Image of the 'Sundowner', moored up outside the Ramsgate Maritime Museum, Ramsgate, Kent
Image of the 'Sundowner', moored up outside the Ramsgate Maritime Museum, Ramsgate, Kent. Sundowner is a motor yacht, formerly owned by Charles Lightoller, 2nd Officer (and the most senior surviving officer) of RMS Titanic. One of the "little ships", she participated in the Dunkirk evacuation, and is now a museum ship at the Ramsgate Maritime Museum in Southern England. Originally built in 1912, the former Admiralty steam pinnace was bought in 1929 for £40 (equivalent to £2,000 today) by Charles and Sylvia Lightoller. Fitted with two masts and ketch-rigged with jib, mainsail, mizzen and mizzen staysail, she was named Sundowner - the Australian term for a tramp or hobo. Originally 52 feet long, she was extended to 58 feet, and fitted with 60 hp (45 kW) Parsons petrol-paraffin 4-stroke engine driving a single propeller, giving her a top speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; mph). Sundowner was launched on 28 June 1930, and after trials on the Thames, undertook her first voyage to France. During the next ten years the Lightollers cruised along the northern coast of Europe, taking part successfully in many international competitions. In 1936 Lightoller replaced the engine with a more powerful 72 hp (54 kW) Gleniffer diesel engine giving her an extra 2 knots ( km/h; mph). On 31 May 1940, Sundowner was requisitioned by the Admiralty 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. Leaving Port of Ramsgate at 10:00 on 1 June, the yacht crossed the Channel in company with five other ships. On their way, they rescued the crew of the motor cruiser Westerly, which had broken down and was on fire. On arrival at Dunkirk, Lightoller realized that the piers were too high, and so drew alongside the destroyer HMS Worcester and started to take on soldiers. Seventy-five men were crammed into the cabin, and another fifty-five on deck.
Size: 4064px × 2704px
Location: Ramsgate Royal Harbour, Ramsgate, Kent
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1912, charles, dunkirk, east, historic, kent, lightoller, maritime, motor, museum, ramsgate, rms, ship, ships, sundowner, titanic, trust, yacht
