- Former owner Jay Creswell revisits the restored Scottish ring netter in Arenys de Mar.
- The classic 1937 Weatherhead-built ring netter finds new life on the Catalan coast.
- A Scottish fishing heritage vessel reborn under the Mediterranean sun.
I’ve just returned from Arenys de Mar, a fishing port and nautical hub on the eastern coast of Barcelona, which is now also home to the former June Rose / Margaret Alison, a ring netter (herring fishing vessel) built in 1937 by the Weatherhead shipyards in Scotland. For several years now, she has been part of the community initiative El Moll, an organization dedicated to the preservation of maritime heritage. Of great local significance, she bears on each side of her bow the image of the Barcelona street tile (panot), the symbol of the Rosa de Foc. It was wonderful to see the MA again. She’s in excellent condition, as expected — the old lady has been almost completely rebuilt thanks to the drive and dedication of my host, Oriol Ferran.
I owned the MA between the late seventies and early eighties and, despite her age, she was a very reliable fishing and working boat. Even though she has been rebuilt, the MA still retains her soul; stepping aboard felt incredibly familiar in every sense. Taking the wheel again brought back fifty years of sailing memories. She handles almost exactly the same, although she could use a bit more ballast now.
An extraordinary job has been done, thanks to Agustín Jordán, a highly skilled mestre d’aixa (shipwright) from the Canary Islands. I also met David, another shipwright — a quiet man who knows his craft perfectly and has dedicated countless hours of work. Together, they have rebuilt the MA faithfully, following the Weatherhead style of the pre–Second World War years.
Below deck, she still feels like a blank canvas, guided by original photographs showing the accommodation for six men in the forepeak and the layout of the hold where the herring cargo was once stored. The MA now sails beautifully. The new powertrain is finely tuned and closely replicates the behavior of the original engine, cruising comfortably at about 9 knots.
In Arenys de Mar, the MA is simply known as the Margaret, and there’s a clear affection for this small Scottish vessel within the community — which is wonderful to see. My immense thanks go to everyone who accompanied me throughout this long weekend: to all the people around El Moll who love the sea and traditional boats; to the fishermen and seafaring folk who came to listen to my talk at Calisay; to the accordionists who played Scottish tunes; and to the wonderful local chefs and restaurants who keep maritime cuisine alive.
Everything made my visit to the MA truly unforgettable. The Margaret Alison could not have found a better custodian.
An article by Jay Creswell, first published in L’Agenda, the local magazine of Arenys de Mar.
You can also see:
- Interview on Ràdio Arenys (edited with images on YouTube)
- Interview with Agustín Jordán on the programme La Recepta Perduda (The Lost Recipe) (video)
