of
Porthmadog
North Wales
There are several mentions of the term "Western Ocean Yachts" throughout this website. This was the name (deservedly) given to a type of schooner that developed at Porthmadog during the last days of sail. They were the result of a culmination of years of experience by the local men, with all types of rigs, in many trades and in all the seven seas of the world. Usefull features noted in the ships of other ports were incorporated or adapted and the final result was a strong, seaworthy vessel which could be handled by a small crew. They varied in size from 120 - 177 GRT and from 89' - 102' LOA. but their overall design was very similar.
They evolved from the "Jack" barquentines such as the FRAU MINNA PETERSEN and the VENDOCIAN. These were a cross between a three masted schooner and a barquentine and an attempt to design a ship suited for the North Atlantic, that is that could sail well to windward against the prevailing westerly winds and be handy amongst the rocks, creeks and inlets of the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts where the SaltCod trade was developing. For the windward passage they were given a high bow with a deep forefoot and for th return, downwind leg they set studding sails in addition to the normal square sails. The hull framing and construction was massive as the ship had to be strong enough to load a deadweight cargo of slate aground at Porthmadog. The schooner rig could be handled by a crew of 5 or 6.
The "Western Ocean Yachts were true "three masted topsail schooners setting three square sails on the foremast (which was constructed in three parts including a topgallant mast), even studding sails which resulted in many fast downwind passages from Newfoundland to Gibraltar (where they received their orders for Mediterrenean ports).
The fastest passage recorded was by the "Blodwen" - from Newfoundland to Patras (Greece) in 22 days under the command of Capt "Johnie" Williams.
Thirty two of these fine ships were built at Porthmadog between 1891 and 1913. The first was the BLODWEN and the last the GESTIANA. The last under sail was the ISALLT (2) which was wrecked in 1948. The hulk of the M.A.JAMES survived into the 1950's on the foreshore at Appledore in Devon.
Henry Huges compiled the first list in his book "Immortal Sails". His brother Emrys collected data on all Porthmadog ships including the Western Ocean Yachts. His work was taken by the late Aled Eames who combined and expanded it with the records from Gwynedd Archives and elsewhere which have become much more accessible. My list, below, is a summary of all this research plus some items of my own.
