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holiday@torbay.gov.uk
Tel: 01803 211 211

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Brixham Heritage Fleet

Brixham's fascinating maritime heritage is evident throughout the town, from the new and old fish markets to the Fishermen's Mission and Battery gardens.

Nowadays, Brixham remains one of England's biggest fishing ports with the daily catch sold at the busy market in the early hours.

In the port's early days, the fleet was under sail and the design of Brixham's Sailing Trawlers was admired throughout Europe. Today, some of the original vessels have been restored and can bee seen gracing the Bay or moored in the Harbour on the Town Pontoon. Pilgrim, Vigilance, Provident, Keywadin, Golden Vanity and Regard are based in the port and offer training trips and charters including short day and evening cruises.

The Regard
REGARD was built as a 54ft ketch rigged trawler yacht in 1933, by J.W. & A. Upham of Brixham, whose yard stood on this very spot. Originally named OUR BOY, her first owners took her to South Africa where she was believed to have been involved in illicit diamond trading. She was later purchased by Lord Stanley of Alderney who devoted a
chapter in his book 'Sea Peace' to her.

Vigilance
Weighing 95 tonnes and measuring 101 feet VIGILANCE BM76 was built at Upham's Brixham shipyard in 1926. After forming part of Brixham fishing fleet, she served as a war-time barrage balloon mooring vessel, then had many differing roles around France and the UK. In 1997 she was bought by local people and brought home, and after much restoration and on-going maintenance, she is in excellent condition. During the sailing season she takes up to12 passengers for three hour trips on some weekday evenings and Sundays.

Pilgrim
PILGRIM BM45 was built in 1895 at Upham's Yard. We are currently seeking National Lottery funding to restore her to her original trawling design; below deck she will have state-of-the-art safety, navigation and domestic facilities. Our unique "Fishing Under Sail" programme is planned to include educational, training, corporate and living history events. She will also serve as a living memorial to the fishermen lost to the industry over many years.

Leader
Measuring 105 feet and weighing 110 tonnes, LEADER was built in 1892 at A.W. Gibbs boatyard at Galmpton on the River Dart. After spending several years in Scandinavia followed by the west coast of Scotland, she was finally brought home to South Devon in 1996 where she operated from Dartmouth. Three years later, she became part of the Trinity Sailing fleet and now works out of Brixham with her sister ships Provident and Golden Vanity. All three provide sailing holidays, RYA courses and sail training for young people.

Golden Vanity
GOLDEN VANITY is one of the smaller vessels in the Heritage Fleet at 53 feet and 20 tonnes. She was built as a yacht for local artist Arthur Briscoe in 1908, at the same yard as Leader and Provident, but followed almost exactly the design of the traditional working boats. She was bought and renovated in the early 1980s by the specially formed Golden Vanity Trust, and is now part of the Trinity Sailing fleet and works out of Brixham with Leader & Provident.

Provident
PROVIDENT is an 85 ton vessel, 95 feet in length. She was built in 1924 on the Dart to replace an earlier ship of the same name which sank during the First World War. After a period in private ownership, she arrived in Salcombe in 1951 where she became the founding vessel of the Island Cruising Club. In the late 1980s she underwent a major refit and was re-launched in 1991. She continued to sail with the ICC until 1999 when she started working from Brixham as part of the Trinity Sailing Foundation.

Brixham Heritage Festival

Forming a significant part of the Brixham Heritage Festival celebrations, sailing trawler races have taken place in the Bay since 1851. This distinctive Brixham celebration brings the town to life, thanks to a group of dedicated enthusiasts and restoration trusts working tirelously year on year to make the race one of the highlights of the traditional sailing calendar.

Traditional vessels of all shapes and sizes make their way to Brixham for the event and compete in a variety of classes. The 'Blue Riband' event sees the sailing trawlers of over 40 tons competing for the King's Cup, originally presented to Brixham by King George V in 1914.

The English Riviera, forms a splendid natural arena with a number of vantage points from which to enjoy this historical spectacle.

For more information on our distinctive Heritage Fleet, you can click on one of these links:

www.trinitysailing.co.uk
www.pilgrimofbrixham.co.uk
www.vigilanceofbriham.co.uk
www.regardofbrixham.co.uk

Brixham Heritage Sailing Trawler Archive
www.brixhamsailingtrawlers.co.uk