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Registration number
394
Status
Registered
a12admin
Previous names
- 1931 - 1945 Blue Bird
- 1945 - 1985 Blue Finch
Details
Function
Leisure Craft
Subfunction
Yacht
Location
Chelsea
Vessel type
Motor Yacht
Current use
Private use
Available to hire
No
Available for excursions
No
Construction
Builder
Thornycroft, J I & Co Ltd, Woolston, Southampton
Built in
1931
Hull material
Wood
Rig
None
Number of decks
1
Number of masts
1
Propulsion
Motor
Number of engines
1
Primary engine type
Diesel
Boiler type
None
Boilermaker
None
Dimensions
Breadth: Beam
11.38 feet
(3.47m)
Depth
4.59 feet
(1.40m)
Length: Overall
51.97 feet
(15.85m)
History
Built in 1931 by Thornycrofts for Sir Malcolm Campbell, BLUEBIRD OF CHELSEA is a motor yacht of wood carvel construction. She has twin Perkins diesel engines. Her original name was BLUEBIRD which was changed to BLUE FINCH in 1945 and to her present name in 1985. She had three owners before being requisitioned by the Admiralty during World War II and is thought to have been present at the Dunkirk evacuation, later serving as a radar decoy ship. There is a gap in her history until 1984 when she was bought in the South of France and brought back to England where she was restored by H. & T. Marine of Poole, Dorset.
Sources
Christian Brann, The Little Ships of Dunkirk: 1940-1990 (1989) pub: Collectors Books Ltd
Classic Boat (July Volume 145, 2000, pp80) Little Bluebird
Classic Boat (February Edition 273, 2011) Charter UK Destinations - Wish you were here?
Own this vessel?
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
