Malcolm Miller

Great boat, I remember throwing up from the yard arm. I shouted the traditional "Below" warning, just in time for the watchkeeper to look up & catch the lot in the face.

I had told him I didn't feel very well & it might not be a good idea for me to go up there. The rest of the watch thought it was hilarious.
 
Nice One Steve. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Never sailed on her but have moored alongside and been aboard a few times in the 80s in the Solent and Channel Isles I sailed with a skipper who had a friend who was a mate on her.
 
Specifically Malcolm Miller is lying at the old American Army base in Hythe, Hampshire. This redundant base is being turned into a marine sort of park under the umbrella of some government initiative.

She was certainly there yesterday and takes occasional forays down Southampton Water.
 
Many thanks to you all. The answere is better than I could ever imagined. I was enquiring on behalf of my Uncle, Mike Stephens, who had been the Chief engineer on the Churchill and Miller for over 25 years. Strangely enough he lives in the neigbouring village to Hythe. From the description of her mooring that will be the old US Naval base, formerly HMS Diligence, formerly Shorts, BOAC , Scott Paines etc etc. ( I was born in Hythe) My uncle will be delighted and will now no doubt be trying to get an invite on board.Tim /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

PS From stories told you were certainly not the only person to up chuck on either vessel.
 
As an aside, My father was posted there for a while in the 1950's and as a Sea scout in the 1960's very early 70's we kept our canoes and dinghy's there. I can remember seeing fast patrol boats laid up there, I think they were 'broadsword ' class or maybe that was the name of a particular craft . I hope they do turn it into a Maritime Museum of sorts, the history of the place is incredible and should be preserved rather than plonk a load of houses on the site. TE Lawrence once worked from there developing the fast craft for Scott Paine. I had a great Aunt who worked there and could remember Lawrence (Shaw) sitting on the edge of her desk.
Tim
 
I'm afraid that they are not going to make the old Diligence site into a museum but a place for marine work with several small businesses within the compound. There is some rumour that a big builder of leisure craft is interested as well. Inside the big sheds there is a very unusual slipway with a main 'stem' from the water and several branches going off at right angles. I think that it was designed and made during the last war.. There are a couple of boats there, Malcolm Miller and what looks like a trawler. Hythe Sailing Club is right next door.
 
What a shame and what a waste of a potential important maritime heritage site. As for the slipway configuration that may well have been for the production of the fast patrol craft WW11 vintage. My great Grandfathers spritsail barge spent its wartime years being used for testing torpedo launches from its decks off Hythe during WW11 .
Tim
 
We saw the Miller in the Solent a week ago. Nice to see her out again after so long covered in tarps at Hythe.

I too have fond memories of sailing (and hurling!) on her. Tall Ships race Vigo-Dublin leg, 1999 I think. Setting out into Biscay in a F8-9 after some hard parting ashore left all but three people, including permanent crew, totally incapacitated for the first 24 hours! Still, it was all worth it for the reception in Dublin!
 
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