morning cloud yacht tragedy

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Memorial unveiled to the crew lost when Sir Edward Heath’s Morning Cloud broke up and sank

• Elaine Bunting
• May 18, 2015

A memorial has been unveiled to the tragedy of Sir Edward Heath's 44ft Morning Cloud, which sank off the coast of Sussex in 1974

A memorial to a yachting tragedy that killed two young men on Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath’s Morning Cloud has been unveiled, 41 years after the accident.

The accident, which badly damaged and flooded the 44ft Morning Cloud 3, forcing her crew to abandon to a liferaft, shocked the sailing community and made headlines round the world.

The photo above shows the wreckage of the yacht after being salvaged later that month.

The bow section salvaged from the wreckage has been put on display at Sir Edward’s former home, Arundells, in Salisbury. It was unveiled by Sir Ben Ainslie on 15 May and serves as a reminder of the terrible events of night of 2 September 1974, and a memorial to the two men who were lost: Christopher Chadd and Nigel Cumming.

The tragedy happened off the coast of Sussex as the crew were delivering the yacht from Burnham-on-Crouch to Cowes. The yacht had been launched the previous year and had been successful at Cowes and Margate regattas. She was a Sparkman & Stephens design, build in wood by Clare Lallow in Cowes.

Morning Cloud 3, a 44ft S&S design, sank on 2 September 1974

The skipper, Don Blewett, had been joined by six others, including Sir Edward’s godson Christopher Chadd, Nigel Cumming, Thurs Blewett, Gardner Sorum, Gerry Smith, Bob Taylor and Barry Kenilworth.

There was, Sir Edward noted in his autobiography, a forecast of bad weather at the beginning of the passage, ‘but the boat was well adapted for rough conditions.’

The crew set off in light winds, but when they crossed the Thames Estuary the wind strengthened, then decreased to about Force 6, so they decided to continue.

‘Past Beachy Head the wind increased again, to a Force 9,’ Sir Edward wrote. ‘The boat, as expected, was handling well and the wind, blowing south-west, was helpful at that point.’

At around 11pm on Monday 2 September Morning Cloud was hit by a large wave, which knocked the boat over. There was damage, but the yacht righted herself. When she did so, it was clear that two of the crew had been knocked overboard.

One was retrieved, but the other, Nigel Cumming, could not be found, even when the yacht was turned around and a search made. There was a broken lifeline on the port side where Cumming had gone over.

The skipper fired off several flares. Two failed, and third was blown downwind.

The search for Nigel Cumming continued until Morning Cloud was hit by a second large wave and again overturned. Christopher Chadd had been wearing a lifejacket but was not clipped on. He was swept off the deck and washed overboard.

Morning Cloud had been badly damaged and several of the crew were injured. Thurs Blewett had broken his shoulder blade and ribs, had a punctured a lung, and was in a bad way. Gardner Sorum was also wounded, and Gerry Smith was in great pain and later diagnosed with three broken vertebrae.

The yacht’s six-man liferaft had been swept away, and the situation was desperate. The yacht was taking in large amounts of water, and fearing that she would soon sink, Don Blewett called to abandon to the yacht’s remaining four-man liferaft.

The crew crammed into the raft and drifted. After eight hours of suffering in the raft, the crew were washed ashore near Brighton.

The body of Nigel Cumming was later recovered, but Christopher Chadd was never found. His loss affected Heath greatly.

The memorial will serve as a reminder to the tragedy. At the unveiling, Sir Ben Ainslie said: “It is my privilege to unveil the restored bow section of the third Morning Cloud… It serves as a reminder of the tragic deaths of Nigel Cumming and Christopher Chadd, but it is also an important addition to the unique collection of sailing-related trophies, paintings, models and memorabilia held at Arundells.”

Margaret Chadd, mother of Christopher Chadd, with Sir Ben Ainslie

Sir Edward’s home in Salisbury Cathedral Close, Arundells, was given to a trust after his death and is open to the public each week. It houses a fascinating collection of sailing and music memorabilia, below, as well as some political cartoons made during Sir Edward’s political career.

Political cartoons at Arundells, Sir Edward Heath’s former home in Salisbury

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Heath Yacht Sinks, Drowning Godson

By Richard Eder special to The New York Met

• Sept. 4, 1974

LONDON, Sept. 3—Former Prime Minister Edward Heath's racing sloop Morning Cloud capsized and sank in a gale last night in the English Channel off the Sussex coast.

A godson of Mr. Heath, Christopher Chadd, was drowned and another member of the seven‐man crew is missing and believed drowned.

Mr. Heath, leader of the Conservative party, whose passion for yacht‐racing is a conspicuous part of his public image, was not aboard at the time. The five surviving crew members drifted in a raft all night and were washed to shore early today.

