Working boat Winnie is still chasing buoys at the grand old age of 120, writes Harold Martin.

She was built in Brabyn’s boatyard in Calenick Creek in 1898 of pitch pine on oak, making her strong, heavy and long lasting.

She was owned by A E Merrifield, who gave her to his son Henry in 1944.

After many years working, dredging and trawling, she was sold to S J Keates for racing, who sold her on to Falmouth hotelier Arthur Williams and Geoff Martin in 1988.

They have keenly raced her in ‘B’ class for large working boats ever since.

It is a very competitive class, where the boats carry a large sail area, so that care has to be taken in choosing the correct sails for the prevailing conditions.

In 1971, hard on the wind off the Eastern Breakwater of Falmouth Docks in a strong westerly, she was hit by an unexpected gust which pushed her even further over.

Taking water over the gunnel, she quickly settled by the stern and sank before the crew could ease sheets. The water was about 30 feet deep and so she sat on the bottom with the masthead sticking out of the water.

All the crew were picked up immediately but the boat had to stay down for several days before a local diver could prepare for lifting.

She reappeared undamaged but much dirtier. After this a deeper and heavier keel was attached to make the boat more stable and seaworthy.

In 1977 when the Queen visited Falmouth, Victory, an even older working boat, with Prince Edward on board, challenged Winnie to an impromptu race for a £1 from Black Rock to Prince of Wales Pier, and Winnie came a close, well deserved second.

So Winnie has had a long and varied life and is still in a good enough condition to look forward to an even better future with such keen and hard-working owners.