Dunkirk Little Ship sails for restoration
Sundowner, a Dunkirk Little Ship, which had been moored at Ramsgate’s Inner Harbour, has been sold and is understood to have gained a sale price of £40,000. It’s now left Ramsgate and is destined for Chertsey where it will undergo full renovation.
Sundowner had been expected to leave last week, but instead undertook sea trials.
She was one of the Little Ships that took part in the World War Two Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. The 58ft motor yacht will be fully restored at Dennett’s Boat Builders for the new owner who is an enthusiast for Dunkirk Little Ships, according to the Isle of Thanet News.
The sale was made by The Steam Museum Trust which holds the lease to the Ramsgate Maritime Museum and associated facilities.
It is understood the new owner has an interest in returning the craft to Ramsgate but the renovation will be a long process – possibly up to two years.
The former Admiralty vessel Sundowner was built in 1912 and went into private ownership in 1929 after being bought by Charles and Sylvia Lightoller.
The 58ft motor yacht was requisitioned on May 31 1940 to sail to Dunkirk to assist in the evacuation. Lightoller, aged 66 and retired, volunteered to take her, along with his eldest son Roger, and Gerald Ashcroft, an 18-year-old Sea Scout. Lightoller was no stranger to drama at sea, having been second officer on the ill-fated RMS Titanic.
On arrival at Dunkirk, 75 men were crammed into the cabin, and another 55 on deck, a total of 130. Sundowner then returned to Ramsgate, avoiding fire from enemy aircraft through evasive manoeuvres on the way, though the greatest danger was being swamped by the wash from fast-moving destroyers.
After disembarking the troops, she was preparing to return for France for another load, but by then only ships capable of doing 20 knots were allowed to continue.
Sundowner remained in service as a coastal patrol until 1945, and after a refit was returned to Lightoller in 1946, and once again used as a family boat.
She was bought by the East Kent Maritime Trust after the last owners had to put her into Ramsgate harbour in 1986 for repair to the hull after suffering heavy damage in rough weather. She was restored in time for the 50th anniversary of Dunkirk in 1990.
Images courtesy of Mark Stanford and Brian Whitehead
