GOLDEN VANITY (MMSI: 235024472) Call Sign: MCVY thought to be the sole surviving Mumble Bee, the smallest of the Brixham trawlers

MMSI: 235024472
Call Sign: MCVY
Flag: United Kingdom [GB]
AIS Vessel Type: Pleasure Craft
Gross Tonnage: -
Deadweight: -
Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 2m × 2m
Year Built: - 1908
Status: Active

DETAILS
Function
Fishing Vessel
Subfunction: Trawler
Location: Brixham
Vessel type: Brixham Trawler
Current use: Commercial Activity

www.trinitysailing.co.uk
CONSTRUCTION
Builder: Sanders & Co, Galmpton
Built in: 1908
Hull material: Wood
Rig: Gaff Cutter
Number of decks: 1
Number of masts: 2
Propulsion: Sail

DIMENSIONS
Breadth: Beam: 12.00 feet (3.66 m)
Depth: 6.98 feet (2.13 m)
Length: Overall: 41.97 feet (12.80 m)
Tonnage: Gross: 15.00

GOLDEN VANITY was built in 1908 for the artist Arthur Briscoe by J Sanders & Co, Galmpton, on the River Dart, and registered at Brixham. Although built as a yacht she was constructed and gaff cutter rigged to resemble the ‘mumble bee’ type Brixham trawlers of her day, and has the same solid feel and kindly manner. Her name was taken from a ship in the sea shanty ‘The Golden Vanity’, which dated from the seventeenth century.

As a marine artist, Briscoe used her to follow the fishing fleets which he sketched and painted, helping to record the last working days of sail. His wife Mary, and their friends, crewed for him. One of the friends who sailed with him was Erskine Childers – who had already written his famous yachting spy novel ‘Riddle of the Sands’. Before the First World War they sailed GOLDEN VANITY extensively in the southern North Sea, regularly visiting Holland and Belgium, the ‘lowlands, low’ mentioned in the shanty.

GOLDEN VANITY was cruised by a variety of owners and, when owned by Peter Crowther made several trans-Atlantic crossings in the 1970s, including entry in the Observer Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race in 1972 with a crossing time of 88 days, during which time the ship’s cat had four kittens. In 1981 she was lying derelict in Brixham, but was spotted by three local businessmen, Howard Young, Jack Spencer and Tony Ripley who formed a trust to restore her. She was restored to sailing condition between 1983 and 1988 by the Golden Vanity Trust, for sail training with young people. Initially progress was slow, but between 1986 and 1988, as part of a government training scheme for the unemployed, work done at Baltic Wharf, Totnes, included a new beam shelf, beam clamp, new deck beams, carlins and decks, refitting below, new mast, top mast and gaff. Her old engine was completely stripped and rebuilt.

On 4 June 1988 GOLDEN VANITY was re-launched into the River Dart and became a youth sail training vessel. In 1999 she joined Trinity Sailing (which was formed through collaboration between the owners of LEADER, PROVIDENT and GOLDEN VANITY) and works on holiday cruises and charters out of Brixham between May and September. She is often used for RYA training courses and Duke of Edinburgh Award adventure sailing.

Source: Paul Brown, Historic Sail, The History Press.
Golden Vanity is thought to be the sole surviving Mumble Bee, the smallest of the Brixham trawlers. She was restored in the 1980s by a local trust and is now used for RYA courses, cruises, DofE and youth adventure sailing.

She was built by Sanders at Galmpton in 1908. Although built as a working boat, she was used as a base by marine artist Arthur Briscoe to paint the Brixham fishing fleet.

One of the friends who sailed with Briscoe was Erskine Childers – who had already written his famous yachting spy novel ‘Riddle of the Sands’. Before the First World War they sailed Golden Vanity extensively in the southern North Sea, regularly visiting Holland and Belgium, the ‘lowlands, low’ mentioned in the shanty.
Her name was taken from a ship in the sea shanty ‘The Golden Vanity’ which dates back to from the 17th century.

The vessel is supported by The Golden Vanity Trust.
The Rig
Golden Vanity is rigged now just as she was when she was launched early last century. She has a ‘Gaff Cutter’ rig. It is a very versatile and powerful rig, easy to handle in light airs and strong winds, making her an ideal vessel to learn about traditional sailing methods.

No previous experience is necessary. Everything is done the traditional way, so sailing them is a team effort, in which technique matters more than strength.
Where does she sail?
Golden Vanity’s home port is based in Brixham where she spends her sailing season exploring Devon, Cornwall, The Channel Islands, and Brittany.
Accommodation
Below deck Golden Vanity has been fitted out for her modern role. She has accommodation for seven guests and two crew members, has a saloon area, a galley, and a toilet (the heads).

Key dates
1908 Built by Sanders at Galmpton
1980s Restored to sailing condition by Golden Vanity Trust

Taken on: August 27, 2019

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TRINITY SAILING FOUNDATION

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Sets appears in: • August_2019

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