FOR sure, sailing Marian makes calls upon your hands and your head, but she appeals first to your heart.

Everyone has their particular memories: the late-afternoon sight of her lying quietly off a Cornish strand, as you row ashore to build a barbecue from driftwood or hike up along the coastal path; diving from her bowsprit into the gin-clear waters of the Isles of Scilly; the steady click-click of the winch as the anchor comes up, the anticipatory sound of a day’s adventure; the thrill after sheeting in newly hoisted sails as the boat leans to the summer breeze; in different weather, the sheer power and sizzle that Marian unleashes as she pushes over the swell, reefed down, with a rising wind on her quarter.

The list is endless, and endlessly refreshed. There is little so satisfying as making a dawn landfall on the Breton coast, especially if a four-master manned by Norwegian cadets out on the yard-arms, a couple of Cornish luggers, a sleek Edwardian gentleman’s yacht and an old sailing trawler are all emerging from the night to join you at the same salty festival. And there is still nothing that so makes you jump out of your skin during the  reverie of the night-watch as a pod of dolphins that suddenly blows beside you.

On Marian, you have the perfect occasion to learn traditional seamanship—that is, to “hand, reef and steer”.

Though there will always be time to relax, sailing a big traditional boat is a hands-on affair. Because of the skill, calm and experience of our skipper, he will not be shy of giving you responsibilities which you may surprise yourself in handling. Here, even children play their active part: hoisting flags, eying a church spire in line with a painted beacon in a piece of pilotage, or putting out the fenders for coming alongside an old harbour wall. 

Modern boats make use of winches when handling sails, often electric winches that work at the touch of a button. If you have a glass in the other hand, we acknowledge the benefits. But Marian makes use of rope purchases, known as blocks and tackle, and of a crew for preference on the right side of mutiny. The quantity of rope a gaff rig produces is prodigious, and “ropemanship”—hauling and coiling lines, comfortably working with a small number of essential knots—is something that those who want to be involved will very quickly get satisfying use in.

Practice  quickly breeds confidence. What is more, there does not have to be a hurry when “working” Marian. Modern sailboats are light and flighty: sliding about on deck as you handle sails is not always an easy or pleasant experience, one best got over with quickly.  Marian, by contrast, is solid, her deck a stable platform, with high bulwarks enclosing her.

Handling sail can be warm work, but it is done as a team and is fun. And with an easy motion, Marian gives you time to think about what you're up to. Once the sails are set sweetly, you can take the helm to steer, or a bring a book up to the foredeck. You can watch the coast and its attendant craft go by, talk to a friend about the finer points of scandalizing a mains'l, or get involved with navigation and pilotage to the evening anchorage. 

We charter Marian to groups of friends or family, and such groups will usually have a good idea about  how energetic they wish to be. As often, though, crews will sign up singly for available bunks, or come along perhaps with a friend or partner. Still, we will not put single crews in with an established group.

Don't worry that you come alone. Working together on Marian as a secure team, with lots of personal attention from skipper and mate, makes for a relaxed and rewarding environment. It's easy and natural in the same boat to make friends of new shipmates. Everyone is set on enjoyment and getting as much out of it as they can. Crews of mixed age and experience can make the happiest of ships.