News
75 year old yacht becomes National Flagship
19 May 2010
Sheemaun was built as a gentleman's pleasure yacht and requisitioned for naval duties as an armed Thames estuary patrol boat throughout the 2nd World War. Now privately owned, she is enjoyed by the general public on both sides of the Channel. Included on the National Register of Historic Vessels, she has been awarded the accolade of Flagship of the Year 2010 by National Historic Ships in recognition of her wide-ranging public summer cruising programme. In this role, Sheemaun will be promoting the 1,200 other vessels on the National Register of Historic Vessels at events which include the Calais Fete de la Mer, the Swallows & Amazons Rally and the Mayor's Thames Classic Boat Festival.
Norfolk wherry Albion, valued member of the National Historic Fleet, has been named runner-up 2010. This honour has been created for the first time, due to the high level and quality of applications received. Albion carried 1,400 passengers in 2009, hosting public open days on the Broads. She has been given the sum of £250 in recognition of her runner-up status, with £1,000 awarded to Sheemaun as Flagship. Both amounts are to be spent supporting the vessels and promoting the Flagship of the Year project.
National Historic Ships, which is sponsored by the Department of Culture Media and Sport, is the official voice for historic vessels in the UK. We offer advice on ship preservation, promote historic vessels throughout the UK, and run a Strategic Grants scheme for the benefit of historic vessels on the National Register.
To listen to details regarding Sheemaun on BBC Radio Kent, click below. The item needs to be fast forarded to 1.40 in to the show.
