This extract is from the Illustrated London News, 8 January 1853 and reports on a horrific shipwreck and explosion with[…]
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Category: Historic Events
In this category we bring tales of sail associated with serious weather, maritime history, seafaring adventures, battles or achievements and national events.
Royal Naval losses off Deal: the great storm, November 1703
The English East Coast town of Deal was well known to mariners in the 18th and 19th centuries. In this[…]
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. . . of cricket and sailing: 1859
This 1859 Atlantic crossing sets the unusual scene for the first cricket tour to America. Following the cricketers’ experiences crossing the[…]
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‘Papillon’ returns to Dunkirk: 2015
After a brief introduction to the ‘Dunkirk Little Ships’ Keith Mosley shares his experiences of the 2015 Return to Dunkirk[…]
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‘Letitia’ returns to Dunkirk: 2000
30′ Leigh-on-Sea cockle boat, ‘Letitia’ fishing no. LO220, later MN19, was built 1938 and retired from fishing in 1996. Like[…]
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Return to Dunkirk: 1965
As a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) decided to postpone the Return to[…]
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Eustace the Monk
Here’s an interesting tale about Eustace the Monk, a colourful character who worked for both King John of England and[…]
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Hurricane hits Liverpool, 1839
Based on research in local newspapers of the time, this article illustrates some tragic losses and heroic rescue attempts off[…]
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Perilous storms in Plymouth Sound: 1703
In this extract by Daniel Defoe, he reflects on the town of Plymouth, noting its importance as a safe anchorage[…]
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Sailing with kings
Built by D&W Henderson of Partick, Glasgow for Prince Edward, crowned King Edward VII in 1902, ‘HMY Britannia’ was designed[…]
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