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Displaying items by tag: Dunkirk Evacuation

An exhibition about the Isle of Man Steam Packet's passenger steamer Mona's Queen which was lost at Dunkirk in northern France during WW 2 is to take place on 22nd May.

The exhibition writes EnergyFM, is to commemorate the Mona's Queen which on May 29th 1940, was struck by a German mine on the way into Dunkirk to help with Operation Dynamo.

Of the vessel's 24 crew who died, seventeen were from the Isle of Man.

For two weeks the exhibition display will take place in the south-west of the island at Port St Mary's (Town Hall) where as Afloat reported, two cruise ships are to call offshore this season as part of a record year.

The story of the Mona's Queen (III) which was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead in 1934 will be told through exhibits of launch photos from the Merseyside shipyard, original plans for the ship, apprentices model, original tableware and the ship's pennants.

There will also be a video of the wreck today. Next month, a dive team from the Isle of Man will be travelling to Dunkirk to photograph and video the Mona’s Queen wreck.

Also to be on display at Port St. Mary will be the stories of other Steam Packet ships and their crews.

Published in Isle of Man

About the Class 40

The Class40 is a kind of monohull sailboat primarily used for short-handed offshore and coastal racing. It is dedicated to offshore racing and has been around since 2004, serving as an intermediate oceanic boat between the Mini 650 (6.50m) and the 60-foot IMOCA (18.24m). The boat is strictly regulated, with a maximum length of 12.19 m. These boats are designed to sail in all weather conditions, and their performance has recently improved significantly. It is not uncommon to reach speeds of up to 26 knots (according to GPS), and planing up to 15 knots is normal.