Ann Davison, towards the end of her book My Ship Is So Small (1956) about her solo trans-Atlantic crossing in 1952. The quote has a defensive ring, now that her accomplishment—she was the first woman to do it—has been overshadowed by the circumnavigations of Krystyna Chojnowska-Liskiewicz (April 1978), Dame Naomi James (June 1978, in a record-setting 272 days), and Kay Cottee (1988, nonstop). Ann Davison is a memorable sailor, however, and we are fortunate that she took equal pleasure in writing. Her first books were written to pay off the restoration of Reliance, a 53-foot ketch owned by her husband Frank Davison. The pair sailed hastily out of port in bad weather to escape a writ (a ‘la Sterling Hayden), and wound up wrecked on Portland Bill, where Frank drowned. That was 1949. A compelling backstory for a woman facing the trials of a single-handed crossing. 

Davison made her crossing in the Felicity Ann, a lovely 23 foot sloop completed in 1949 from plans drawn in the late 1930s. The yard was Mashford Brothers in Cornwall, but I don’t know much else about it. I may make it a point to find out, though. This very boat is now awaiting restoration at the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building, and if I play my cards right I may get a gig documenting her as part of the process. Any excuse to read good sea-stories. 

You can read about Ann and Frank’s trials in Reliance in the book Last Voyage: An Autobigraphical Account of all that lead up to an Illicit Voyage and the Outcome Thereof