On Saturday 1st August, a 16-vessel Association of Dunkirk Little Ship fleet, assembled in the St Katharine Docks historic centre basin, will be opening to the public, with owners on hand to speak about their vessels, between 11am-5pm. The Dunkirk evacuation​, code-named Operation Dynamo, saw the evacuation of Allied soldiers during World War II from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the north of France, between 26 May and 4 June 1940. A collection of approximately 850 private boats and 20 warships participated in Operation Dynamo and more than 200 ships were lost. Known as ‘Little Ships’, many of these courageous vessels live on, privately owned and exquisitely preserved.

The list of attendee vessels so far:

• Aureol, 35ft
• Dianthus, 30ft
• Ferry Nymph, 40ft
• Firefly, 30ft
• Gay Venture, 45ft
• Guide of Dunkirk, 35ft
• Hilfranor, 42ft
• L’orage, 30ft
• Lady Lou, 40ft
• Maimonde, 45ft
• Marsayru, 43ft
• Naiad Errant, 35ft
• Nyula, 42ft
• Quisisana, 30ft