TS Maybe has a rather famous history, built in 1929 and owned by Jan Jacob Van Rietschoten, father of the flying Dutchman, Cornelis ‘Conny’ Van Rietschoten, the only skipper to win the Whitbread Round the World Race twice. In the hands of the Rietschoten family, TS Maybe spent many years sailing around the world.
A major milestone in Maybe’s history is that she took part in the first ever International Tall Ships Race in 1956. She is now one of the few boats that took part in that first race to still be competing in the International Tall Ship Races. A real claim to fame!
In 1962, TS Maybe was bought by the Swiss family Hans Fehr, who were experienced sailors and enjoyed sailing in warmer climates. She sailed mainly around the Mediterranean and in the 1970s regularly crossed the Atlantic between the West Indies and the Mediterranean. In the 1980s she also sailed through the Panama Canal and up the west coast of the USA to Canada.
Tall ship Maybe was sold to her present owners in 1989 and underwent another complete restoration returning to sailing in 2007. She returned to the International Tall Ship Races in the Baltic in 2009. In 2011, TS Maybe was restored to her original gaff rig.
The ship is 24m in length overall, and the height of the main mast is 25m. TS Maybe is a strong sea worthy vessel built with extra strength by using steel frames, a hardwood hull and teak decking.
Below deck TS Maybe has three main areas. The furthest forward is the forepeak, where there is a 6-berth cabin and shower room. In the midships area are the galley, saloon, 4 further cabins and another shower room. Furthest aft is the ‘dog house’. This is where 2 crew members sleep along with all the navigation and radio equipment and the engine room. All the cabins have twin bunks with all bedding provide, a wash basin and plenty of storage place.
On sail training voyages TS Maybe sails with a total of 14 trainees and 4 crew members.
