EAST DONYLAND​ / ROWHEDGE
FIONA (Cutter)
- Official number: 55432
There can be confusion when researching the history of Fiona as to which Fiona is competing in a particular race. Two yachts named Fiona, one a cutter and the other a schooner, often appeared in the same races. Both yachts were built for, and initially owned by, Emanuel Boutcher of London.
John Leather states in The Northseamen that Capt. Pearman of Rowhedge was skipper of the cutter Fiona, owned in 1900 by Mr Rait. This cutter had the official number 55432 and is pictured below.
Crew lists from the 1890s show Capt. Pearman and his crew of local men sailing the schooner Fiona, official number 81003.
Perhaps Capt. Pearman moved from one Fiona to the other?
FIONA (Schooner) - Official number: 81003
Built Gosport 1879
Registry closed 1906
FIONA - 81003 CREW LIST
Half-year 1.7.1890 - 21.12.1890
FIONA of Portsmouth, 90 tons, owner C.A. Barton of 44 Fitzjohn Avenue, Hampstead, London.
Master: F. Pearman of Rowhedge
“Cruising for pleasure around the British Coast. Now laid up at Rowhedge since Sep. 1890
All crew from Essex, previously on Fiona and discharged 12.9.1890 at Rowhedge except Capt. Pearman who “remains”.
Frederick PEARMAN born 1838, Master
Henry CRICKMORE born 1837, Mate
Joseph THEOBALD born 1849, Steward
George PEARMAN born 1873, 2nd Steward
Harry HARRIS born 1864, Cook
John SIMONS born 1822, AB
William COOK born 1831, AB
William OWERS born 1858, AB
Mark MOULTON born 1861, AB
William COOK born 1860, AB
John SCARFF born 1862, AB
Frederick BROWN born 1867, AB
William THEOBALD born 1856
FIONA - 81003 CREW LIST
Half-year 1.1.1891 - 30.6.1891
FIONA of Portsmouth, 90 tons, owner C.A. Barton of 44 Fitzjohn Avenue, Hampstead, London.
Master: F. Pearman of Rowhedge
“Laid up at Rowhedge till April 1891. Since then Cruising for pleasure in the North Sea and other waters.”
All crew joined Fiona 1.4.1891 at Rowhedge and remain.
Frederick PEARMAN born 1838 Colchester, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, Master
Henry CRICKMORE born 1837 Rowhedge, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, Mate
Joseph THEOBALD born 1849 Rowhedge, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, Steward
Barnie WORSP born 1835 Rowhedge, last served on Viking of London, Boatswain
William COOK born 1849 Rowhedge, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, Able Seaman
James SIMONS born 1860 Rowhedge, last served on Neck or Nothing of London [29-ton schooner], Able Seaman.
Emanuel DURRELL born 1857 Wivenhoe, last served on Shearwater of London, Cook
Arthur LUFKIN born 1856 Tollesbury, last served on Oberon of Southampton, Able Seaman
Frederick REDHOUSE born 1858 Tollesbury, last served on Nora of London, Able Seaman
George POTTER born 1862 Tollesbury, last served on Backolum (sic) of London, Able Seaman
Arthur MARTIN born 1867 Rowhedge, last served on Neck or Nothing of London, Able Seaman
Harry WARREN born 1870 Rowhedge, last served on Lufra of London, Able Seaman
George PEARMAN born 1873 Rowhedge, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, 2nd Steward
FIONA - 81003 CREW LIST
Half-year 1.7.1891 - 31.12.1891
FIONA of Portsmouth, 90 tons, owner C.A. Barton of 44 Fitzjohn Avenue, Hampstead, London.
Master: F. Pearman of Rowhedge
“Cruising for pleasure in the Baltic and North Seas. Now laid up at Rowhedge since 25 Sep. 1891”
All men born Essex, previously on Fiona and discharged 25.9.1891, except Capt. Pearman who remains.
Frederick PEARMAN born 1838, Master
Henry CRICKMORE born 1837, Mate
Joseph THEOBALD born 1849, Steward
Barnabas WORSP born 1835, AB
Arthur LUFKIN born 1857, AB
James SIMONS born 1860, AB
Frederick REDHOUSE born 1859, AB
George POTTER born 1865, AB
William COOK born 1860, AB
Benjamin DURRELL born 1857, Cook
Arthur MARTIN born 1867, AB
Harry WARREN born 1870, AB
George PEARMAN born 1873, 2nd Steward
FIONA - 81003 CREW LIST
Half-year 1.1.1892 - 30.6.1892
FIONA of Portsmouth, 90 tons, owner C.A. Barton of 44 Fitzjohn Avenue, Hampstead, London.
Master: F. Pearman of Rowhedge
“Laid up at Rowhedge till April 1892. Since then Cruising for pleasure in North Sea and English Channel.”
All men born Essex, joined Fiona 4.4.1892 at Rowhedge and remaining.
Frederick PEARMAN born 1838, last served on same, Master
Harry CRICKMORE born 1837, last served on Resolute Reward(?), Mate
Joseph THEOBALD born 1844 (sic), last served on Port Douglas of London, Steward
George POTTER born 1865, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, AB
William COLLINS born 1867, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, AB
William POTTER born 1861, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, AB
Robert RICE born 1854, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, AB
Charles POWELL born 1865, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, AB
William FINCHAM born 1868, last served on Lena of London, AB
Harry WARREN born 1870, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, AB
William PITT born 1867, last served on Fiona of Portsmouth, AB
William EVERITT born 1873, last served on Robert & Ann of Colchester
George PEARMAN born 1873, last served on First Fruit of Colchester, O.S.
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In early 1895 Fiona went on a Mediterranean cruise. Jonathan Cranfield of Rowhedge was a member of her crew. Below is his discharge certificate showing that the cruise lasted a little over four months.
Jonathan then joined the crew of Valkyrie II for her challenge for the Americas Cup.
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FIONA (Cutter) - Official number: 55432
Built Fairlie, Ayr 1866, designer William Fife II
Registry closed 1910
1900 - Fiona, cutter, Capt. Frederick Pearman of Rowhedge, won the German Emperor’s Cup. At Kiel the Emperor came on board the Fiona and was impressed by her crew. [John Leather]
1901 - Won the Nore to Dover race
1903 and 1906 - Won the Dover to Boulogne races
Her owner Henry Rait died in 1907 and Fiona was willed to the Royal Thames Yacht Club who did not want her. She was broken up soon afterwards.
