Aberdonia (yacht)

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.

History
United Kingdom
Name:
  • 1935-1940, 1946-present Aberdonia
  • 1940-1946: Navigator
Namesake: City of Aberdeen (Latin)
Owner: 1987 – present: Paul King
Operator:
  • 1940-1946: Royal Navy
  • 1989 – present: pleasure yacht
Builder: John I. Thornycroft & Company
Completed: 1935
Homeport: 1989 – present: Chelsea Harbour
Status: Leisure craft
General characteristics
Type: Motor Yacht
Displacement: 20
Length: 47.97 ft (14.62 m)
Beam: 11.28 ft (3.44 m)
Depth: 4.59 ft (1.40 m)
Propulsion:
Notes: [1][2]

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.[1][2]

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.[1]

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 [2]

References
  1. "Aberdonia". National Register of Historic Vessels. National Historic Ships. Archived from the original on 5 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. "Aberdonia". Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
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