Bessie Ellen

Accommodation

The heart of this tough wooden ship is the cargo hold, now an impressive communal living space, where you can lie in your bunk and still feel the huge ships timbers surrounding you, or relax in the evening with new found friends (sleeps up to 12 guest crew). You will feel part of a bygone era, but with the homely comforts of a hot shower, and freshly cooked food on the spacious tables made of wood salvaged from a Perry Orchard. The bunks down each side of this huge space have a reading light and curtains for privacy, with storage for your things in lockers under the bench seating. The floors are oak, and on sunny days in port or at anchor the cargo hold roof can be opened up to let the sun stream in. If you are taller than average then Bessie Ellen has ample headroom below decks.

With two masts and lofty topmasts increasing her height further, Bessie Ellen has a lot of sail to play with, and it takes team work to hoist the heavy main and mizzen gaff sails. In light winds or racing she can carry topsails on both masts, and forward there are 4 headsails to tack:- Staysail, inner and out jib and jib topsail, so if you like the idea of being out on the bowsprit with the ships bow wave beneath you, then there are plenty of sails to stow out there. Bessie Ellen has fine underwater lines and is fairly shallow draught so she is surprisingly responsive under sail. The ship has an ocean rated stability rating, carries all new modern safety and navigation equipment, and is currently certified (2006) for commercial charter under the Marine Coastguard Agency / Department of Transport. In 2007 she will be under similar Danish legislation.

Skippers & Permanent Crew

Bessie Ellen usually carries four permanent crew to help show you the ropes. They will train you swiftly into a crew that will do credit to the ship and extend your horizons. Denmark is lucky in having many historic sailing ships similar to Bessie Ellen so there are some very experienced Danish charter skippers available for Bessie’s 2007 season. Nikki Alford sails as mate so she can concentrate on keeping you all happy, and spent many years as cook/ mate on square rigged ships involved in charter and film work, as well as a lot of traditional maintenance and rigging work. There are usually two deckhands to help out and keep the ship tidy. The working language on board will depend on the mix of customers, but Nikki is mostly the one co-ordinating what you do so that will be in predominantly in English! Many countries border the Baltic so there is likely to be quite a mix of nationalities which adds to the fun.

"I have recently returned from one of the best holidays of my life aboard Bessie Ellen. Everything was so much better than my wildest dreams! I loved sitting on deck watching the gannets, the islands, the clouds and the guillemots. I also loved hauling the ropes. Nikki was great and her cooking was fabulous! Waking up in the idyllic anchorages was just sublime!" Deirdre Hoyle.

Superb Freshly Cooked Food

Customers on Bessie Ellen have consistently voted the food on Bessie Ellen as excellent, and it is definitely part of the experience.Coming originally from a organic farming and catering background Nikki places great importance on delicious freshly cooked food wherever the ship sails, taking the best of local specialities—whether it be fresh lobster from Anholt, or a sample of local schnapps. There is usually a choice and vegetarians and other diets can be catered for if you let us know on the booking form.

100 years of history as a working ship

Bessie Ellen was built in Plymouth in 1904. She is one of the last remaining examples of the schooners and ketches of the West Country which saw out the last days of sail carrying commercial cargoes around the coasts of the UK and Europe. These sailing ships became the livelihood to many families in the small West Country ports such as Par and Fowey in Cornwall, Appledore, and Bideford in the North Devon estuary of the Taw and Torridge. Bessie Ellen was originally built for the Newfoundland trade. With a fine clipper bow and a transom stern she looked like a fast sailor, and soon attracted a ships captain as a buyer. She was launched in Plymouth and registered officially in 1907 in her new home of Barnstaple. She ran cargoes right through both world wars, dodging mines and avoiding requisition by the armed forces (the death of many a wooden ship) but was eventually laid up.

Cargoes and Restoration in Denmark

In 1947 she was bought by a Dane who was looking for a sound wooden hull to run cargoes in the Baltic. So Bessie Ellen continued her hard life running scrap iron cargoes in Denmark well into the 1970’s when she became commercially unviable. She was bought almost immediately by Ole Pietersen, who recognised the lovely lines and wanted to restore her to a graceful sailing ship. Much quality timberwork was carried out before he ran out of funds and the ship was laid up for 20 years in the Ring Andersen Shipyard in Svendborg, Denmark.

From Denmark to Plymouth and Back Again

With a roving eye for beautiful ships, Classic Sailing became aware of this historic vessel when she was being fitted out for charter in 2002. However this was the culmination of a much longer love affair for her new owner Nikki Alford. Her current owner Nikki Alford hails from a farming family in Cornwall, but has spent many years working on traditional wooden vessels. Nikki had seen the sale details of Bessie Ellen when she worked for a ship broker, and she began to make ambitious plans to buy her and restore her for a new working life as a charter boat. It is due to Nikki’s sheer determination and vision that Bessie Ellen restored to the graceful sailing ship she once was. After five successful years exploring the ports of Britain, Norway and France with charter guests, Bessie Ellen is now back in the Baltic with Nikki When you sail on this friendly little ship with soul, you will meet Nikki on board. Ask her to see the photos of the restoration and you will realise what a huge commitment this was. Nikki’s passion for sailing these traditional craft may infect you for life.

"I had a fantastic time. The crew were fantastic, the sailing was fantastic - I haven't laughed so much in years" Alan.

What to Bring

Space on the ship is limited and we ask people to bring only the essentials in one medium sized (soft) travel bag or rucksack. It is recommended to bring at least two sets of warm clothes and rubber soled shoes for wearing on the ship (trainers are okay). Bessie Ellen has some brand new offshore waterproof jackets and trousers in various sizes (S – XL), but you are welcome to bring your own. If you are particularly large or petite you are advised to bring your own waterproofs in case ours don’t fit ! Bessie Ellen provides sheets, duvet and blankets, but we ask guests to bring their own towels Clothes washing facilities onboard are limited but you may use the ships laundry on some of the voyages.
Other useful items suntan cream, sunhat and warm hat, neckscarf, cord for your glasses, spare spectacles, sunglasses, earplugs if you are a light sleeper, camera, wellies or spare shoes with a good grip, a small daysack for exploring ashore, and musical instruments are welcome. RYA Logbook to record your voyage (you can buy these before you go from Classic Sailing for £4.50)
Please bring your passport and a European Health Insurance Card if you have one (this replaces the E111 form available form UK Post Offices giving reciprocal health care for EU countries).
Any valuables are brought at the owners risk; Bessie Ellen and her crew cannot be held responsible for loss, damage or theft. We recommend that nothing be brought that is not necessary for the voyage, i.e. expensive watches, jewellery, computer games etc.

Alcohol

Bessie Ellen usually has a stock of wine and beer on board to purchase to enjoy with meals. Consumption will be at the discretion of the skipper for safety reasons.

Health & Safety

On arrival to the ship there will be a health & safety lecture, covering everything from getting on and off the ship to the emergency procedure and all the potential hazards in between. The ship carries lifejackets and safety harnesses for everyone and you will be shown how to wear them. There is a comprehensive medical kit onboard. Anyone on prescribed medication must notify the captain on arrival.