Owner John Power with the steam yacht, Kariat. Picture by Peter Boam.
THE iconic Gipsy Moth IV and the 1897-built steam launch Kariat will be at the heart of a 1,000-boat tribute to the Queen’s 60-year reign today (Sunday).
The Isle of Wight was granted dispensation by the organisers of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant to have two historic vessels in what promises to be one of the largest public events ever held in London.
Gipsy Moth was sailed to St Katharine’s Dock beside Tower Bridge on the Thames by aspiring young seafarers from the Island.
UKSA, which manages the 54ft yacht on behalf of the Gipsy Moth Trust, selected a crew of enthusiastic sea cadets to give them the experience of sailing such an important vessel of British maritime history.
Meanwhile, a specialist cradle had to be built before Kariat could be lowered onto a flat bed lorry earlier this week.
The historic vessel, built by the Liquid Fuel Engineering Company, Columbine Yard, East Cowes, and now owned by Cowes man John Power, was delivered to London’s South Dock, Southwark, by Steve Porter Transport.
Both vessels will join a flotilla which will stretch more than seven miles along the Thames.