Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Dunkirk Little Ships Return To Ramsgate

by Mick Gentry 28 May 06:06 PDT 21-26 May 2025
Thamesa and Ryegate 2 during the crossing on 21st May © Mick Gentry

What a return to Dunkirk we have had! With much arranged for our visit by the Mayor of Dunkirk and his experienced and knowledgeable team it has been a moving time with many commemorative events taking place against a background of ever-changing weather, with a flag flying from the Church Tower in Dunkirk that showed a Union Flag on one side and the Tricolor on the other, songs from the Belgium Military Wives Choir Brussels, and visits from many school children to name but a few, it has been a both moving and educating experience yet all good things must come to an end, even if the end for the Little Ships has been somewhat delayed!

Sitting in bright sunshine and relative calm within the Bassin des Commerce in the port of Dunkirk, France, it is sometimes difficult to recognise or consider the reason for our delay in sailing from here; Monday was a very different outlook, 2 metre waves and winds gusting in some cases up to 35-40 knots, and it remains to be so as the week progresses.

But there is now light appearing at the end of the tunnel and the ADLS are able to make plans to depart Dunkirk.

The weather front is moving and the poor weather is shifting away, the high seas and strong winds are giving way to a calmer period starting late on Friday 30 May and continuing into Saturday 31 May that gives the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) fleet the opportunity to at last sail for Ramsgate and other locations to begin their journeys home.

A handful of our larger Little Ships managed a rather bumpy early crossing on Monday arriving in a blustery and weather-beaten Ramsgate by early afternoon, one Little Ship decided not to risk it and returned to join us back in the Bassin des Commerce here in Dunkirk, but the majority of the fleet has remained here, safe in the moorings of the inner harbour.

Our eyes are now firmly set on our run home which, save from a change to weather, will see us run with the tide amongst a much lighter sea state and wind as we cross the Channel in much gentler conditions than are being seen at the moment.

The ADLS Little Ships will depart together escorted by the Nelson escort boats and met by the Ramsgate Lifeboat mid-Channel. The itinerary, as always subject to the weather, is as follows:

0500 Depart Bassin des Commerce bound for Trystram Lock
0600 Depart Trystram Lock bound for Ramsgate / South Coast / Queenborough/ Teddington
1400 Main group arrive Ramsgate

Once clear of the Dunkirk Channel at approximately 0800 the fleet will split into four groups:

  • The South Coast fleet
  • The Teddington fleet
  • The Queenborough fleet
  • The Ramsgate fleet

The South Coast, Teddington and Queenborough fleet have a slightly faster speed available to them than the Ramsgate fleet, which includes the smaller and slower Little Ships, giving an advantage of travelling a little further before the weather changes again from Monday 2 June onward.

Find out more at www.adls.org.uk

Related Articles

Ted Gersen joins Palm Beach Motor Yachts
Expanding Newport, Rhode Island presence with Industry Sales Veteran Continuing its expansion and focus on customer experience, Palm Beach Motor Yachts is excited to announce that yacht sales professional Ted Gersen has joined the company's Newport, Rhode Island team. Posted on 29 Jul
Antares 12 Coupe: a cruiser for all seasons
Asserting its position as a versatile family cruiser Faithful to the Antares line, the Antares 12 Coupe asserts its position as a versatile family cruiser, designed to accompany you on long passages, across all latitudes. Posted on 29 Jul
Airship | Funter Bay to Flynn Cove
Lots of fishing boats out today, as well as a few Dall's porpoises who surfed our bow for a bit We leisured late this morning in Funter Bay and didn't leave until after 11am. Another gorgeous, sunny day! We watched the F1 race and then pulled our anchor and headed out into the mostly glassy Icy Strait toward Flynn Cove. Posted on 29 Jul
Airship | Juneau to Funter Bay
We'll be buddy boating a bit over the next week or more with Dave on Turnagain We'll be buddy boating a bit over the next week or more with Dave on Turnagain, now joined by his brother Kyle. Posted on 28 Jul
Debut of the Picnic Boat 39
A new icon joins the fleet We invented the Picnic Boat. And we've never stopped perfecting it. The new Hinckley Picnic Boat 39 is a masterpiece of timeless design and modern ingenuity. Posted on 27 Jul
Prestige F4.3 - a new model for Cannes
A unique entry into the world of high-end yachting Experience the elegance and refinement of the new generation of the F-Line aboard the PRESTIGE F4.3. The quality of materials, fit and finish, interior and exterior design, functionality. Posted on 25 Jul
Four Winns debuts TH33 and TH38 power catamarans
Engineered to transform boating experiences into refined escapes Engineered to transform boating experiences into refined escapes, the new Four Winns TH33 and TH38 set a new standard for power catamarans of its size as the latest addition to its TH (Twin Hull) Series, launched in 2023. Posted on 24 Jul
Helping boaters steer clear of common mistakes
Veteran Sea Tow® captains share their tips Boating season is already in full throttle, and Sea Tow®, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, is proud to offer boating tips to avoid some of the most common mistakes seen on the water. Posted on 24 Jul
Airship | Ford's Terror to Wood Spit
We slept in again this morning at Ford's Terror We slept in again this morning at Ford's Terror, and then Taylor made a super yum breakfast taco bar...scrambled eggs, hash browns, Jerry's double-smoked bacon, tomatillo cream sauce, etc.... Posted on 24 Jul
Harris Boats unveils new Sunliner & Sunliner Sport
A bold evolution in Pontoon design Harris Boats, a leader in luxury pontoon craftsmanship and a Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) brand, has announced the launch of the completely redesigned Sunliner and the debut of the dynamic Sunliner Sport. Posted on 23 Jul
Maritimo M600Palm Beach Motor Yachts