Dandy C

Current boat name

Dandy C

Boat class

7330

Function

Sports and Leisure

Type

Length (m / ft)

8.69 / 28ft 6in0

Beam (m / ft)

2.69 / 8ft 10in

Leeward

Keel

Masts

One Wood

Rig type

Gaff

Propulsion

Engine

Designer

Perkins R J

Date of build

1938

Place of build

Whitstable, Kent

Present use

Sailing

DANDY C was built in 1938 by R J Perkins in Whitstable, probably as a one-off. Apparently, she took part in the Dunkirk operation although without crossing the Channel. She was requisitioned by the RAF in September 1940 and compulsorily acquired by the Ministry of Transport in June 1941. She was stationed at Herne Bay, with an RAF crew, as an air sea rescue boat serving the nearby bombing base at Reculver (of Dambuster fame). In her air sea rescue duties, she was involved in a number of recorded rescues. DANDY C was also involved in mine spotting and the retrieval of debris from sunken shipping in the Thames estuary. At some stage she was returned to a civilian crew under a local character, 'Ninety' Pressley. After the war she returned to civilian ownership. In 2003 her cockpit was rebuilt and her deck restored, and in 2009 she was further restored. She is currently moored on the upper Thames and is in frequent use. December 2009 (Archive)