Classic Sailing Yacht for day sails and holidays: "BLACK ROSE"

Traditional Charter have built, not a replica, but a vessel that encompasses the skills, developments and designs that evolved by tried and trusted usage. Her lines owe their origins to the fishing smacks that were to be found in the countries bordering the Southern North Sea. Their Lordships at the British Admiralty, alongside the Commissioners at the Custom & Excise recognised and appreciated the worth of these vessels, built similar but never the same, as long ago as the mid 17th Century. The results were to be seen in the cutters of both the Royal Navy and the Revenue service, which, in turn also influenced the original drawings and the building by eye of Black Rose; This whilst her gaff ketch rig and equipment incorporated many ideas from the Thames Sailing barges and the leeboarders of the Low Countries; And so, Black Rose is a very unique vessel whose keel was laid in 1999. Click here to see images Black Rose being built. She epitomisies the best elements gleaned from the working craft down the centuries and coming from many countries. The outcome is the existence of a vessel built especially for Michael Emmett, in the time honoured fashion, but to suit today's commercial requirements.

Black Rose's interior has been designed with the comfort of guests in mind and provides corporate dining facilities in authentic Victorian surroundings and style. Click images to see interior:-

Since her official launch under the red ensign of the merchant and fishing fleet, where her owner and master served his thirty-year apprenticeship, she made her maiden voyage under the white ensign. This honour was to serve as guardship to HMS Wildfire's commemoration. Following this, Black Rose appeared in a television programme about the traditional sailing vessels and surroundings of the Blackwater estuary.

In this way she has followed in the footsteps of her older, smaller sister the Maldon oyster smack Ostrea Rose who plied her trade for twenty years between Great Yarmouth and Dover and onward up to Tower Bridge in London with charter guests. Ostrea Rose was built for Michael's previous business, the Maldon Oyster Fishery. Her name coming from Ostrea Edulis which is the Latin name for the native oysters which she caught. During this time Ostrea Rose featured in many television programmes and appeared as subject matter in magazines and calendars, as well as being the basis of three books written by her skipper and associates..

From her base near Maldon on the River Blackwater, Black Rose sails the waters of the Southern North Sea and the English Channel, attending prestigious festivals and regattas. She has raced amongst 1700 vessels at the Round the Island Race on several occasions. She is available for group bookings, corporate yacht charter and private sailing holidays.

Black Rose is a traditional classic yacht built of wood, with a Victorian style interior, built specifically for private and corporate charter as well as film & television work. This Classic sailing yacht is available for day sails and UK holidays. Black Rose is the successor to the Maldon oyster smack Ostrea Rose. Based at Heybridge Basin on the River Blackwater near Maldon, Essex, Black Rose sails the east coast from Southwold to London including the Rivers Blackwater, Crouch, Colne, Deben, Alde, Orwell and Stour - visiting Burnham, Brightlingsea, Harwich, Ipswich, Pin Mill, Aldeburgh, and Snape as well as the south coast and the Low Countries.

Photograph courtesy of Rod Tinsley