John Plowman, a merchant adventurer, had ‘Maria’ built in 1827 as a gift to his daughter for her 21st birthday. She raced extremely successfully winning her first Cup at the Lowestoft regatta of 1929.
She has always sailed under the lateen rig and having been based at the Maritime Museum of Great Yarmouth for around 35 years, Maria now lies at the Museum of the Broads at Stalham.