STENOA

1940 Cecil and Lilian Philpott
Type:  R.N.L.I. Lifeboat
Length:  45ft 6ins
Beam:  12ft 6ins
Draft:  4ft 6ins
Displacement:  25 tons
Engine:  2x Ford 4D 72hp Diesels
Construction:  Carvel
Builder:  J S White, Cowes IoW
Year:  1929

The Newhaven lifeboat saved 51 soldiers at Dunkirk, but the mission nearly ended in disaster when she was left high and dry for 4 hours before returning on 3rd June. Cecil & Lilian Philpott was in service at Newhaven from 1930 to 1959; apart from Dunkirk she was launched 159 times and saved 99 lives. In November 1940 she was rammed and nearly cut in half by HM trawler Avanturine, but she survived. Later she served in the RNLI's reserve fleet at various lifeboat stations around the coast increasing her score with a further 76 incidents and saving 49 more lives.

Dr. Oliver Dansie bought her in 1969 as "a successful investment in family life". Then, his children were growing up; now his grandchildren are enjoying her. Re-named Stenoa he ran her for a year on her two thirsty petrol engines which demanded 22 separate operations before they could be started up. Now he has two 4-cylinder Ford diesels, and considerably more space. When he bought her he was told that the open boat could take 136 people on deck before her stability began to be affected. The Dansie family have used Stenoa for two decades as a powerful, safe cruiser. She has taken them through inland Britain and around France, Belgium and the Channel Islands.

Updated from 2017 information from the Spring ADLS. Fleet News, Stenoa is in the same ownership.

A new wheelhouse and spars were fitted at the end of the 1990's through the assistance of Mr and Mrs Baines.

Due for epoxy sheathing and a relaunch in June 2017.

Autumn update: -

Re-launched at the beginning of July 2017. Due for (4) new keel bolts in Winter 2107 in order to make her ready for the 2018 Commemorative Cruise (Ipswich)

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Updated April 2017