Isabella Fortuna

Built by James Weir of Arbroath, for fisherman John Smith, ISABELLA was launched on the 15 September 1890 and was the largest yawl in the harbour. She was intended for line and drift-net fishing and was powered by two big lug sails, a jib and five oars. For 86 years, generations of the same Smith family fished with the vessel from Arbroath.

In 1919, a 15hp Kelvin engine was fitted but by 1928 greater power was needed for the seine-net fishing and a Kelvin K2 44hp engine was installed. This was upgraded in 1932 when a Kelvin K3 66hp engine was fitted and this engine continues to power the boat today. At that same time, the name was changed to FORTUNA.

When in 1976 the Smith family retired from the sea, Hobson Rankin, an enthusiastic restorer, bought the vessel and began a 4-year restoration project. In 1980 the FORTUNA became the ISABELLA FORTUNA incorporating once more the original name.

In 1997 the Wick Society bought the ISABELLA FORTUNA from Hobson Rankin and Michael May for £6000.00. Mr Rankin donated his share of the vessel to the Wick Society to assist them in using the vessel to promote the rich heritage of Wick's fishing industry. Since that date enthusiastic volunteers have been engaged on a continuous programme of renewal and restoration.

ISABELLA FORTUNA is normally berthed in Wick Harbour but during the winter she is housed in the old Lifeboat Shed on the South shore of Wick Bay. This enables maintenance to continue throughout the year. With a voluntary crew the vessel visits ports for festivals and other sea-based events and promotes the aims and purposes of The Wick Society. In 2005 she featured on the BBC Songs of Praise programme from Caithness. ISABELLA FORTUNA took part in the 13th Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy on 8-9 July 2006.