History
“Good morning everyone and I hope you slept well. Dunkirk Little Ships we are a green for go this morning.” The fleet had been preparing yesterday evening and since dawn on Wednesday 21 May, 2025, waiting for the official ‘go, no go’ order which arrived at 0600.
Read more “85th Anniversary Return to Dunkirk, 2025”
History
We visited les Sables d’Olonne in January 2025, watched two participants in the Vendee Globe finish and then crossed the Gironde Estuary from Royan to le Verdon-sur-Mer by ferry, retracing part of the passage of ‘Cachalot’ in 1955.
Read more “Sables d’Olonne & Gironde Estuary: 70 years on”
Sailing
The second part of the Summer Cruise involved a couple of days exploring Walton-on-the Naze followed by a night at Stone Point, the Pennyhole Bay Race and a couple of days in the River Orwell. Find out what we did in the first part of the week here.
Read more “OGA Summer Cruise, 2024: Walton to Woodbridge”
Sailing
Given our late start to the sailing season, it was good news that the Cruise started later this year. We met the Gaffers for a couple of days in the Deben and sailed down to Walton for gin-tasting at the Sailing Club.
Read more “OGA Summer Cruise, 2024: Woodbridge to Walton”
Sailing
Once back in her berth, it was time to bend on the sails and the sun had started to shine at last! With help from Rick, Steve got the mainsail on, checked out the reefing lines and we consulted the weather forecasts and tide tables.
Read more “Out of the Marina at last!”
Sail, oar & paddle
As Steve was restoring ‘Cachalot’, he was already thinking about a tender, so why not build one with similarly elegant lines?
Read more “‘Cachalette’: aka ‘the little boat’”
Sailing
On Friday morning, bright and early, BBC Radio Suffolk arrived to record the first of three interviews broadcast throughout the morning.
Read more “OGA60: Parade of Sail”
Sailing
The weather doesn’t look promising for the OGA60 Jubilee Party and we have no crew for the trip to Ipswich.
Read more “OGA60 Jubilee: arriving in Ipswich”
Sailing
On Good Friday, 2023 we were all ready to depart the Tidemill once there was enough water over the sill.
Read more “Easter weekend, 2023: out in the Deben”
Sailing
June 2022 found Steve with Ben and PJ as crew at the Classics Regatta.
Read more “Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classics, 2022”
Sailing
Steve and Ben sail ‘Cachalot’ down to the River Blackwater to watch the Barge and Smack Race, 6 August, 2022.
Read more “To the River Blackwater and back, 2022”
Sailing
Back to the Tidemill after the Classic Yacht Regatta, it was time to get ready for the OGA East Coast Cruise, July 2022.
Read more “OGA Summer Cruise, 2022”
Sailing
Steve M’s been promising to come up to sail with us to check out the performance of our Ratsey & Lapthorn sails.
Read more “Out with the sailmaker!”
Sailing
Since her launch in August, 2017, ‘Cachalot’ has never actually left the Deben!
Read more “Out of the River Deben at last, 2021”
History
‘Cachalot’ is a member of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) and listed amongst the vessels requisitioned to assist in the evacuation of Dunkirk, 1940, known as ‘Operation Dynamo’.
Read more “Return to Dunkirk, 1990”
History
Apart from entries in the Certificate of British Registry and Lloyds Register of Yachts, we know virtually nothing about ‘Cachalot’ from when she was left in the Mediterranean by the Brigadier in 1956 and 1976 when she came into the hands of Ian and Jenny Kiloh.
Read more “Spotted by the OGA: 1977”
History
Kenneth Albert Harwood, Opthalmic Optician and Neauer Messinger, Shopkeeper, both of Guildford, Surrey are listed as joint owners from November 1948 until Brigadier Edward Elwyn Nott-Bower purchased her in 1951. These two owners are also listed in the Lloyds Register of Yachts (1949-51).
Read more “Cruising with the Brigadier: 1951 – 1955”
History
From 1900 until 1905, Lloyds Register of Yachts lists two owners for ‘Cachalot’: RC Boothby of Sydenham, London and WA Fraser, also of London. ‘Cachalot’ did not have an engine at this time and was registered at Shoreham, London. From 1934 she was registered in Ipswich.
Read more “First owners: 1900 – 1934”