Over the weekend the storms, which have crisscrossed the channel for the last few days, also sank Mr. Heath's former yacht, in which he won the Sydney‐to‐Hobart race in Australia in 1969. This craft, which tore loose from her mooring, was also named Morning Cloud until Mr. Heath sold her in 1970.

The second Morning Cloud, which sank last night, was 45 feet long and was valued at about $100,000. She was fully, insured.

Mr. Heath, who had been racing off the Essex coast over the weekend, had returned to London, leaving a crew captained by a‐ friend, Donald Blewett, to sail the yacht to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. This morning Mr. Heath, deeply shaken, visited the survivors in a hospital in Brighton.

Mr. Heath said the boat was hit by “a very large—possibly a freak wave.” Two men were swept overboard, and when the yacht turned to rescue them it was struck on the other side, turning it almost completely over. Only five men were able to get to a life raft.

Mr, Heath said that when the yacht left Essex the weather was “all right.” It grew rough off the Kent coast, he said, but then eased, and the crew decided to go on.

The decision was criticized by a Coast Guard official who noted that throughout yesterday afternoon gale warnings were being broadcast. Morning Cloud had a radio. “They were crazy to, have been out in the channel last night,” the official said.

Accessibility Links

On This Day The Times, September 4, 1974

By Tim Jones

THE circumstances surrounding the sinking of Morning Cloud , Mr Heath’s yacht, which went down off Shoreham on Monday night with the loss of two men, were still obscure last night. Mr Heath’s view was that a giant wave must have hit the vessel.

Morning Cloud had set off with a crew of seven from Burnham on Crouch, where she had been racing, for Cowes shortly after noon on Sunday, and the crew must have been aware of the Meteorological Office warning of imminent gales to force 8 in the area through which she was sailing.

Four other ocean-going yachts which had set out for Cowes with her turned back for Burnham as the weather deteriorated, but Morning Cloud sailed on. She

'Eleven boys went on Edward Heath's yacht but I counted only 10 who left his boat' claims mum

Author Linda Corby said police in early 1970s told her 'someone above' had ordered them not to investigate

• 22:30, 6 Aug 2015
• Updated 08:32, 7 Aug 2015

Police were warned a child may have vanished from Ted Heath’s yacht – but officers were ordered not to investigate, it has been claimed.

Linda Corby said she watched 11 boys aged six to 11 from Jersey’s notorious Haut de la Garenne home board the former PM’s yacht in the island’s capital St Helier.

A few hours later she counted only 10 as they left the Tory leader’s boat.

Describing what she saw in the early 1970s, Linda, 62, said: “I was with Jersey senator Ralph Vibert who has since died.

“He said he had been warned about children going on Heath’s yacht, Morning Cloud, and some not coming back. We watched as a group of boys from the home got on. They were in shorts and T-shirts and looked as if they were on a day trip.”

Author Linda claimed she later went with the senator to Bouley Bay to watch the yacht return. She said: “We counted them back but one boy was missing.

“Perhaps he was dropped off somewhere else. But it was suspicious.”

The mum from St Helier said she and the senator went to police HQ to make a statement but a few days later officers told them “someone above” had told them not to investigate.

She added: “Back then the police were controlled by the defence committee so we assumed that was who told them to leave it alone.” Jersey Police declined to comment.

In 2008 a massive probe at Haut de la Garenne revealed many cases of child abuse against past residents.

Reports that human remains and evidence of torture had been found were later denied. At least seven police services are now probing child sex claims against Heath , PM from 1970 to 1974.

Forces in Gloucestershire and the Thames Valley said they were investigating separate allegations. Detectives in Wilts, Kent, Jersey, Hants and London are also looking at claims. North Yorks Police said it was checking its records after a photograph emerged of Heath meeting Peter Jaconelli, a suspected paedophile and pal of Jimmy Savile .

The Met has confirmed it decided it would not be “proportionate” to open a full-scale inquiry after officers interviewed a man who claims Heath raped him at 12.

Scotland Yard is however understood to be investigating as part of a separate probe into a VIP network .

MORE ON Jimmy Savile child abuse Jimmy Savile Edward Heath Thames Valley Conservative Party Scotland Yard Police Child abuse

Get email updates with the day's biggest stories.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Owen Parker

Owen Parker, who has died aged 76, was best known as sailing master for former prime minister Edward Heath aboard the series of ocean-racing yachts named Morning Cloud which, during the 1960s and 70s, raced in major sailing competitions, including the Admiral's Cup. A winner of three consecutive Round the Island races, Parker competed all over the world, but the Solent was his own particular playground, where his personal knowledge was said to be worth a minute in every race. He was the last of his calling - a paid hand who raced aboard other peoples' yachts, and who bridged the social divide between amateurs and professionals that existed when he began sailing.

