Princess to recommission historic yacht in Gosport

HRH The Princess Royal is to recommission an historic yacht for charity work in a special ceremony at Haslar Marina, Gosport, next Tuesday.

The 40ft junk yacht Boleh, a registered historic vessel, was built in Singapore by Royal Navy Commander Robin Kilroy and Malay shipwrights after the Second World War and sailed to the UK in 1950.

Having fallen into a state of disrepair, she was restored in the 1980s and subsequently based in the Mediterranean.

In 2008, she was acquired by Robin Kilroy’s family, who formed an apprentice school in Portsmouth to restore her once more, using Heritage Lottery funding.

Since 2015, Boleh has been operated by the Boleh Trust from Gosport to provide charitable sailing programmes, principally for disadvantaged children and the Armed Services.

During her visit to the yacht, The Princess Royal will meet Boleh patrons, trustees and volunteers, and representatives from groups who use the vessel, including local schoolchildren.

She will then carry out a traditional bottle ceremony to dedicate the restored Boleh to her new life of charitable service followed by the unveiling of a plaque.

Her Royal Highness will also open a new Gosport community hub for military families at Brune Park School in Gosport on that day.

The new building, which will have dedicated staff, has been made possible by the £400,000 funding that was made by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, which means that more than 400 service children and families will be supported in Gosport and Fareham.