The ship on this photograph has a history that will be interesting for car-enthusiasts like us. On the funnel you can just about decipher the emblem of a blue bird. This blue bird was the emblem of the famous Campbell family who tried to break every speed record on land and water with their racing cars and racing boats.
The ship was built in 1938 in Goole in the U.K. for Sir Malcolm Campbell, who wanted to use it to go treasure-hunting in the Cocos Islands in the Pacific (click here to find out why).
Of course he christened his motor yacht “Blue Bird”, just like his racing cars. Sir Malcolm Campbell used to call his cars “The Flapper”, but in 1912 he adopted the name “Blue Bird”after seeing the stage play “The Blue Bird” by Maurice Maeterlinck.
However, the outbreak of the Second World War put an end to his plans, because in 1940 the “Blue Bird” was requisitioned by the Royal Navy to be used during the evacuation of the British troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. Later it was used for patrol duty along the Scottish and Irish coast.
After the war the ship was returned to Sir Malcolm Campbell, but he died before he could fulfill his plans to sail to the Cocos Islands. The ship was then sold to Jean-Louis Renault, who kept it for 28 years. More owners followed, but the ship wasn’t getting better. In 1995 the present owner found the ship in Falmouth in the U.K. and had it restored to its original condition. After bringing it to the port of Rotterdam, he now uses “Blue Bird” for short sailing trips and parties.

photo Rutger Booy

February 21, 2004