Born in Southampton, the son of a shipwright, Parker spent most of his life afloat. He left school at 14 and was hired as a deckhand aboard a 96ft ketch, Leander, owned by Air Commodore Howard-Williams. His early experience included the ritual of rising at dawn, scrubbing decks, chamois-leathering the varnish and polishing the brass before going below for breakfast. When he first started, he was not allowed into yacht clubs because he was paid to race. They were places where the amateur code was held inviolate. He did nothing to upset the order - it happened without his influence, but he was always grateful of the change.

In such circumstances, Parker developed his signature attitude, one of calculated deference. He always addressed yacht owners as "Mr" and when offering advice, invariably added "sir" or "skipper".

In 1960 he accepted an offer to join Lewmar Marine, a new company producing paints for boats, and quickly moved on to work for its sales agent, Montague Smith, who were the first to develop a polyurethane varnish for sea-going vessels that did not require two components to be mixed. Parker told how he applied this new varnish to a boat being built in a boatyard at Hamble, Southampton. After haggling over union rules, he became the object of derision from the yard's workers when the varnish collected in runs on the boat's sides. It took him a week to make it good, a fact the men never let him forget.

Parker first joined the Morning Cloud crew on its journey to Australia in December 1969. This was the vessel that won the 635-mile Sydney-Hobart race and was the first of the five boats to carry the name. On arrival in Hobart, after the 34-foot yacht was declared the overall winner, an invitation was delivered to the leader of the opposition, as Heath then was, to dine at Government House. Heath replied: "There are six of us you know," and the whole crew attended the dinner. Parker remembered that the only crew member whose luggage had not arrived by air was the skipper, and while five were besuited, Heath dined in his sailing trousers and sweater.

Parker's memoirs, Tack Now, Skipper, published in 1980, contained none of the many hilarious anecdotes of their relationship afloat, as Heath was still alive, but fellow crewmen had been spinning these yarns for years. Perhaps the most famous was of when Parker instructed Heath to "bear away" - turn the boat away from the wind. Heath luffed, turning into the wind. Parker, coolly but firmly, said: "Bear away the other way, sir." Parker would also put his foot unobtrusively on the bottom of Morning Cloud's wheel to steady the boat's course as the "guvnor" waved to other sailors on the way up the Hamble river after racing. There was always some doubt as to whether they were waving at the then prime minister or Parker, who knew everyone that mattered in sailing on the south coast.

Parker's first marriage ended in divorce. He is survived by his second wife, Christine, a son and daughter by his first marriage and a son and two daughters from his second.

· Ronald Cecil Maurice Victor "Owen" Parker, sailor, born May 19 1932; died July 9 2008

Most viewed

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Sailing talks to honour yachting enthusiast Sir Edward Heath

Related Articles

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Not Registered?  Sign Up

Registration/Sign-up is temporarily not working.

Please email the following info: Title: Name: Surname: Email: Job Title: Company Name: Company www: Tel Number: About You: Please explain in few sentences why do you require access to our website, e.g. Hi Res COMPs, research, contributing images, etc. to: [email protected] We will process your request within 24 hours. If you require access sooner, please telephone us: New York +1 212-736-2525 or London +44 207-193-1683 ...and we will register you immediately.

• CREATIVE IMAGES
• EDITORIAL PHOTOS
• HISTORICAL ANNIVERSARIES
• Shopping cart

The wreck of Sir Edward Heath's racing yacht 'Morning Cloud III' being lifted out in Shoreham harbour.

Circa: September 1974 - Shoreham harbour, UK The wreck of Sir Edward Heath's racing yacht 'Morning Cloud III' being lifted out in Shoreham harbour after sinking off Selsey Bill.The wooden yacht, the 3rd of Heath's yachts to carry the Morning Cloud name, was hit by a standing wave and knocked down during a delivery trip back to the Hamble following the Burnham Week regatta on the east coast. Crew member Christopher Gadd, Heath's godson, was swept overboard and drowned. Damaged and taking on water, Mornin

Credit PPL Pictures of Yesteryear / Robin Barratt

Dimensions 4961 x 3606 pixels

Print Size @ 300 dpi 17 x 12 inches / 42 x 31 cm

S&S 34 Association

Welcome to the sparkman and stephens 34 site.

Morning Cloud

The yacht’s story.

Morning Cloud, skippered by Edward Heath, placed S&S34’s onto the world stage by winning the 1969 Sydney Hobart race. Rodney Hill was having Morning After built when Ted insisted on an early delivery date. It is not clear if Morning After become Morning Cloud. Apparently the name Morning Cloud was decided upon by Michael Winfield (the builder) following in the footsteps of Morningtown his very successful 37-footer (which was named after a race horse).

