The ship was built in 1906 for James Hartley Burton of Fryars (grandson of James Burton) by the Dartmouthshipyard of Philip & Son Ltd to the design of Alexander Richardson.[3][4] The name "Dwyn Wen" is Celtic, derived from the patron saint of lovers in Wales.[5] The vessel was a high-end schooner with a teak deck and two masts, boasting nearly 400m2 (4,300sqft) of sail. It was designed for luxury yachting around England and was registered as a "Sailing Yacht." The interior featured fine walnut burl furniture and copper artwork.[6]
On her maiden voyage, Burton sailed her to New Zealand and proceeded to travel the globe extensively over the next few years.[7]
In 1924, the yacht was sold and left Weymouth for Hong Kong on 8 August, where it became a luxury cruise ship, sailing the Pacific during the Roaring Twenties.[5]
During World War II, the yacht was requisitioned by the US Navy as an "auxiliary schooner" and was renamed USS Dwyn Wen (IX-58). It participated in several operations, including the capture of a Japanese submarine.[6]
After the war, the schooner was returned to Eugène Overton and operated cruises between Hawaii and French Polynesia.[5] It also took part in a scientific expedition in 1963, documented by the then-owner's wife, Marge Bradner.[5][8]
By the late 1960s, the yacht passed into the hands of Dr. Robert Hale Ellis,[6] who undertook a 42-day journey aboard the vessel.[5]
In 1977, the ship was bought by John Guthrie, an adventurer and treasure hunter, who took it to the Western Indian Ocean (Zanj Sea). In 1985, the ship underwent several modifications.[9] With Nosy Bé (in Madagascar) as its new home port, Guthrie and his family sailed throughout the Indian Ocean in search of sunken wrecks and treasures.
By the end of the 1990s, the vessel required repairs and was left abandoned, anchored off Mayotte, near the Badamiers sandbank. In 2004, the Dwyn Wen was heavily damaged during a storm. Ten years later, the elements had taken their toll, sinking the ship in January 2014, leaving only the two masts and part of the rigging above water.[10]
Legacy
The wreck has become a popular diving site for local divers in Mayotte, hosting a rich variety of marine life.[citation needed]
↑Wood, Malcolm (9 February 2018). "The ghost of yards past: Philip & Sons". Superyacht Times. Retrieved 13 December 2025. Mention should be made of the 112-year-old Dwyn Wen, a 106-foot schooner designed by A. Richardson for her original owner, J.H. Burton. This remarkable survivor was rebuilt by the yard from 1984 to 1985 and spent many years chartering in Madagascar when owned by John and Nanou Guthrie.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
United Kingdom
