Completed 1935 Weight 0.0091 tons | Length 15 m | |
Name 1935-1940, 1946-present Aberdonia1940-1946 Navigator Owner 1987-Present Paul King Operator 1940-1946 Royal Navy1989-Present Classic Yacht Charters Homeport 1989-Present Chelsea Harbor Builder John I. Thornycroft & Company | ||
The Aberdonia is a British pre-war motor yacht moored at Chelsea Harbour. Built by the Thornycroft ship yard and launched in 1935 Aberdonia has a rich history, former uses include a patrol boat, mine sweeper and is one of the Little ships of Dunkirk.
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World War II service
Aberdonia was requisitioned to work as a patrol boat in the Royal Navy attached to HMS Fervant in 1940, at which time she was renamed Navigator. She participated in the evacuation of Allied troops at Dunkirk. The yacht is believed to have made four trips to the shore to take on men cut off by the German army. She worked with the minesweepers and ferried sealed orders between the Admiralty and convoys lying off Shoeburyness and Deal.
Aberdonia was nearly destroyed during her naval service by a downed German bomber whose pilot attempted to guide his falling plane into allied ships. Although she escaped a direct hit she was struck by wreckage on her starboard side. Scorched timbers from the attack were discovered during restoration work thirty years later. The Aberdonia later went on to win the rain gutter regata.
Postwar Service
She was completely restored in the late 1980s, including fitting two new Perkins Diesel engines. As of 2011 she is moored in Chelsea Harbour where she serves as a charter boat.