In January 1968 Olin Stephens visited the Winfield booth at the London Boat Show and was asked if he would return later to meet a certain Edward Heath. Mr Stephens asked “who is Mr Heath?” and was surprised to be told that “Mr Heath is the next Prime Minister”. The meeting was held and Edward Heath was impressed enough to order a yacht

In Morning Cloud, Heath swiftly built-up an impressive racing record culminating in winning the December 1969 Sydney to Hobart Race. By that time Heath was the British Prime Minister, and in relation to his recreation of yacht racing, this Morning Cloud was the predecessor of a number of other successful S&S designs commissioned by him which also were given the same name.  Moreover, an S&S 34 won its division of the 1969 Fastnet Race and in that and the following year the S&S 34 was the Overall Point Score winner in its class.

Unfortunately, on 2nd September 1974 Morning Cloud broke her mooring in Jersey and was lost. Edward Heath weathered the same storm at sea on the third Morning Cloud.

About the Owners

Edward Richard George Heath, the British Prime Minister, was born in Broadstairs, a harbour town in the southeast England county of Kent, on July 9, 1916, the elder of two sons. Encouraged by his mother, Heath began piano lessons as a small boy. It became a lifetime interest. From his state school, Heath won a scholarship to Oxford University. After World War II service as an artillery officer, Heath worked briefly as a civil servant and then as an editor of the Anglican Church Times. He was elected to the House of Commons for Bexley and Sidcup in 1950, and represented the solidly Conservative south England district through his long political career. In 1992, he became Sir Edward, a member of the country’s most prestigious order of chivalry, the knights of the Garter.

Famous sail number

2468 – Who Do We Appreciate

One thought on “ Morning Cloud ”

Rodney Hill ordered Morning Cloud before Edward Heath placed an order. During the London Boat show Heath ordered an S & S 34 and the British National press had a big picture of him standing under the stern of Morning Cloud. Michael Winfield approached Rodney and asked him to let Edward Heath have her, and Rodney would get number 2. A deal was done, Rodney kept Morning Cloud and changed her name to Morning After ( the name allowed them just to change 5 letters) and the next hull went to Edward Heath as Morning Cloud. I sailed with Rodney on Morningtown and much of her loose equipment came off Morning After. We had at least two life jackets lettered ‘Morning Cloud@.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notice: It seems you have Javascript disabled in your Browser. In order to submit a comment to this post, please write this code along with your comment: f05ad378642096d27b3ceb2a70774571

Sea tragedy that should never have happened

At exactly 12.55 p.m. on monday, august 13th, 1979, a warning was issued by the british meteorological office of a force 8 gale….

At exactly 12.55 p.m. on Monday, August 13th, 1979, a warning was issued by the British Meteorological Office of a force 8 gale off the south coast of England. Five minutes later, 330 vessels swept out from the Isle of Wight into a storm which would claim at least 15 lives.

Why the Fastnet race went ahead in such conditions remains contentious. Also contentious is why many yachts patently unprepared for stormy weather were allowed to compete.

An inquiry after the race led to stricter entry conditions, governing yacht design and safety. No one was singled out for blame, however, with survivors and organisers sticking to the defence that the sport had its inherent risks.

Yet, two decades later, there remains a feeling that it was a tragedy which should never have happened.

Within 12 hours of the race beginning, the first distress calls were made. It was past midnight and the field of 54 yachts in the Admiral's Cup were approaching the Fastnet Rock, round which they were to circle under race rules before sailing back to Plymouth.

The remaining vessels, carrying spectators and competitors in the lesser Fastnet race, trailed some distance behind.

As the gales rose to force 10, the Mayday calls increased. One came at 2.25 a.m. from the Irish yacht Regardless, owned and skippered by a Cork businessman, Ken Rohan. The Baltimore lifeboat responded under its coxswain, Christy Collins, and his crew, which included 70-year-old Paul O'Regan. Their actions were later praised by Mr Rohan as "simply heroic".

Assisting Irish and British airsea rescue services were frigates and other vessels, including the Irish Continental Line ferry, St Killian, with 600 passengers on board. It stood by a British yacht in difficulty until it was taken in tow.

Among the boats hit by the storm was Morning Cloud, owned and skippered by the former British prime minister, Edward Heath. After being towed to safety, he declared it was the worst experience he had ever had.

By nightfall on Tuesday nine bodies had been recovered. Two had been picked up by a Dutch frigate. One yachtsman had been rescued by helicopter, only to die in hospital in Cornwall.

