The Yachting Year 2018

THE YACHTING YEAR 2018 | 87

The story of the five-yearly Dunkirk ‘returns’ began with

Raymond Baxter’s purchase of the 1938 cruiser L’Orage

(pictured) in 1963. The existing fleet returns every five

years to those historic beaches, crewed by patriotic

owners and, still... just... a few surviving veterans of the

campaign. It’s one of the strongest discrete niches in the

classic boat world, and the one that captures the

imagination of the British public more than any other.

Every year, more boats are found by the Association of

Dunkirk Little Ships, and the register grows and grows.

As a fleet, the Dunkirk Little Ships reign supreme in the

British imagination, equalled only by Nelson and the

Titanic. That the fleet exists in the physical realm too,

and in such good shape, is testament to millions of

hours of restoration work.

IF YOU HAVE TO ASK...

DUNKIRK LITTLE SHIPS

HENRI THIBAULT

EMILY HARRIS, CB ARCHIVES

One of journalism’s dictums is ‘tell ’em what it costs’, a problem where restorations are so

expensive that the owner has given up counting. Wooden Rivas have bucked that trend, and are

defined by celestial prices. The Ariston and Aquarama embody our near-fetishised awe of

mid- century Italian glamour (think Ferrari, Gucci etc), making Riva one of the most romantic

emblems in the world – ironic as the aesthetic roots are as American as jeans.

Never mind: they are among the most beautiful objects ever created, and the 26ft (8m) twin-

engined Aquarama fetches up to $1m at auction. “Everything on them is curvaceous,” says British

restorer Richard Freebody – “even the cleats.” The Aquarama pictured, one of 768 built from

1962-96, was for Ferrucio Lamborghini in 1968 and is powered by 4l, 350bhp V-12s from the

Lamborghini 350GT. She was restored by Dutch firm Riva World in 2013.

TYY4 Top Ten restorations.indd 87 04/12/2017 15:57