Name Estrallita

RAKES RETREAT (now known as ESTRALLITA) is a gentleman’s yacht with an official number 163450 registered in the Port of London. She was built by John I Thornycroft at Hampton-on-Thames in 1934 with a yard number of 2280. She was launched as a 40ft vessel but was lengthened in 1935 by a canoe stern extending her to 48ft overall. Originally named Estrellita she retained this name from launch in 1934 to 1949 when her name changed to Little Star. Rakes Retreat is carvel built of pitch pine on steamed oak frames fastened with copper nails. She has a pointed bow with plumb curved stem and a canoe stern. She is ketch rigged with Bermudan sails on her two timber masts.

Admiralty records show that with effect from 1st June 1940 her then owner Lewis Clayton was paid £2.10s per month for the duration. In 1940 she was deployed as a Harbor Patrol vessel. During the recent restoration by her current owner the re-enforced base plate for the focsle mounted Vickers Machine Gun was discovered and the original Admiralty Issue Binnacle “Old Faithful” was also discovered and been reinstated.

From 1959 to 1964 she was owned by TV personality Hughie Green, who lived on board at Teddington while filming Opportunity Knocks at Thames Television Studio. 

Rakes Retreat has now undergone an extensive renovation back to her original design.  Fitted with 45hp four cylinder Perkins 4107 Diesel Engines quarter mounted105hp Perkins 6354 Diesel Engine centreline, and has been re-named and registered ESTRALLITA.