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Eleanor Mary brings together the experience of the professional seamen who went to sea in boats like her in all seasons and in weathers and joins it with the technology of the 21st century.
Her heavy, 35 ton hull with its long keel makes her stable. Her Douglas Fir planking, nearly two inches thick and fastened with epoxy resins, insulates her crew from the cold and noise of the sea. Her three lower sails, with three reefing positions in the mainsail, and two upper sails allow flexibility to deal with changing weather. Her rope pulleys and sheet and reefing winches allow lightweight people to handle her rig.
The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency has certified Eleanor Mary under its code for sail training vessels within Category Zero, 'Unrestricted Service. This means she may carry eight persons in any ocean in the world. She is equipped beyond the requirements for Category Zero, which include:
- design stability passed by marine surveyors,
- hull passed as having watertight integrity
- two 8-man liferafts, fitted for ocean use
- life-lines and security for personal safety lines
- life jackets, harnesses and safety lines for all
- lifebuoys, lights and other MOB equipment
- equipment to assist collision avoidance
- emergency position indicating beacons
- VHF, MF/HF and satellite radios and radar
- electronic and traditional navigation tools
The MCA requires the Eleanor Mary to have a qualified captain supported by an RYA/Dtp Yachtmaster Offshore (unrestricted service), a Coastal Skipper (up to 150 miles from a safe haven), or someone able to support the Captain and take command in an emergency (up to 60 miles from a safe haven).
David Darbyshire, 60, has commanded Eleanor Mary for nearly 15,000 miles since her launch. He began sailing at the age of ten and has taken an interest in sea training since gaining his RYA dinghy instructor's certificate in 1990. He has certificates as Yachtmaster Ocean (Sailing), as a radio operator (GMDSS GOC), in first aid at sea (Ship Captain's Medical), in basic fire fighting and being in charge of liferafts (CPSC). He has no formal teaching qualifications , but is married with three children. On each voyage, he aims to ensure that his mate also meets the standards set by the MCA for manning the ship.
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