Shipwreck beached after 4,500 miles

A TINY sailboat launched by school pupils in America has travelled 4,500 miles and washed up on a Scottish island beach.

The craft crossed the Atlantic on its 168-day adventure before a couple from Canada found the shipwrecked boat in Benbecula, Outer Hebrides. Now it’s set to be repaired and relaunched on another epic journey across the Atlantic.

The 5ft drifter, which students at Kennebunk High School, Maine, had dubbed The Little Boat That Could, was discovered by John and Angelika Dawson.

The holidaying couple, from Abbotsford in British Columbia, discovered the boat marooned on Balivanich Airport beach.

They alerted the police. The Coastguard then checked to ensure the craft was not dangerous, before contacting Mari Morrison, a teacher at North Uist Primary, using details found within the ship. Only then did its amazing journey come to light.

Murdo Macaulay, area commander for HM Coastguard Western Isles, Skye and Lochaber, said: “It’s one of the most spectacular and interesting things washed up.”

Communications director Mrs Hawson, 53, said police looked surprised when she walked in to report a “shipwreck”. Mr Dawson, 59, added: “It had obviously been in the water for a long while and was covered in mussels.”

Now it is hoped to get it fixed up and back on its way around the world.