I was crewing on a yacht that had multiple problems - mainly the skipper but also the engine which had broken down yet again leaving us drifting in thick fog in shipping lanes. We somehow got in radio contact with the nearest yacht which just so happened to be the Mary Deare and they agreed to come and give us a tow. There were three Danish chaps on board and I believe they were all part owners. Once we'd got the engine fixed we moved round to Oporto and moored alongside the Danes who'd become firm friends by this time. Spent several very inebriated nights onboard the Mary Deare and have some great memories of this period> Beautiful yacht, inside and out and such a feeling of history. I do some have some photos but not sure how to share them here. I can't remember where they were heading but I have a vague memory that were planning on selling her.
 
Interesting post, and welcome to the forum.

Cant help you I am afraid but your experience reminds me of meeting a wonderful boatload of Canadians in Kastellorizon back in 1978. Often wondered whatever became of them but can't even remember the name of the boat - such was the level of inebriation!

Anyway, good luck with your search.
 
Hello!
I was the owner of Mary Deare 1987 until 1989!
The Story above I remember very clear.
We were 3 danish guys on the Mary Deare! Owner and skipper Troels, Lars and Lars, who ''saved'' the ''Black Hawk''
a foggy day, at the coast of Portugal! In return, they help us empty our Bar cabinet the following period, You ow us still!!! Laughin!!! It was a great and funny time!

I have been trying to find out, what Happened with the Mary Deare, after I sold her, with no luck!
If anybody know what happened after 1989, please send me a mail: troelsgath@hotmail

Greetings
Troels
 
Have just come across this thread: Ralph (Hammond was his middle name and used as a nom de plume) and Dorothy were friends of the family. Back in 1967, one of my brothers spent several months on the Mary Deare, sailing in the Aegean / Eastern Med, just when things started to “heat up” on the Eastern fringes…! I remember an amusing tale my brother told when, to save battery power, they were sailing at night without the navigation lights on. At dawn they found several members of the US Sixth fleet in close proximity – their steel hull was easily visible on radar screens. After a brief boarding and check, they were allowed to proceed on their way…!
And yes, they lived at Ayres End in Kersey. As a young lad at the time, I was also very envious of the succession of Jensen Interceptors and FFs they owned.
 
si<script id="gpt-impl-0.8442905310747084" src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gpt/pubads_impl_173.js"></script>mesc61 said:
Hello all, I know I'm a bit late to the party but thought you'd like to know that back in the latter part of 1987 I encountered the Mary Deare, off Leixoes, Portugal. I won't bore you with the details but I was crewing on a yacht that had multiple problems - mainly the skipper but also the engine which had broken down yet again leaving us drifting in thick fog in shipping lanes. We somehow got in radio contact with the nearest yacht which just so happened to be the Mary Deare and they agreed to come and give us a tow. There were three Danish chaps on board and I believe they were all part owners. Once we'd got the engine fixed we moved round to Oporto and moored alongside the Danes who'd become firm friends by this time. Spent several very inebriated nights onboard the Mary Deare and have some great memories of this period> Beautiful yacht, inside and out and such a feeling of history. I do some have some photos but not sure how to share them here. I can't remember where they were heading but I have a vague memory that were planning on selling her.
Click to expand...

Hi, I am Patrick, owner of Danycan, a classic yacht that raced with Mary Deare in 1961 during North sea race. I would like very much you to share with me pictures of Mary Deare. You can send me a mail to patrick.lamache@neuf,fr
You can also go on my website http//:danycan.over-blog.fr

Great regards
Patrick
 
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