Only 185 of the 330 starters had been accounted for, with 19 yachts confirmed sunk or abandoned.

The search for survivors continued over an 8,000-mile area, and a shocked public followed it every inch of the way.

"Horrific tales", as The Irish Times put it, were relayed by survivors, tales "of yachts being tossed up and down in mountainous seas like corks, of turning turtle not once but several times, of abandoned yachts crashing into one another, of sailors being swept away from their companions, of rudders breaking down and masts crashing down, of rudderless and often crewless boats drifting aimlessly, of 40foot-high waves and force 10 and 11 gales and of yachtsmen hanging on and surviving only by their safety harnesses".

As the rescue effort continued, questions began to be asked about the suitability of many yachts for such a race. One RAF rescuer said only half of the fleet should have been at sea at the time.

The issue was raised in the House of Commons, and one Labour MP called for the "well-heeled, well-to-do people" who indulged in the sport to foot much of the rescue bill.

Despite the tragedy and chaos, the race continued, and the Australian entry Tenacious, skippered by Ted Turner - the future media mogul - was declared the winner of the Admiral's Cup.

Three Irish yachts which had been leading the race were forced to withdraw, depriving Ireland of its first victory in the race.

The final death toll came to 15, according to the official accident report by chief insurers Lloyd's. Others put it as high as 18 as a number of yachtsmen died later from exposure and injuries.

Joe Humphreys

Joe Humphreys is an Assistant News Editor at The Irish Times and writer of the Unthinkable philosophy column

IN THIS SECTION

Number of homeless male asylum seekers rises to 1,399, coolock warehouse could be used to house asylum seekers, department says, following week of protests, israeli choreographer expresses sadness over ballet ireland axing, simon harris: 'you ain't seen nothing yet', creeslough: regeneration plan unveiled for co donegal village that suffered 2022 explosion, sinéad o’connor’s daughter sings nothing compares 2 u at new york tribute, creeslough: two men (50s) arrested in relation to 2022 explosion that killed 10 people, ireland’s designation of uk as ‘safe third country’ is unlawful, rules high court, man kidnapped by gang in belfast freed after armed gardaí surround car on dublin’s m50, josepha madigan announces resignation as minister of state, latest stories, ruthless ireland see off san marino in euro u21 qualifier, meat and diary – frank mcnally on the importance of food in diary writing, moscow attack: gunmen storm concert hall on outskirts of city with several casualties reported, archie ryan gains first professional win with daring uphill move in italy, gerry thornley: man management is key for leinster after long season for irish players.

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Information
• Cookie Settings
• Community Standards

• Yachting Monthly
• Digital edition

Owen Parker dies

• July 14, 2008

Morning Cloud crewman was 76

Owen Parker, one of the best known yachtsmen of his generation ans one of Ted Heath’s regular crew on the series of Morning Cloud yachts has died.

He recently attended the re-launch of Morning Cloud II, now Opposition, after her restoration by her original builder, Clare Lallow, in Cowes. He wrote about his experiences sailing with Heath in his book ‘Tack Now Skipper’. Owen Parker, who had been suffering from cancer for several years, was 76.

• Search forums
• Yachting Monthly's Scuttlebutt

Morning Cloud 3?

• Thread starter alant
• Start date 15 May 2015
• 15 May 2015

Active member

40 yrs, since it was lost, with 2 crew dead, whilst returning from Cowes. According to BBC News, it was caused by a large wave. Anyone got details?  

Well-known member

I don't remember the details but I always remember it as the Morning Cloud gale. The storm arrived very suddenly with us, and the morning forecast had been F5. We were stuck for a week in Brightlingsea while I wrote down weather reports of F10s and 11s around the channel. I think the Cloud was lost in the region of Beachy Head while heading west, presumably after Burnham week in September. It must have been horrendous in those conditions.  

I think it was wrecked over the shallow bank off Selsey Bill....  

Colvic Watson

Once met a chap in the Isle of Man called Ted Heath - no relation to the pm - he called his boat "Cloudy Morning".  

That Sparkman & Stephens blogspot said: The best summary of the loss of Morning Cloud can be found in the very good book, Heavy Weather Sailing by Adlard Coles. Here's a reprint of appendix 6. Click to expand...

Sobering account. As a child, I can remember Ted Heath standing in front of our house (no idea why!) watching one of the next Morning Clouds sail down from Hardway on trials, before the then revolutionary carbon fibre rudder (stock?) kept breaking. Bit of a hazy memory though. There are two places that always seem to have an inexplicable eerie feeling about them for me, Orford Ness, and the Owers. Much prefer the Looe Channel ( in good weather!)  

