In 1971, Englishman Robin Cecil-Wright bought the Marques and had her extensively repaired and re-rigged in Southampton, England.

In 1983, the Marques sailed from Plymouth, England, to Antigua in the Caribbean for use in charter tours during the northern winter.

In the summer of 1984, she sailed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to compete in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races.

Over the years, the rigging of the Marques had been changed and the sail surface probably increased, which inevitably decreased the vessel's stability, although it was not necessarily dangerous.

The previous owner had repeatedly avoided a routine safety check of the ship that had been requested by British authorities.