Classic yacht wrecked under Dover's white cliffs
- Wed, 15 Jun 2011
- Comments (1)
A 28 foot classic yacht has been wrecked near St Margaret's Bay in Kent. The yacht Egretta was abandoned after being driven ashore in a rough sea state and strong WSW winds.
Nigel Stokes, Duty Harbour Master at the Port of Dover, told PBO: 'We understand that the yacht was on passage from either the Thames or
East Coast, bound down Channel for Wales, with the single-handed owner
on board. "Egretta" was observed to be coming round the South
Foreland in rough WSW'ly sea conditions on the afternoon of Wednesday
8th June, when the genoa then appeared to be flapping and the boat
turned about and disappeared from our view behind the cliffs. A little
while later, I, as the Port of Dover Duty Harbour Master, received a call
from Dover Straits Coastguard, saying that a yacht had reportedly run
aground on the rocks by St. Margaret's and could we consider sending one
of our Harbour Patrol/Pilot launches round to assist. Apparently, the
owner of the yacht once she had been driven ashore, then scrambled over
the rocks to a nearby café in St. Margaret's Bay to raise the alarm.
Due to the prevailing weather and sea conditions, plus the treacherous
location the casualty had ended up, we were unfortunately unable to
assist with any of our own floating craft at the time.
'Once the Coastguard had arrived at the scene, the owner was whisked off
to hospital by ambulance, as he was suffering with concussion, although
after some rest and recuperation, he was discharged the next day. Egretta was by now being pounded by heavy surf and once the tide had
receded later that day, it was apparent that she had been quite badly
holed. In addition, the remote location of the stranding, was giving
cause for concern as to any successful recovery operation being put in
place.
'The yacht has now been declared a 'Constructive Total Loss" and after a
S'ly gale last Sunday night not long after these photos were taken that
same afternoon, the "Egretta" is now breaking up where she lies, with all
valuables and personal belongings having already been removed. It's heartbreaking to see such a lovely craft meet such a sad end.'
J Hopper,
June 16 12:12
This is yacht Egretta, a Maurice Griffiths Design, built in Maldon in 1965, changed ownership in April this year. Was Sailing from Woodbridge Suffolk.