FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 14 August 2023, London, UK: This September, the annual boating extravaganza that is St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival will see over 40 beautiful vintage and exquisitely preserved vessels assemble in the historic central basin of the marina in London. The 14th edition of the festival will be open to the public 9th-10th September and, decked out and dressed overall with signal flags, this year the array of vessels will include the war heroes, the Dunkirk Little Ships, Sir Alec Rose’s famous sailing yacht Lively Lady, the favourite yacht of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ author Arthur Ransome the Nancy Blackett, and the 200-year-old Thames sailing barge Gladys. With live music, food, nautical goods, talks and kids’ activities, it is the perfect day for all the family.
Visitors will be able to view the vessels at water level and meet their caring owners, with each day marked with an opening and closing salute of horns. Talks from knowledgeable hosts will be held on the St Katharine Docks Events Platform and hosts include marine broadcaster, Tom Cunliffe (at midday on Sunday). Onshore at Marble Quay, musicians from the Thames Youth Jazz Orchestra will be entertaining visitors, whilst the marine collectables and antiques seller, David Worthington of The Motorboat Gallery will be displaying his wares. On the water, Paddleboarding London will be offering free stand-up paddleboarding taster sessions.
There will be no less than 19 Dunkirk Little Ships at this year’s festival. The ‘Little Ships’ participated in Operation Dynamo during World War II, evacuating soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the north of France, between 26 May and 4 June 1940. Commodore of The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, Kevin Finn, commented “We look forward to welcoming all visitors onboard our Little Ships to help us remember Dunkirk 1940 and the huge influence it had on the outcome of the war”. On display will also be several examples from the Bates Star Craft and Rampart motorboat ranges, alongside impressive ex-working vessels, such as ex-Port of London Authority flagship and Winston Churchill funeral barge Havengore and the steam tugs Kent and Barking. Impressive modern vessels will join the lineup of vessels, with 20-metre Navy P2000 ship HMS Dasher and one of London’s MET Marine Police Unit Targa motorboats.
HMS Dasher’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Henry Edwards said “It is an honour to bring HMS Dasher and her ship’s company up the Thames to St Katharine Docks. The Royal Navy Coastal Forces Squadron has a close relationship with London and with some of the classic boats at the festival. In particular, the Dunkirk Little Ships are our coastal forebears, and it is an honour to be on show alongside them. My ship’s company and I are looking forward to meeting the public and demonstrating what the Royal Navy Coastal Forces are all about.” HMS Dasher will be open to visitors during the festival, offering tours of the warship and a chance to meet serving members of the Royal Navy.
For St Katharine Docks Marina information please contact: Claire Frew – Sales & Marketing Executive [email protected]
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About St Katharine Docks Marina, an IGY destination St Katharine Docks is London’s largest marina comprising 520,000 sq ft of office, retail and residential. The marina has 185 berths in three basins, for vessels up to 40m long, as a visitor or on long-term berth contracts. St Katharine Docks has outstanding facilities and services along with a social calendar of events and all-year-round activities. The marina is managed, operated and branded by Island Global Yachting (IGY) Marinas, who are bringing their industry-leading knowledge to further enhance the marina operations and customer service.
The Vieux-Port de Cannes is committed. Consideration for the environment is at the heart of our development and activities. We work for the satisfaction of our customers and stakeholders and for the preservation of the port’s natural environment.
Our current certifications:
Port Propre- Ports Propres
*In the process of obtaining : Port Propres actif en biodiversité
October to April :
Monday- Friday 8:00AM to 6:00PM Weekends & Bank Holidays:
8:30AM to 12:30PM and 1:30PM to 5:00PM May and September:
8:00AM to 7:00PM June to August:
8:00AM to 8:00PM