Thoma II

THOMA II of Maldon.

Moon Maiden of Perth, 1985 on the way to the Monaco Grand Prix - Photo Capt. B.G. Phillips
Capt. B.G. Philips, Nova Scotia emailed:
You might find this of interest I was captain of Moonmaiden of Perth in the eighties she was in fact the Thoma 11, and had been motorised in 1948 with two Gardener Diesels. she was a very busy charter yacht in the Mediterranian for many many years ,had been at the Dunkirk evaccuation, a soup kitchen in London durring the war, a brothel in St Cathyns dock, whilst tied up almost deralict in Cannes was used as a stopping off point for hookers, then purchased by a Guy called Christopher Cadell and Called the Countesa d,es azur and fitted out then later bought by Shaw Shipping of London and called Moonmaiden. We bought her in 1984 and called her Moonmaiden of Perth we sold her in 1988 and she went to Larneca in Cypres and called Lady Penelope of Beueport. I hope you find this of interest. I loved the old girl and whilst I was captain we maintained her like a queen I was very unhappy when she went and still am. Last I heard of her, about 1992 was in Bodram Turkey or ZEA marina Greece.
If anyone has any further information of this vessel, please let us know.

Built as a barge yacht, this vessel is described in John Leather's book "Barges" from which the following extract is taken

b. 1909 by Howards at Maldon as a barge yacht for Frank Callingham of Great Baddow, Essex. She was larger than an ordinary spritsail barge and had similarities to the fine ketch-rigged barge Record Reign, which Howard built in 1897.
100ft length overall, 80ft length waterline x 18ft 6in beam x 7ft 9in depth. She drew 4ft 6in with lee-boards raised.She was yacht-like in appearance having a clipper stem, ample freeboard and fine ends, with a counter stern. The timber for her construction cost £345 and the oak had been seasoned for five years.