The Athlone Castle, a World War II troopship that served in the Dunkirk evacuation, has been wrecked after experiencing engine failure during a children's pirate-themed birthday party. The vessel ran aground on a shingle beach in West Bay, Dorset, and sustained significant damage from high tides.
The 32-foot boat, launched in 1935, was on a trip around West Bay when its engine failed. The owner and skipper, Jeremy Gower, attempted to anchor the vessel, but the anchor dragged, and strong winds pushed the boat towards the beach below sandstone cliffs. All eight-year-old passengers were wearing life jackets and were safely disembarked.
The ship remained on the beach for approximately 24 hours, enduring damage from successive high tides. A team from the West Bay Harbour Master's Office eventually secured a tow and winched the boat ashore, where it was found to have severe hull damage. Pictures show the vessel listing heavily and sitting low in the water.
Mr. Gower estimates repair costs to be around £250,000, a figure not covered by his insurance because the boat did not sink. He has launched a Crowdfunder campaign seeking £98,000 to begin the repairs. He has owned the Athlone Castle for seven years and primarily uses it for leisure.
Historic Service
Originally built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast, the Athlone Castle is believed to be the oldest surviving wooden boat constructed by the company. The vessel played a role in Operation Dynamo in 1940, the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk. It rescued 22 Allied soldiers from the beaches and later returned to pick up another 26 men.
Following decommissioning of its mothership in the 1970s, the smaller radio boat was saved and has had several owners. It was previously the flagship for a Fortnum & Mason campaign and is a familiar sight in West Bay.
Mr. Gower noted that the boat has a long history of service, including 147 voyages between Southampton and Cape Town and three repatriations. As a radio boat, it was responsible for transmitting millions of telegrams.
"You have to laugh because you can't cry," Gower said of the incident. "But watching them drag her in was very unceremonial." He expressed surprise at the community response to his fundraising efforts, stating, "It's the most amazing community spirit, I had never really appreciated how heartfelt her spirit and her history was to so many people."