"City of Edinboro" H1394 - Brief History

An 84' (26 m) Hull sailing trawler of 1884, she is the last representative of the fleets of large deep sea sailing trawlers that worked from Hull, fishing the Dogger Bank and the North Atlantic. Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT): 83 tons, sail area: 560 square metres.

1884

Keel laid 26th January; launched 28th April from William McCann's shipyard on Garrison Side, Hull for smack owners Simpson and Bowman. Registered H1394 and named "City of Edinboro". On 12th July, maiden voyage into North Sea under Skipper William Ferrand, with a crew of five hands. For next 13 years fished the North Sea grounds by trawl and long line under various skippers.

1897

Sold by George Bowman on 25th February to Geir Zoega, an Icelandic fish merchant based in Reykjavik. Re-registered as RE13 and re-named "Frida". Line fishing in the North Atlantic.

1908

Sold to Sjavarborg, a fishing corporation based in Hafharfjordur, 3km to the south of Reykjavik.

1913

In November, sold to Faeroese fishing master Neils Juel Mortensen. Still named "Frida" but re-registered TG546. Line fishing Icelandic waters out of Torshaven.

1924

Small auxiliary engine fitted but she remained fully ketch-rigged. Re-named "Solvaborg".

1943

Sold to Ola Olsen, re-named "Solvasker" and re-registered VN304. Wooden wheelhouse fitted. Based in the small fishing town of Vestmannshaven, and after the Second World War she did fishing voyages to Greenland!

1957

Powerful Burmeister & Wain Alpha diesel engine fitted with variable pitch propeller, but still fully rigged. Re-named "Sjoborgin", re-registered FD48 and sailed from Funding on the main island of Stromo.

1961

Ketch rigging removed and steel wheelhouse fitted.

1962

Ownership passed to Hans Petur Hojgaard.

1980

Bought by Dr Henry Irving and returned to Hull. Refitted with cabins, saloon, bunks, galley and heads for up to twenty people. Fully restored to original ketch rig and the steel wheelhouse removed, but B&W engine retained.

1984

Re-named "William McCann" and sailed the western seaboard of Europe as a charter ship based in Hull, Bristol, Penzance, Ramsgate, and Douarnenez (France).

1994

Ownership passed to the William McCann Trust based in Hartlepool.

1996

Re-registered in her original name "City of Edinboro" and taken to Lowestoft to await restoration.

2000

Sold to the Excelsior Trust for £1.

2001

Restoration begins on a specially made, covered slipway at the Excelsior Shipyard, Lowestoft.

2010

Currently occupies a 'tent' on the shipyard, awaiting a major funding opportunity for a total restoration. Sadly her needs must remain behind those of "Excelsior" herself.