Discovery and Restoration of a Dunkirk Little Ship

04/06/2024

04/06/2024

Did you know you can take the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman and Crew courses on your own boat, on the waterways you will be using?

If you would like to discuss this option give us a call.

17/05/2024

So true

15/05/2024

Maimonde
This was chosen because I thought it was the last vessel to be accepted as a member and I wanted to see what the owner had to produce to prove its provenance. Not realising that the owner was in fact a committee member. This was difficult with no contact details but the only information was online at the boatyard where the vessel had been restored. HMS at Southwold
Miamonde (1).png
The section that read that the owner of Lazy Days recognised the name I didn't think was definitive evidence until I found out that the owner of Lazy Days was The Vice Commodore at the time. I have since read the updated version on the web site and that appears to be stretching a point a bit. The book mentions BEF Ships before and after Dunkirk. The list at Dunkirk Little Ship Club in 2015 did not have any mention of this vessel and when asked the Archivist at the club didn't know when it appeared or how it got on there but the. Therefore is this definitive ?

14/05/2024

The committee that unanimously voted ESTRALLITA did not have Definitive evidence obviously let this one through. I have asked for an explanation. What would you think?

14/05/2024

Despite ESTRALLITA now being under new ownership the quest to get her the recognition she deserves carries on. It is after all part of her history.
Her Statement of Significance with supported documentation to National Historic Ships stated her pedigree and remained for just over 5 months until without any notification it was changed. The excuse given was that there was not any "definitive" proof.

It appears that since our initial contact with Association Dunkirk Little Ships over 4 years ago they have now declared themselves as "Official" but official what we are unsure. Who appointed them as official is still not clear despite several attempts to find out from them and what due diligence they have did to get this title is still not known. To date they still refuse to speak with me but I have had a letter to say that they Reserve the Right to Respond.

I have asked by email ADLS several times for an example of "Definitive Proof" and also National Historic Ships but to date have had no response.

This has led to a more in depth research into ADLS approved vessels to compare with ESTRALLITAS documentation and the findings have been quite interesting. Over the next few posts I will post what the findings from National Archives and National Maritime Museum have produced in comparison. Thank you

07/05/2024

04/05/2024

⚓️ On Saturday 4 May (this weekend) from 2pm over 70 service men and women will march through the streets of Poole from The Quay as a Royal Navy Warship is granted the Freedom of Poole.

The entire Ships Company of HMS Cattistock, led by The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth, will parade from The Quay in celebration of the ship being awarded the Freedom of Poole, the highest honour a city or town can bestow on the Royal Navy or one of His Majesty’s Ships.

Drums will be beating, bayonets fixed and colours flying in a unique, family friendly event on the Bank Holiday weekend.

Please click the link for more information:
👉🏻 discoverpoole.com/royal-navy-ship-to-be-given-the-freedom-of-poole

04/05/2024

17/04/2024

MORE DATES ADDED 📆🎉

Dates have been selling out quickly for our RYA Powerboat Level 2 courses and as a result we have managed to add some extra dates.

We are also hoping to be able to offer more dates as we head through the season.

Book now by visiting our website www.eastcoastmotorboattraining.co.uk and clicking on our online reservation tab. But hurry, places will not hang around for long.

07/04/2024

VHF Marine Radio 📡 - 17th April

Do you have a VHF Radio onboard your boat? Do you know what you must do to licence the equipment by law? Do you know the licensing regulations around radar, EPIRBS and handheld radios? We answer all of these questions during the RYA VHF Marine Radio Course.

This 1 day classroom course is for anyone who wants to use a fixed or handheld marine VHF radio. The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to operate a VHF with Digital Selective Calling.

Course price £180 which includes: Assessment fee, course book, tea & coffee.

Our next available course is running on the 17th April Email us [email protected] or book online by visiting our website www.eastcoastmotorboattraining.co.uk

26/03/2024

LAST PLACE REMAINING

Due to a cancellation we have one space remaining on our next RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Course taking place on the 25th & 26th March. Price £430.00

Bookings can be made by email [email protected] or by calling 07570 794196

26/03/2024

The first day of this weeks RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Course got underway yesterday here on Oulton Broad. Some very challenging conditions for our students 💨 but already lots of topics covered such as personal safety, emergency equipment onboard, deckwork, turning a vessel around, departing a mooring and coming alongside.

As a bonus we were able to come to the aid of a boater with mechanical difficulties and show our students how to perform an alongside tow.

Today we are focussing on locks, rules of the road, what to do in the event of an emergency plus more advanced boat handling techniques.

If you are interested in learning how to handle a motorcruiser on the inland waterways give us a call to discuss the course.

16/03/2024

RYA Inland Waterways Crew Course - 25th March.

This is an entry level course designed to introduce friends or family members to crewing a vessel, and for giving them an understanding of how they can assist the helm.

What does the course cover:
🪢 Ropework
🛟 Personal Safety on the water
🏊‍♂️ Man Overboard Recovery
🎙️Communication onboard
🛥️Basic Boat Handling
👀 Being a good lookout

Book now by visiting our website www.eastcoastmotorboattraining.co.uk and clicking on the online booking tab

21/02/2024

RYA Powerboat Level 1 Course

The RYA Powerboat Level 1 course is an introduction to boating techniques for launching and recovering a boat from a road trailer, everyday boat handling and the use of safety equipment. It is ideal for introducing younger family members to powerboating, and for giving them an understanding of how they can be safe on the water.

Your instructor will cover all the basics of, preparation of boat and crew; boat handling; picking up and securing to a mooring buoy; leaving and coming alongside; being towed and what to do in an emergency.

Book a course via our online reservations or by calling 07570 794196

12/02/2024

12/02/2024

Well this is what happens when you Challenge or ask a legimate question to ADLS After all my hospitality all be it 40 years ago 😂😂. Oh dear

12/02/2024

This is my ship HMS Diomede. In May 1980 she was Captain F of the Portland work up Squadron. She was detailed to es**rt the Association Dunkirk Little Ships across the Channel for the 40th Anniversary of Dunkirk. A proud moment of reflection. As a ships company they helped with some of the Little Ships that needed it and built a nice rapport with the boat owners. I did not join the ship until September 1980 (Running Field Gun at The Royal Tournament at the time). However I joined the ship in September and the run ashore was still talked about. In April 1981 before Diomede deployed to the Gulf for 8 months the Skipper took us into London where we berthed alongside Belfast. On the Sunday we hosted alot of Association Dunkirk Little Ships members and their families on board and gave them a Pub Lunch and a tour of the ship.
They were decent people and enjoyed the visit and were appreciative. I think I am still paying for the Bar Bill in the Mess.
I had the pleasure of meeting one of their founding members Raymond Baxter who was a real Gentleman. Over a couple of CSBs he recalled his time in the RAF and his banter with his friend Richard Baker who was Only a Ltcdr in the RNR but had retired in 1979.
Its very sad how the ADLS are now when they wont even talk to me