Barnabas

SS 634: A double ended mackerel driver built by Hen'ry Trevorrow in 1881 at Porthgwidden Beach, St. Ives with a length of 40' and a dipping lug. (LoA 40', LwL 38' 6", beam 11' 6", draft 6' 11.7 tons)
Her home port is Falmouth and she is owned by the Cornwall Maritime Trust. She at present is lying up Church Walk at Penryn. 

The Cornish Maritime Trust exists to preserve historic working boats and we thank them for the following article which appears on their web-site, which also provides a host of information on Barnabas:-  www.cornishmaritimetrust.org.uk/news.html

April 2005 

A HERITAGE LOTTERY AWARD WHICH WILL SAVE BARNABAS

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the Cornish Maritime Trust sufficient funds towards the restoration of Barnabas. This funding will ensure that this unique and historically important West Country boat will be saved and restored to full sailing condition. A film and publications will be produced in tandem in order to show this important development to as many of the public as possible.

Barnabas is a 40ft. dipping lug rigged mackerel driver. She was built in St.Ives in 1881 and remained sailing up to four years ago when it became evident that she was no longer in a seaworthy state. Although she was once part of the fleet of thousands of West Country luggers, which fished all round the coast of the British Isles and Ireland, she is now a very rare example of this type of vessel, still afloat in her original form. As such she is a living embodiment of an important aspect of Cornwall's maritime heritage.

The Cornish Maritime Trust have three historic boats which between them demonstrate the three most important working sail rigs in the Cornish fishing industry of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Softwing, a 24 ft. gaff cutter, is a Truro River Oyster Dredger. Ellen is a 17ft. sprit rigged Gorran Haven Crabber. Together with Barnabas, the Trust's flagship, the collective ages of the boats come to 363 years!

The news of this award will bring great joy to all those who care about preserving Cornwall's maritime heritage and particularly the many who have sailed in Barnabas over the years. It is a cause for celebrating both past and future that, thanks to the support received from the HLF, many people will once again have the chance learn about her historical role and marvel at the sight of one of the last original Cornish dipping luggers sailing in all her glory.

The MBLA wish the Trust every success in this venture and hope to see the Barnabas sailing in the very near future!

Laid up at Martin Heard's Yard, Mylor in 2006.                 

Update April 2008: The Barnabas has now been restored in Penzance and is moored in Penzance wet dock. 

For more information on Barnabas and the yearly programme please follow the link to the Trust above.