27' Dongray Golant Cutter (1992) - MARY RITCHIE

Mary Ritchie is a 27′ gaff cutter owned by Don and Pauline Garman.

Designed by Roger Dongray, she shows the influence of Falmouth Working Boats and Falmouth Quay Punts.

She was built traditionally between 1991 and 1992 at Golant on the River Fowey, Cornwall UK by John Fuge assisted by Peter Williams and Ted Luck.

On launching she was entered for the first event in Brest but fitting out took longer than anticipated, so she was sailed to the East Coast to participate in the East Coat Old Gaffers annual race.

She then spent almost 21 years on the River Crouch where she was cruised and raced.

For a few years she was a regular participant in the Dutch Classics – in 1997 she was third in the North Sea Race from Harwich UK to the Netherlands, won line honours and her class. She was second in class in 1995 and again in 1999.

Since 2013 she has been back in Cornwall on the River Helford and has participated in the Falmouth Classics each year since 2014. She also eventually made it to Brest.