130 years ago – Queen Victoria was on the throne, the first Prom concerts were being held and quietly, a new fishing boat slipped into the River Kent at Arnside for the first time.
When she was launched, Spray became the latest addition to a fleet of over 200 boats – or prawners as they were known – which once plied the coastal fishing grounds off Westmorland and Lancashire.
Built to handle the unpredictable waters of Morecambe Bay, these sturdy boats were used to hunt for the seafood demanded by the growing population and visitors to towns like Morecambe.
Built at the famous boatyard of Crossfields in Arnside, Spray became a familiar sight in Morecambe for decades but as demand and trade dwindled, engines replaced sail and Spray became a family cruising yacht.
After her last owner died her future was uncertain.
Two years ago, the Morecambe Bay Prawner Trust, a charity set up to preserve this example of maritime history, stepped in to keep the iconic boat afloat as a seaworthy example.
In late 2023 Spray was transported to Glasson Dock, and cradled on the marina’s hard standing, where volunteers have been at work undertaking the essential maintenance and refurbishment which is always needed for any wooden boat.
We were given an exclusive look at the craft which is now poised to return to the water and, it’s hoped, inspire young people, to consider boat building as a career.
Looking resplendent in the summer sun, she’s a credit to volunteers who have given hours of time to painstakingly restore her to not only survive to be sailed again but be used to inspire those who now live or visit Morecambe Bay.
Damaged planks have been replaced, the hull has been recaulked and coated in anti-fouling and now painted bright red with gleaming varnish she is ready to enjoy another chapter in her life when she’s launched into the Glasson Dock basin to have her mast stepped and for sea trials to begin.
Alasdair Simpson, chair of the Morecambe Bay Prawner Trust, said: “These remarkable boats were very much a central part in the life of the communities around Morecambe Bay.
“Sadly, much of the understanding about this way of life and these remarkable boats is being lost and we hope that once again, with Spray sailing Morecambe Bay’s waters, that people will be able to witness a living example of our region’s maritime heritage.”
During August and September Spray will undergo sea trials as the trust members get used to sailing and understanding the traits and characteristics of a 130-year-old vessel.
The hope is that in 2026 will see her moored off Morecambe Promenade and sailing further afield to Arnside, for the village’s Classic Boat Festival and across the bay to Barrow’s Tall Ship Festival.
Robin Ashcroft, trustee and Spray’s skipper, said: “It looks as if we’re relaunching Spray at just the right time, as we can return her to her original moorings off Morecambe in time for the opening of Eden North.
“She will have a wide role in encouraging a greater understanding of both these remarkable boats and Morecambe Bay’s wider maritime history.”
