M.A.James

One of the "Western Ocean Yachts" - a three masted topsail schooner built at Porthmadog by David Williams in 1900. her dimensions were 124GRT, 89.6'LOA, 22.7' Beam, and 10.6' max draft. Three master mariners from Borth y Gest were amongst the shareholders. She was a Newfoundland Trader and also carried slates to the Elbe on many occasions.

She was sold to Cardiff owners in 1917 then to Plymouth Co-operative Society the next year.

This ship ended up trading from the West Country in the thirties under Capt. W.Slade. During the war she was requisitioned, as were many similar fine ships, and used as a barrage balloon barge. This effectively wrecked the poor schooner and after the war she was left to rot on the foreshore at Appledore. Fortunately David Mc Gregor and Basil Greenhill took extensive measurements off the hulk and these are still available as a plans (I have a set). These are part of the extensive collection of D.McGregor Plans and are available from The Model Dockyard in Truro Cornwall for about 20 pounds. These plans are probably the only precise drawings of any of the "Western Ocean Yachts" ever made. (No..that's not correct - David Williams did use drawings )

I believe Harold Underhill drew some plans of the JANE BANKS (FRAU MINNA PETERSEN) in the 1930s

Before construction a builder's half hull model would be carved, adjusted, discussed over until the final version was agreed upon. During construction the location of the frames would be drawn onto the model. The builder and his foreman would saw verticaly through the model at each frame and measure and scale off the cross sections at various points down the intended moulded depth of the schooner. The model would later be discarded. Perhaps some of these half-hulls survived but I have never heard of any.

There is a lovely model of the M.A.James, made from these plans by Jeff Cropper. It was in the Porthmadog Museum at one time but has moved about.

(It is now in the Amlwch Industrial Trust Visitor's Centre. I received this information from Neil Summers who looks after the Parys Mountain website. This site is full of interesting history about the copper mining and other history of Anglesey. RDC Jan 2001)

Sources,

Immortal Sails by Henry Hughes

Porthmadog Ships by Aled Eames and Emrys Hughes

The Twilight of Welsh Sail by Aled Eames.

The Merchant Schooners Vols I & II by Basil Greenhill

Schooners through the Ages by D.McGregor

Schooners by Basil Greenhill

Out of Appledore by Capt W.Slade

Maritime Wales Periodical...various mentions.

Sea Breezes