Heath's Morning Cloud and Sir Maurice Laing's Sasha had been in Burnham for the week, and the plan was to sail in company back to Cowes for the end of season Solent races. As the navigator, I was bringing Sasha back with a couple of delivery crew. We saw Cloud go off with nearly a full crew, and we were held up with some minor technical problem for an hour. We left and halfway across the Thames estuary, picked up the weather forecast for Dover and Wight. It was far from pleasant, and having only three persons on board, I decided to head back to Burnham and wait for a couple of days. It was early the next morning that a boat came out from the club, asking me to phone the owner. I went ashore and had an anxious conversation with the owner, asking how we were still in Burnham, and telling us that Cloud had been lost. Cloud and Sasha were both out the same yard, Lallows, and pretty nearly sister ships. We knew them well as competitors and, indeed, friends, and their loss was deeply felt. The impact on Ted Heath was significant, despite his exposure to more violent death in the Second World War. In 2005 I was browsing though secondhand books in the BookBarn near Shepton Mallet, and came across a copy of Heath's book on his sailing life. It was signed by the author, and the dedication was to his godson, Christopher Chadd, who was lost in Cloud's sinking. It was a chilling and black moment to hold that book, and I regret not having the courage to buy it.  

• 19 May 2015

I went to the ceremony at Arundells on Friday where the bow of MC3 was unveiled in the garden by Ben Ainslie in the presence of Margaret Chadd and two of Christopher's brothers. It was simple but very moving. I had found the bow for sale on eBay a couple of years ago after visiting Arundells in Salisbury and my wife bought if from a Southampton boatyard for about £150. The Friends of Arundells found about it from a local paper report and they were keen to have it in the garden. It was restored by James Dickens from Hythe marina and Laurie Boarer from Lallows who remembers her being built in 1974. I'll try and post some pics from the day but I would recommend a visit to the house if you haven't been before.  

• 20 May 2015

itchenseadog

The bow section of Morning Cloud was for many years mounted on the inside wall of one of the sheds of Belsize Boatyard in Priory Road, Southampton. I understand "Squeeker" Smith (so named because of his high pitch voice) purchased tbe wreck of Morning Cloud from insurers. Belsize was a salvage yard and they probably made four or five times the value of the wreck by selling off all the fittings. The site of the yard (as with so many) is now a block of flats and Squeeker retired to Florida.  

• 21 May 2015

Thanks for that update - when was the yard sol off/closed down ?  

Seven Spades

A fascinating account. It seems that boat was not very strong with all those deck beams splitting and breaking. I always thought that wooden boats were as tough as old boots but it seems not to be the case here.  

Belsize was basically a marine scrapyard. Squeeker woud buy anything marine related and you literally had to climb over engines, winches, scrap boats, chain and wire cable etc. Everything was cash based and to my knowledge there were several tax investigations although it didnt stop Squeeker owning many properties in Bitterne Park and driving around in a Roller ! As far as I can remember the yard must have closed down around 2000. The architect for the flats on the site was the same one who designed the flats at Swan Quay - the site of our old boatyard. The architect went bust shortly afterwards so if must have been around the same time. Seven Spades, the fact that there was so much left of Morning Cloud after being continually pounded by heavy waves on to the sand bears testament to the strength of the construction of the vessel. Having been in the yacht repair business all my working life, there are not many grp craft around that would have survived better.  

Seven Spades said: A fascinating account. It seems that boat was not very strong with all those deck beams splitting and breaking. I always thought that wooden boats were as tough as old boots but it seems not to be the case here. Click to expand...

lw395 said: It was a racing boat, built to win. I think any boat that gets dropped off a big wave onto its side might have similar failures. Click to expand...

Seven Spades said: I was not referring to the damage she sustained by pounding the sand but at the damage she sustained just by wave action. If you read the report she took a wave and substantial damage was caused including split beams. I am surprised at this level of damage and I don't think any boat would suffer the same fate, some would but many would not. Click to expand...

Daydream believer

I remember seeing her at Burnham week she looked lovely But seeing the damage makes one wonder just how a modern GRP benny, bav, hanse etc would fair in the same situation & also how would say an HR or X Yacht fair have modern designs taken this sort of thing into account?  

Other threads that may be of interest

• Buck Turgidson
• 28 Feb 2024
• Practical Boat Owner's Reader to Reader

• Baggywrinkle

Members online

• fredrussell
• masterofnone
• Motor_Sailor
• pearson.henry2
• Suffolk Explorer
• sonofhaylingbillyboat
• boatcrazyoli
• deo gratius
• Fr J Hackett
• Cymrogwyllt
• Victorianna

Share this page

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Round the World sailor Tracy Edwards to head the fifth Morning Cloud Sailing Talk

Related Articles

Upcoming Events

ASIO agents met with Sikh activists as tension peaked over killing of Canadian separatist

It was early one morning, when Samar Kohli was at work in Sydney, that he got a call on his phone from an unknown number.

