A tall ship, La Malouine, has run aground on a beach in the Isle of Man after its anchor chain broke in strong winds. The French brigantine had been anchored offshore, unable to enter Ramsey Harbour due to space limitations. Owned by Manxman John Kerr, La Malouine is over 60 years old and was inherited from his late father, Roy, who passed away in February. Kerr noted that efforts to refloat the ship on Wednesday evening were unsuccessful, with the next opportunity expected around May 16 based on tidal predictions.
Originally built in 1959 as an ice-breaking tug, La Malouine was later converted into a tall ship and has been used for charter trips, including voyages near Iceland. John Kerr explained that his father purchased the vessel at auction after it had been abandoned in France for several years. Roy Kerr dedicated over a decade to restoring the ship and lived on it until his death. The vessel is currently lodged between the Queen’s Pier and an area known as “The Arches” at Ramsey beach.
Kerr faced challenges docking the ship in the harbour due to worsening weather conditions over the past few days. After moving the ship to a slightly sheltered area, the anchor chain broke about 20 meters from the vessel. Despite this, it remains upright, stabilized by seabed conditions. Recovery options are being considered, including digging a channel behind the vessel and using towing assistance to refloat it.
