14/06/2026
Went out on Maria for the Blesing of the waters in Brightlingsea to day ,would just like to say many thanks for the opportunity, a glorious smack,
Maria CK21 is a 47ft Harris smack built in 1866.
The Colchester smack MARIA (pronounced โMariahโ) was built in 1866 by Harris Brothers, at Donyland, Essex (renamed Rowhedge in 1912) for Mr Dunn, of Wivenhoe, and is one of the oldest smacks afloat. Harris mainly built yachts and, reflecting this, MARIA is narrower than later smacks which were more beamy and hence more stable in a blow. She was a first class smack used for oyster dredging and fishing on the east coast. MARIA was also regularly raced in the winter months by owners who all skippered the large racing yachts of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, and was reputed to have been a fast boat.
Also had a little seal popping it's head up evey now and then
Enjoy your eve all ๐.