Sheemaun and Suhaili in Jubilee Pageant

Sheemaun, the 1930s Motor Yacht owned by Club member Rodney Pell and Suhaili, the yacht sailed by Club president Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in his 1968 solo non-stop circumnavigation, have both been confirmed as having places in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3 June 2012, which will pass by the Club's premises at Bell Wharf Lane, by Southwark Bridge. Sheemaun will act as the Little Ship Club's flagship for the event.

Details of vessels awarded places in the pageant, were announced on 18 January 2012 with three applicants for every available place. The flotilla will be over seven miles long and include some 25 miles of riverbank. It will take 90 minutes to pass any given point and each of the ten sections of the flotilla will be separated by a music herald barge performing a diverse range of contemporary and classical music with some premieres including a new song with lyrics by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and a new work inspired by Handel's water music.

Little Ship Club commodore David Roache said: "The Club is proud to hear that Sheemaun, Rodney Pell's beautiful 1935 gentleman's pleasure yacht which served in the Thames during the Second World War, and Suhaili, probably one of the most significant boats of modern times, being Sir Robin's first-around-non-stop-solo vessel, will both have a part to play in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

"The Club, of course, will have a grandstand position overlooking the Thames on this memorable occasion and we will be open for members and guests to view the celebrations. So, make a date to come to the Club and be part of this historic day."

Suhaili was the first vessel to be sailed non-stop around the world, by Little Ship Club president Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in the 1968 Golden Globe race. Suhaili is a 32 foot Bermudan Ketch (44 feet including bowsprit and to end of Mizzen boom), built of teak and designed by William Atkins as “Eric” in 1923, her design is based on the Norwegian sailing lifeboat designs of Colin Archer. She began as a concept whilst Sir Robin was serving as 2nd Officer on a deck passenger ship trading between Bombay and Basra with two 3rd Officers Peter Jordan and Mike Ledingham. Building started on a slipway in Bombay Docks in 1963 using teak throughout. The keelson is 1’ 2” x 10" and  22 feet long, planking 1 ¼ “ teak. She is the first boat to ever sail non-stop around the world. No one would call Suhaili a greyhound, but she is solid, strong and a very good seaboat. She is pictured under sail.

Sheemaun is a 15 metre historic GL Watson Gentleman's Motor Yacht with auxiliary gaff ketch rig and squaresail, built in 1930 and based in Ramsgate. She was flagship of the UK National Historic Fleet in 2010. There has been an ongoing connection between the skipper of Sheemaun, Dr Rodney Pell, HM the Queen and the River Pageant. It is told in the gallery below in pictures and a few words.

She has been allocated a place in the Avenue of Sail, which will be in the vicinity of the Pool of London.

For more details of the vessels taking part and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, visit the website

Sheemaun history

Sheemaun is a 15 metre historic GL Watson Gentleman's Motor Yacht with auxiliary gaff ketch rig and squaresail, built in 1930 and based in Ramsgate. She was flagship of the UK National Historic Fleet in 2010. The 1930s motor yacht owned by Dr Rodney Pell has a long history and connection to HM The Queen. She has a place in the Avenue of Sail for the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant and will be flagship of the Little Ship Club for the event. This gallery tells the story of Sheemaun, her owner Dr Rodney Pell and their connection to HM the Queen,  in pictures and a few words