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Big day for the Peggy

Archaeologists will today (Wednesday) move the world's oldest yacht for the first time in 200 years.

Manx National Heritage is relocating the Peggy from the Nautical Museum in Castletown

Years of preparatory work have gone into what’s described as a mission to save a nautical treasure.

It’s thought the Peggy is the earliest surviving example of a British yacht.

Certainly, one of the most important historic artefacts in the British Isles.

But she needs urgent conservation work.

The boat will be lifted by cradle and then crane before being transported from the south to a climate-controlled facility.

Once there, she’ll be stabilised, examined and conserved.

Built for the Castletown politician and bank owner George Quayle, after his death the boat was locked away for almost 120 years, until she was rediscovered in 1935.

The conservation work, expected to take about five years, will involve a team of specialist archaeological contractors from England.

 

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