Sail boat Black Diamond on the Tyne at North Shields.
Black Diamond of Durham was commissioned in 1972 for her original owner, Lt Cdr Lewis RN, who fitted her out to his own specification and raced her on the south coast. In the early 1990s, Black Diamond was purchased by the Farimar Trust who stripped and refitted her for sail training. She was then used in the North East of England for sail training, offering a sailing experience to young people from a disadvantaged background. Black Diamond has not missed a Tall Ships Race since then.
Purchased by Sailing North East in 1999, she has been refitted again for a different type of client – Corporate Entertainment and Teambuilding, along with regular sail training. Black Diamond is well known on the north-east coast of England and along with the Tall Ships Races she often visits Norway, Germany and the Netherlands.