KJ - Past

Built in 1923 for Alfred Lovis, a notable Brixham fisherman, Kenya Jacaranda (originally named Torbay Lass) is one of the last surviving Sailing Trawlers to be built at the Jackman Yard in Brixham. KJ is a 77’ gaff rigged ketch and worked under the registration number BM163.

KJ was built to a design which had evolved in Brixham over many years; a design proved so successful that it was adopted and adapted by many fishing ports around the UK, eventually becoming the ‘industry standard’ for the sailing trawler.

Alfred Lovis (later awarded a DSC for his actions at Dunkirk) and his original crew

At that time, the Torbay Lass was a pure sailing trawler with no deck housing and no engines.

There were no formal cabins for the crew who would rest and sleep in a space put aside for sail storage. The rest of the hold was allocated to the storage of nets and fish.

The work in the Atlantic fishing grounds would have been back-breakingly hard and often dangerous, but the ship was superbly built, handled well in all conditions and, with 3500 sq. feet of sail, had the power necessary to haul a large beam trawl.

In 1935, Alfred Lovis and the Torbay Lass earned a place in the maritime history books by towing a disabled collier off Wolf Rock near Lands End in gale force winds, saving not only ship and crew but a full cargo of Welsh coal bound for delivery to the Royal Navy at Plymouth. This masterly feat of seamanship was the last ever recorded British salvage tow under sail.

KJ History 2

Kenya Jacaranda Restoration Project

KJHS - a registered charity 1129735