The man on the other end of the line said he was an officer from Australia's intelligence agency ASIO and that he wanted to meet up.

The meeting took place at an inconspicuous café. Two ASIO officers attended, both dressed in plain clothes. Samar Kohli asked to see their badges.

"They had basic questions," said Mr Kohli, a Sikh community leader in western Sydney who has been involved in the global movement to create a breakaway nation in northern India.

They wanted to know whether he had seen evidence of any "foreign interference" in Australia, which he understood to mean agents working for the Indian government.

"I said 'yes' and I could give examples," he said.

Mr Kohli is one of two Sikh activists to reveal how ASIO agents were monitoring the safety of the Australian Sikh community around the time one of their religious counterparts was shot dead in Vancouver, a murder the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau spectacularly blamed on Indian government agents.

The men told Foreign Correspondent they were contacted by ASIO agents and invited to attend meetings with them on several occasions.

The meetings took place in the weeks before and after Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed by two hooded gunmen in his pick-up truck outside a Vancouver Sikh temple last June.

"What [the ASIO officers] did say is that they do not want something similar to happen here and for that to happen they are doing whatever needs to be done," Mr Kohli said.

Many Sikh separatists believe Nijjar's killing was orchestrated by agents of the Narendra Modi government – a charge India has flatly rejected – and that their lives are at risk.

Mr Kohli said ASIO's enquiries only reinforced his sense that Sikh activists in Australia are under threat too.

"The fact that ASIO walked in, the fact that they have come and met [me], the fact that they're discussing the assassination in Canada and then asking how Sikhs feel in Australia, there's definitely something," he said.

"You're not just going to go dig into something if you don't have anything to dig."

'We told you this is going to happen'

Mr Kohli's first meeting with ASIO officers took place weeks before Nijjar was killed, but it was already a time of heightened tension between Sikh activists and hardline Hindu supporters of the Modi government in Australia and around the world.

Some who follow the Sikh religion, a monotheistic faith that focuses on equality and community service, want the state of Punjab to split from India and become an independent nation called "Khalistan".

India's Narendra Modi government sees Khalistan separatists as a threat to national security and has branded many of them "terrorists".

At the time ASIO called, Mr Kohli and others involved in the Khalistan movement outside of India were organising unofficial referendums in Western nations to prove there's support for a Sikh homeland.

Mr Kohli feared his activism could make him a target for pro-Modi agents operating in Australia.

Those fears were mirrored in Canada, where Hardeep Singh Nijjar was also involved in the Khalistan referendums as an organiser for the vote in Brampton city, Ontario.

Officers from Canada's national police force met with Nijjar to warn him they believed his life was in danger.

Two days later, he was dead.

Shortly after Nijjar's death, Mr Kohli received another call from ASIO officers asking him for a second meeting.

"We were like, 'We told you this is going to happen'," Mr Kohli told Foreign Correspondent.

"And then the question was whether we feel that threat is real in Australia. [I said] I think that everything is possible."

The officers stopped short of saying they had received specific threats against Sikhs in Australia, Mr Kohli said, but he remained alarmed about the potential for violence here.

"The way they use the terminology is, 'We are aware of what is happening, we are monitoring everything, we know who the key figures [in the movement] are and we are making sure all those key figures are safe,'" he said.

'Everyone was freaking out'

Mr Kohli was not the only Sikh activist ASIO officers contacted out of the blue.

Another Australian Sikh, who asked to remain anonymous for his safety, told Foreign Correspondent he was also invited to meet with ASIO shortly after Nijjar's killing.

"After the murder, everyone was freaking out," he said.

"ASIO reached out, they asked, 'What do you feel? Do you have worries? Do you need any help?' Local agencies reached out to ask us if we have information."

Meanwhile, in Canada, the US and the UK, authorities were conducting similar meetings with Sikh separatists in the Khalistan movement to warn them their lives were in danger.

The Narendra Modi government has banned many Sikh groups domestically – Nijjar's killing had awakened fears it might now be targeting separatists living abroad too.

Khalistan activists believe Nijjar was killed because of his work on the referendum.

India considered Hardeep Singh Nijjar a terrorist and had accused him of a range of crimes, including meeting militant leaders in Pakistan, flying ammunition from there to India with paragliders, and plotting killings in India – all allegations Nijjar denied before he was killed.

Indian authorities had requested his extradition from Canada so he could face charges.

In September last year, Justin Trudeau made his extraordinary allegations, accusing India of orchestrating the hit on Nijjar.

