| History | |
|---|---|
  United Kingdom | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | City ofAberdeen (Latin) |
| Owner | 1987 – present: Paul King |
| Operator |
|
| Builder | John I. Thornycroft & Company |
| Completed | 1935 |
| Homeport | 1989 – present:Chelsea Harbour |
| Status | Leisure craft |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Motor yacht |
| Displacement | 20 |
| Length | 47.97 ft (14.62 m) |
| Beam | 11.28 ft (3.44 m) |
| Depth | 4.59 ft (1.40 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Notes | [1][2] |
Aberdonia is a British pre-war motor yacht moored atChelsea Harbour. Built by theThornycroft ship yard and launched in 1935Aberdonia has a rich history, former uses include a patrol boat, mine sweeper and is one of theLittle ships of Dunkirk.
Aberdonia was requisitioned to work as a patrol boat in theRoyal Navy attached to HMSFervant in 1940, at which time she was renamedNavigator. She participated in theevacuation of Allied troops atDunkirk. The yacht is believed to have made four trips to the shore to take on men cut off by the German army. She worked with theminesweepers and ferried sealed orders between theAdmiralty and convoys lying offShoeburyness andDeal.[1][2]
Aberdonia was nearly destroyed during her naval service by a downed German bomber whose pilot attempted to guide his falling plane into allied ships. Although she escaped a direct hit she was struck by wreckage on her starboard side. Scorched timbers from the attack were discovered during restoration work thirty years later.[1]
She was completely restored in the late 1980s, including fitting two newPerkins Diesel engines. As of 2011 she is moored in Chelsea Harbour[2]