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Sunk for three years in the Canal du Midi
Othona*, one of our missing boats has been found, fully restored, in Marseillan, France. The above photograph shows her as she is today. In 2001 she sunk in the Canal du Midi, and there remained for three years until rescued by her current owner, André Tobal. She was in a shocking state as the following photograph shows. Her restoration took André three years, from 2004 to 2007.
In June 2016, a set of six photographs were unearthed from 1937, showing Othona under construction, being launched, and having her first sail. From these I have selected the one in which her name is clearly visible on the stern, sticking out of the shed in which she was built. The Roach Sailing Association holds the original copy of this photograph which was given to them by Barbera Quillam.
Othona on her Launch Day, 27th March 1937
# Fascinating Facts
# Othona* is visible in “La Veuve Couderc”, a film by
# Pierre Granier-Deferre, shot on the Gold Coast in 1971
# Fascinating Facts
Othona Statistics
Built : 1937 by FW Shuttlewood & Sons of Paglesham
LOA : 26' 6"
LWL : 22' 5"
Beam : 8' 6"
Draught : 4' 6"
Displacement : 7 tons TM
Lloyd's Register 165146, Maldon
Othona Custodians & Home Ports
André Tobal (2004-2015...) Marseillan, France
Michéle Aragones (?-2004) France
P Monnier (?-?) France
William R Verones (?-?) South Carolina, USA
Perceval Indervuyst (?-?) Belgium
Lt Cdr JA Lloyd RN ret (1962-1964-?)
RE Hayley (?-1960-1961) USA
WR Letheren (1956-1958-?) Maldon
John Dalziel (1952-1955) Maldon
W Christie Rae (1937-1951) Maldon
Page last updated : June 2016
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