ABOUT THE SHIP
Gratitude was built in 1903 in Porthleven, Cornwall. A sailing trawler with a crew of up to 5 men and a cabin boy.

On the 30th September 1911 she was involved in a terrible storm in which she was close to sinking. Three out of five crew members were washed overboard. Only the cabin boy and the third mate survived in a rescue that was termed “A piece of outstanding seamanship” in bringing the ship back to port.

13th December 2023
I received the following from Terry Down
“I believe the Gratitude was rescued by the crew of the Ramsgate fishing smack the Albert, in September 1911; Skippered and owned by Samuel Down, formerly of Brixham. Samuel Down received recognition from the Ramsgate people. He also received a pair of boxed binoculars from the Government In recognition of his outstanding seamanship. He stood by the Gratitude during the huge storm and towed her back to Lowestoft, where a tug took over the tow to take her into port. He was also presented with a large silver fob watch which today is in the Lowestoft Maritime museum at Sparrows Nest Lowestoft. In Brixham he was known to be a fine seaman who feared nothing, he was my Grandfather. My Father Robert (Sammy) Down was a fisherman, born Ramsgate, and later a trawler skipper out of Lowestoft. My Brother Ivan was also a skipper out of Lowestoft”. Terry Down.

In 1932 she was sold to Sweden where she was used for long-distance fishing. Sailing out of the Swedish port of Grundsund during a period when lots of English cutters came to the coast to fish there, so Gratitude was not alone and according to local legend, she was Grundsund’s fastest fishing boat. Between 1936-38 she was completely renovated, including an extensive hull repair, only later to be used as a cargo ship. About twenty years on, in 1957, she changed hands again and she was converted for use as a sailing school ship.

SPECIFICATIONS
Rig:  Gaff Ketch
LOA:   23.7m
Beam:  6m
Depth: 3m
Sail Area:  360sqm

CONTACT THE SHIP