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Tall ship runs aground on beach in strong winds

Alex BlakeIsle of Man
News imageManx Scenes A traditional tall ship sits upright on a sandy beach with seaweed-covered rocks around it. To the right and behind is a hillside covered in trees and fields around the jagged coastline, with the tide out. It is a sunny day.Manx Scenes
The tall ship ran aground in the early hours of Wednesday morning

A tall ship has run aground on a Isle of Man beach after its anchor chain broke during strong winds.

La Malouine, a French brigantine, had been anchored offshore after being unable to enter Ramsey Harbour due to a lack of capacity.

More than 60 years old, the tall ship is owned by Manx resident John Kerr, who inherited it from his late father Roy, who died in February.

After not being able to refloat La Malouine on Wednesday evening, John Kerr said the next likely opportunity to do so, based upon predicted tides, would be 16 May.

The ship, originally built in 1959 as an ice-breaking tug, was later converted into a tall ship and used for charter trips, including voyages near Iceland.

Kerr said his dad had bought it at auction after it had lain abandoned in France for several years.

Roy Kerr then spent more than 10 years restoring the vessel and lived on it until his death.

News imageClint Kinrade A traditional tall ship sits upright in the surf of beach with the tide in, run aground. It is sunset with a orange horizon blending into a darker blue sky. There is a long iron pier in the distance. Clint Kinrade
John Kerr believes the ship's anchor chain broke

The ship became lodged at the northern section of Ramsey beach, between the Queen's Pier and an area known as "The Arches".

Kerr said he had difficulties docking the boat in the harbour over the previous two days when winds had steadily increased.

He said after conditions became "quite rough" on Monday night, he moved his ship to the north side of the pier where it was "slightly sheltered".

But when the weather further deteriorated on Tuesday, with winds stronger than forecast, he said he could not "return to the boat in that" as it was "too dangerous".

That night the anchor chain broke about "20 metres down from the boat", he explained.

News imageJulie Arthur A side-on view of a traditional tall ship sitting upright on a beach with the tide in, run aground. It is a gloriously sunny day with blue skies.Julie Arthur
Tidal conditions mean La Malouine is unlikely to be refloated until mid-May

The vessel has remained upright, where Kerr said the seabed conditions had helped to stabilise it.

While recovery options are being considered, including digging a channel behind the vessel and using towing assistance once it lifts free, Kerr said he thought the earliest opportunity to refloat the vessel would now be on 16 May.

News imageJulie Arthur A traditional tall ship sits upright on a sandy and stony beach, with the tide far out. It is a bright sunny day, with a cloudless blue sky. The view is framed through a stone arch, and there is a long iron pier in the distance. to the left.Julie Arthur
The ship is located near an area of Ramsey beach known as "The Arches"

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