Details

Marianna is a 44 ft bermuda cutter designed by Max Oertz and built by the Heidtmann Shipyard in Hamburg in 1925. Marianna's history is complete and well documented - from her racing track record in Germany in the twenties to her arrival in the UK in 1936, her career as a sail training vessel in Scotland, her thorough restoration in Wales in the nineties, and her many travels and classic regatta's from the North Sea to Brittany since then. Max Oertz designs were well advanced for the time, making Marianna for instance winning the North Sea Race twice in the late twenties. Brought to England by Major Ralph Blewitt, founder of the RAYC and sailed by his family, including his daughter Mary Blewitt, later Mary Pera, of "Celestial Navigation" and RORC fame, in many races during the thirties and forties. Marianna was then sold by Camper & Nicholson to Sir Maurice Laing in 1950 and started a career as a sail training vessel in Scotland. Her rig was redesigned by Laurent Giles in 1954. Fully restored in Wales in 1996, she now sails under Belgian flag since 2007, but based in Hellevoetsluis, Holland. Marianna is LLoyds registered and part of the German FKY register; in 2000 she was listed in Classic Boat's top 100 Greatest Boats of all Times, and again in the Top 250 of 2013. The boat has been maintained and upgraded by her latest owner since 2007 and is in very good condition. Her particular shape, long waterline and sizeable sail area make it a fast boat; but at the same time her roomy lay-out, with 3 cabins in addition to the saloon area, make Marianna very suitable for cruising with family and friends.