Aquabelle and Ramsgate harbour in about 1970

Aquabelle was one of the Dunkirk Little ships moored in Ramsgate harbour around 1969 to 1972, there were far fewer pontoons at that time and by the brick arches the were quite a few boats moored in trots (side beside each other).

A lot of these boats had their owners living on them and many of them were undergoing repairs of one sort or another, collectively we referred to them as the inner harbour cruising club.

Life in those days was still a bit cocktails and tea on the foredeck (cucumber sandwiches without crusts).

I did quite a few electrical jobs on these boats and went on some minor voyages on some of them.

I have been looking for information about Aquabelle for some time, as I was away from Ramsgate when she left and I knew the owners who I lost touch with.

She has just appeared on the Little Ships website click here to go there.

I was surprised that she saw military service as she has welled side decks that are prone to fill with water in much of a sea, I always considered her a bit of a fair weather boat.

When I knew her, her owner was a member of the royal engineer yacht club so he was entitled to fly the white ensign quartered with the club’s coat of arms, what with that and flying Dunkirk honours she occasionally got saluted because she was mistaken for an admiral’s yacht.

Click here for some pictures of this part of the harbour at about that time. I always find it surprising how few people seem to remember much about the boats or the harbour such a short time ago and would certainly appreciate it if anyone has any more pictures.