The Alcyon was a 3 masted top sail fishing schooner launched in 1908 from the yard of E. Bonne of Kerity in France. She measured 106.0′ x 24.1′ x 11.6′ and her tonnage was 166 gross tons, 138 net tons. It is unclear if she was fitted with any auxiliary engine as built. At some stage she was purchased and converted into a private yacht and re-named Navaho.
The schooner Penola under tow
In 1934 she was purchased by a John Rymill of Penola Station, South Australia who was organising and funding an 3 year expedition to Antartica. The schooner was modified for her new role which included being re-engined, her hull was strengthened and a her name changed to RY Penola. Her conversion also included the installation of twin 4S CSA diesel engines by National Gas and Oil Engineering Co Ltd., Ashton-under-Lyme delivering 26 nominal horse power. She spent the years between 1934-37 on the expedition with operational base in the Falkland Islands but much of her time around Graham Land, Antartica where the expedition was based.
Commemorative stamp features RY Penola
On completion of the expedition the Penola returned to the UK and was purchased in 1938 by the Vyner family from Yorkshire who utilised her as a grain carrier between their small Highland estate of Isle Martin, Loch Broom and Liverpool.
Penola dockside
On the morning of 9th November 1940, as the Penola sailed up the Clyde, she was in collision with another vessel off Toward Point. The Penola began to fill and was run ashore west of the lighthouse. The crew took to the lifeboat and made their way safely to the shore. The Penola, which settled upright with masts and part of her aft deck above water at high tide, later broke up and became a total wreck. Her remains are charted and lie in shallow water in approximate position 55° 51.725’N, 04° 59.886’W, just west of Toward Lighthouse. Wreckage has been located close to the above position consisting of engine parts and keel section lying in 3-5 metres of water. The seabed is rock with large boulders covered in thick kelp and is very difficult to search.
Further information on the British expedition to Graham Land, Antartica and the role of the research yacht Penola can be found here courtesy of the University of Cambridge.
