The docks from the air in 1950 with the four masted "Passat" and "Pamir" in dock (plus colourised version). They arrived in October 1949 and were laid up until "Pamir" finally sailed in March 1951 creating a frenzy since they were World renowned as the last of the commercial sailing ships which sailed the old trading routes rounding Cape Horn. Many came to visit them at Penarth. The "Pamir" of 3,020 tons was built in Hamburg in 1905 whilst the "Passat" of 3,200 tons was launched in 1911. The "Pamir" was caught in a hurricane and 80 of her 86 crew perished when she sank in the mid-Atlantic ocean in 1957. [089]

An aerial view from later the same year, 1950, showing the "Passat" and "Pamir". I'm not too sure what the ships moored on the southern side of the dock are. They could be Royal Naval ships but the official line is that the Royal Auxiliary Fleet didn't arrive at the dock for laying up until September 1952. Has anyone any information or recollection of what, or why? The site of the old slipway may be seen in the River Ely and there is a clear indication of the timbers of the adjacent gridiron. [120] See further detailed accounts and photos of these windjammers in Volume 08.