Birthe Marie is a strongly built ex working boat with a gaff ketch rig. The feel aboard is that of a clean workboat rather than a ‘yacht’. Her hull shape is particular to the Scandinavian fishing boats; all curves.
Built as a fishing boat in Denmark in 1933, Birthe Marie fished as far as we know in the North Sea and the Baltic. Originally she was built with a ‘wet well’ in the middle part of the boat which was flooded with seawater to keep the catch alive and fresh.
She is a heavy boat for her size and can take a little time to build up speed but her weight comes into its own when the seas are less smooth and she is a reassuring boat to be on when things get rougher.
Birthe Marie lives off the coast of Iona and is owned and skippered by Mark Jardine.