From The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 3rd August, 1844:
" ....in consequence of the anticipated Regatta at Budleigh Salterton, between ninety and a hundred persons, inhabitants of the faithful city, embarked at Exeter quay in the Owner's Good-will, W. Barratt, Commander, for that place, - the consideration for the trip being only two shillings and sixpence; the excellent arrangements on board the vessel, we understand, including the agreeable provision of a band of music.
"When the vessel arrived at Turf, the Commander's "weather-eye" having detected certain signs of very bad weather not to be mistaken, he expressed his intention of not going over the Bar: but the company, who considered themselves out on "a lark" which would serve for anything, insisted upon it, and a steam-tug towed the vessel over.
"Many of them, however, were by this time getting sick of their amusement. The ship hove-to a mile from Budleigh; when, to the company's great disappointment, they found that the Regatta was over, - and the only attraction to the good people of the town being themselves and their bark tossing on the bosom of the agitated ocean.
"A number of them, admirers of the principle of self-preservation, then disembarked in the first shore boat that could accommodate them, and departed for Exeter in two chaises and pair; but the remainder, more courageous and less apprehensive, determined, with praiseworthy confidence, to continue to submit themselves to the experience and care of Capt. Barratt whose exertions throughout the day, under the most trying circumstances, are beyond eulogium.
"They got under weigh, and left Salterton about 4 p.m., everything presaging a gale, which came on with increasing fury. The jib was split to shivers, - and to add to the distress, they lost the ship's boat. The sail was split; and all but "the tars"" were compelled to go below, the hatches being battened down, and a tremendous sea making a complete breach over the vessel: her qualities as a sea boat, however, were here conspicuous, as were also the courage and skill of her commander and the crew.
"Below, the greatest confusion prevailed; the females being in a state which precluded that interchange of amenities which renders their society on pleasurable trips so charming; whilst the elegant adornments of their persons suffered considerably by the discharge, - and the males, terriified by their cries, and their reiterated and hurried enquiries of "where are we?" must have been enabled to conceive a vivid idea of a wreck at sea.
"At 7 p.m., the vessel was off Exmouth, signals of distress having for some time been displayed. Here a steamer bore down to their assistance, and towed her to Turf, when the state of things began to revive, and about 11 o'clock p.m. they arrived safe amid the sleeping shades of cathedral-capped Exon."
I kave heard locals speak of pleasure-boats as "sixpenny sicks" but The Owner's Good-will was a "two-and-sixpenny sick". You had more for your money - battened hatches, shivered bow-sprits, torn sails, lost lifeboats.
Reported in the same newspaper is the Budleigh Regatta which went very well and without undesirable incident.
Captain W. Barratt seems rather to have deserved censure than an eulogium, after all he subordinated the warnings of his own prescient weather-eye to the will of his landlubber passengers.
Cathedral-capped Exon is an echo from a time when from every direction there was a glorious view of 'St.Peter's Church'.
A good story?, - as I have written before - It's the way they tell them!
