Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat was tasked to assist a 48ft motor yacht with steering difficulties near Christchurch Bay yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).
The volunteer crew, who were paged to launch the lifeboat at 14:08, headed west out of the Solent towards Christchurch Bay where the casualty vessel, with 2 persons on board, was located.
On arrival at the location, the RNLI crew realised that it was no ordinary casualty – but a historic vessel.
Built in 1934, the motor cruiser Estrallita was struggling with a 15-18kt southwesterly wind and moderate to slight sea conditions. Her crew, 2 experienced, ex-Royal Navy personnel had tried to keep the boat steady using her engines until help arrived.
Once on scene, Yarmouth RNLI’s coxswain assessed the situation and made the decision that undertaking a tow was necessary and the safest way to assist the vessel. Prior to entering Yarmouth Harbour, an alongside tow was established in order to safely manoeuvre the yacht into a berth.
The 87-year-old Dunkirk little ship and her crew were on a charitable fundraising journey having set off from Norfolk in mid-May. They have travelled along the South Coast raising money for SSAFA and Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital.
They are hoping to be able to make the repairs to their well-maintained vessel in time to be able to continue with their journey, aiming to reach St Katherine Dock, London on 17th June.
Glad to hear the vessel and crew are safe. But please correct the assertion that Estrallita is a Dunkirk Little Ship. There is absolutely no evidence that this vessel took part in the Dunkirk evacuations. It is not legitimate for the owners to claim she was a part of Operation Dynamo particularly when this misleading claim is associated with fund raising.
Maybe do some basic research before casting aspersions. Simple Google search for Estrallita Dunkirk gets plenty of hits showing that she was there and how her owners are trying to get her registered.
Google is not the authority on this subject. You are free to believe what ever you want. Designation of a Dunkirk Little Ship requires evidence and that evidence does not exist. The pretence can be perpetuated on line but that does not make it fact. Evidence is required to back up assertions and that evidence does not exist. It’s as simple as that.
You know how a Google search works, right?
You put in some search terms get a list of sites that match them.
Then, and here’s the clever bit, you go to those sites ( :-O ) and actually read them.
If you do that then you will see that there is plenty of evidence that Estrallita was at Dunkirk.
You know how Google works right? Why not Google the guy who posted that. Seems like he might know a thing or two about Dunkirk Little Ships….
Hmmm. Not sure why got thumbs up
Not sure why you’ve got thumbs down. There are some idiots on here.
Check your facts
If you look at the Just Giving page it is claimed the she is listed at Fleet Level on the National Historic Ships register and also on the Little Ships Club list. Neither statements are true, she is not on either list.
Just great that the lifeboat saved the day again, it really is not that important what the boat was, the volunteer lifeboat men went out to prevent further problems. Glad all were safe and well at the end of the day.
motor yacht used in 1940 to rescue British soldiers at Dunkirk is preparing to set off on a new mission to raise money for two charities.
The yacht Estrallita is owned by Tony Billson, from Diss, who spent five years painstakingly restoring her and researching her history.
Next month, Royal Navy veterans Tony, Tommy Morrison and Michael (Jack) Hawkins, who served on HMS Bulwark in the 1970s, will set off from Lowestoft, taking in ports along their journey to Poole.