The Humber keel Comrade was built in 1923, at Warren’s shipyard at New Holland. Originally named Wanda, she was built for Turner Carmichael of Hull. The iron hull was made to Sheffield size of sixty one feet six length and fifteen feet six beam, with a hold capable of carrying up to a hundred tons in cargo. Initially, she traded in barley and coal between Wakefield and Hull.

Wanda was sold to John “Herrings” Taylor, who renamed her Ada Carter after his wife. In 1929, the ship was acquired by Arthur Schofield of Beverley in a part-exchange deal, with his keel Galatea, keeping all the standing & running rigging, mast & spares’. Its not clear weather Ada Carter had been rigged at this point, she may have been built for work as a lighter. He renamed her Comrade and she subsequently worked the general cargo trade in the West Riding and South Yorkshire, returning to Hull and Beverley with coal.

An Ogle 40 hp semi-diesel engine was first installed in 1933, replaced in 1942 by a 21 hp Lister diesel engine. At that point Comrade’s sailing rig was also removed. The 31 hp Lister diesel engine fitted in 1953 is still in use today.

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Comrade

Sole ownership passed to Arthur’s son Fred Schofield in 1958: he continued to work her in general trade, which by then was already beginning to decline. Comrade came out of service in 1974, when she was acquired by HKSPS.

HKSPS members carried out restoration and rerigging work between 1974 and 1976, when Comrade became the first keel to sail the Humber in over thirty years.

Today, Comrade carries the traditional keel rig of white square main and top sails that characterise the Humber keel. Carried on a fifty eight foot mast, her rig dimensions are mainsail 33’ at foot and 25’ at head, and topsail  23’ at head and 26’ at foot.

Comrade sails regularly through the summer months..

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