Tectona is a gaff ketch of solid teak construction with a Volvo Penta diesel engine. She can carry 2,000 square foot of canvas. She was built, with the help of elephants at the Calicut Shipyard in India in 1928, as a private yacht. During the Second World War the ‘Tectona’ was involved in Admiralty work and In 1958 she was recommissioned by Captain Tom Blackwell during which time she was chartered by Alan Villiers.

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Between 1964 and 1980 ‘Tectona’ was owned by the ‘Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of Plymouth’. During this period she served as the training ship of the Plymouth School of Navigation.In 1980 she was sold to a French owner, and later to a Swiss Charity for sail training based in Barcelona. In 2007 ‘Tectona’ was purchased by Dr Roger Crabtree and sailed back to Plymouth to be used for to help people in Recovery and for sail training and. The ‘Tectona’ was operated by the Island Trust until 2018. Today Tectona is owned by the Tectona Trust and chartered to Sailing Tectona CIC.