The Indian government maintains any claims its agents killed Nijjar are "absurd" and that Canada's accusation was isolated.

Nine months on, no charges have been laid in Nijjar's case, while Canada hasn't provided any evidence that Indian agents were involved.

Warnings from the 'five eyes' agencies

But Canada is not alone in sounding the alarm on the alleged activities of Indian foreign agents.

At the end of last year, US authorities charged a man with plotting to kill a Sikh separatist in New York, saying he was acting on the orders of an Indian agent.

The case, which is yet to go to court, alleges the plot failed because the "hitman" hired for the killing was an undercover US law enforcement officer.

Canada said the US allegation gives its claims legitimacy and "further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously," Mr Trudeau said in November.

As ASIO officers were meeting with Australian Sikh separatists, their counterparts in the US, Canada, UK and New Zealand – the so-called "five eyes" countries – were sharing intelligence that would lead to Mr Trudeau's allegations against India, according to an American diplomat.

ASIO has not responded to the ABC's questions, saying "consistent with long-standing practice, ASIO does not comment on individuals, operations, and investigations".

But in October, the organisation's chief Mike Burgess said he had "no reason" to dispute Canada's claims.

A national security source also told the ABC that Mr Burgess was briefed on the matter before last year's G20 when Mr Trudeau brought up the allegation directly with Mr Modi.

"There's no doubt any allegation of any country being accused of carrying out an execution of a citizen in that country, it's a serious allegation," Mr Burgess said, "and something that we don't do and something that nations should not do.

"Whether or not it will happen [in Australia], I wouldn't publicly speculate, I don't think that's appropriate. I can assure you that when we find governments interfering in our country, or planning to interfere in our country, we will deal with them effectively."

Tensions over temple vandalism

In Australia, rising political tensions between Sikh activists and the Indian government were on full display during Narendra Modi's state visit last May.

The Indian prime minister arrived amid controversy over the vandalisation of Hindu temples in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which some blamed on Sikh activists in the lead-up to Khalistan referenda and angered by Mr Modi's visit.

At one temple in Rosehill, in Sydney's west, the words "declare Modi terrorists" were spray painted on the wall, while in Brisbane, similar slogans were painted on a Hindu temple in Burbank along with "Sikh 1984 genocide".

The person reporting the vandalism to Brisbane police said they suspected there "might be Sikh involvement and it could be as a result of the referendum … relating to the formation of a Punjab state," documents obtained under freedom of information show.

What initially seemed like a case of local community vandalism ended up becoming a point of tension during Mr Modi's meetings with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Mr Modi said it was "a matter of regret that there have been regular reports of attacks on temples" and that he had raised the issue with Mr Albanese, who "assured me that the safety of the Indian community is a special priority for him."

But Queensland Police now believe the graffiti, which was condemned by Mr Modi, may have been done by Hindu groups to frame Sikh separatists, documents obtained under freedom of information show.

Intel officers "believe that the graffiti may have been done by the Hindus themselves in order to generate police attention towards the Sikhs for Justice Group," the documents say.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was one of the leaders of the Canadian wing of Sikhs for Justice, while Samar Kohli has worked with the group on the Australian referendum.

In the documents, officers say it is possible similar vandalism in Victoria was done by the same person.

The documents also say police were told by the Hindu temple operators that the CCTV cameras in the temple complex went offline, so could not capture the graffiti being painted on the walls.

"It's unknown whether this is a result of the installation, or whether it was purposely shut down for the purpose of facilitating this offence," officers say in the documents.

"It is possible that the CCTV may have been purposely shut off."

In a statement to the ABC, Queensland Police said there is no current admissible evidence to link any Hindu person to the graffiti but appealed for anyone with more information to come forward.

Graffiti with similar slogans popped up at Canadian and US temples too, with one right-wing Indian publication blaming "Khalistani extremists" for trying to "create an atmosphere of hatred and terror among the Hindus".

Mr Kohli believes Sikh separatists wouldn't be involved in these offences and they don't deserve to be targeted.

He remains concerned that Australian authorities aren't doing enough to protect the Sikh community.

"I do know for a fact that if any Sikh in Australia is assassinated, the blame should entirely go onto ASIO and the prime minister because they have been consciously told and advised about it," said Samar Kohli.

"How serious they are, I'm not sure."

Watch Foreign Correspondent's investigation Sikhs, Spies and Murder on ABC iview and YouTube .

• X (formerly Twitter)

Related Stories

Australian authorities on alert as sikh-hindu tensions over khalistan separatist movement boil over in sydney.

Five Eyes intelligence informed Canada's PM of India's possible involvement in Sikh leader's murder

Leaders call for 'peace' within Indian diaspora after vandalism of Western Sydney temple

• Religion State Relations