OMEGA

Type: Motor Yacht, Ketch rig
Length: 43ft
Beam: 11ft 7ins
Draft: 4ft 5ins
Displacement: 17.63 tons
Engine: 68hp Gardner Diesel
Construction: Teak
Builder: H.M. Dockyard, Devonport
Year: 1917

His Majesty’s Yacht Omega began life in naval service. She was built at the Admiralty's Devonport dockyard during World War I. When the war was over, she served as a patrol boat at the Schneider Trophy Races of 1929 - 1931 at Spithead, when British entries won every year and therefore became outright winners of the trophy.

Later, Omega was sold to Mr. A.C. Foreman who owned her for twenty-three years. The Admiralty required her for the Dunkirk evacuation and she then continued in naval service on East coast patrol. Later, she became a barrage-balloon vessel and finally, an accommodation vessel. Then, before she was returned to the previous owner, the Admiralty reconditioned her throughout.

Omega is a substantial ketch-rigged yacht. She has a straight stem and is carvel built with an elliptical stern. She is powered by a 68hp Gardner diesel engine. Mr. and Mrs. Rouse, who bought her in 1985, keep her at the Severn Motor Yacht Club, Clerkenleap, at Worcester and she is a member of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships.

Further Information.

Mon, 31/08/2009 - 20:25

I've just acquired a beautiful Tankard from an Antique shop in Bath - with the following inscription;

"YACHT OMEGA" - 1927 - To the Skipper From the Crew.

Is this likely to be the same "Omega"? The Tankard came with another Tankard inscribed "Charter Day", Sept 22nd, 1926 - Basically the Twickenham Borough Charter Day, so this would suggest both Tankards hailed from the Middlesex area.

Any comments here?

Sun, 13/05/2012 - 11:45

The Tankards would most definitely been associated with this boat, my grandfather, A. C. Forman the original owner was known to everyone as The Skipper. He also lived in Twickenham where the boat was moored most of the year, in the summer it was taken down to Yarmouth on the Isle pf Wight, when his children were still living at home. It late stayed on the Thames all the time.

Penny Robertson...Granddaughter.