A small boat carrying migrants disrupted a flotilla of Little Ships sailing from Kent to mark the Dunkirk evacuation.

Poignant commemorations got underway yesterday as the fleet of more than 60 boats left Ramsgate for the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.

But the 45-mile trip to France was disrupted when Border Force and the French navy demanded the boats divert to provide a one-nautical-mile exclusion zone from a dinghy carrying migrants.

Event coordinator Chris Cox, from Royal Temple Yacht Club, was onboard the commodore’s vessel Brown Owl, which was the first vessel to leave Ramsgate Harbour yesterday as part of the flotilla.

“There was a migrant boat in the water that was being covered by a French naval vessel,” he said.

“As is good proportion, we steered clear and let the authorities look after it.

“For the people in the small boat, they have never done this before and they don’t know what to expect.

“The last thing you want them to do is to try and make for a pleasure boat or Dunkirk Little Ship, which would not be good.”

He says the journey to France “couldn’t have been smoother” and described yesterday as “a perfect day”.

“Churchill asked the people to pray for calm conditions, and I think somebody must have been praying this week for us,” he said.

Reporter Gabriel Morris, who was onboard one of the Little Boats yesterday, says he spotted a navy ship in the distance – with a helicopter hovering over it – a few hours after leaving Ramsgate.

“When you’re crossing the Channel, you can get all sorts of ships from different countries, so we did wonder for a moment if it might be Russian,” he said.

“But a quick check on the vessel tracking system showed it was French Navy.

“Not long after, we saw a dinghy way off in the distance with people wearing orange life jackets.”

Meanwhile, Mr Cox says the fleet might have to leave Dunkirk earlier than expected due to the poor weather conditions sweeping in.

“We are figuring out how to get back to Ramsgate,” he added.

“We had lovely, calm conditions outbound but the high pressure that has dominated the UK for two weeks is shifting.

“We have a classic low-pressure depression coming through, which will bring strong winds – far too strong for these lovely old ladies.

“I have just been speaking to the commodore and we might be considering leaving tomorrow.

“There are civic duties that we want to attend and should attend.

“The city of Dunkirk has made some incredible arrangements and we need to honour that but also have a safe passage for these old ladies.”

The earlier return on Friday has now been delayed due to bad weather on the French coast with plans now back in place to cross once weather improves over the weekend.

Marine traffic maps showed a French warship and a French navy vessel near the flotilla yesterday.

Members of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS) made their way from all corners of the world for the event.

Karen Cox, commodore of the yacht club, told KentOnline it had been 10 years since the Little Ships had last arrived, due to the previous planned event being cancelled by Covid.

She also explained how it was not just civilian ships used in Operation Dynamo, which saw more than 338,000 Allied soldiers rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940.

“There were 19 RNLI boats in total that were requisitioned by the Navy and went across,” Ms Cox said.

“Two of them were actually with their own crew, which was very unusual – and that was Ramsgate and Margate.

“In total, between the two of them, they saved 3,400 lives, which is an incredible feat.”

Last Friday, dozens of vessels, including The Medway Queen, arrived in Ramsgate with festivities ramping up over the weekend.

University of Kent historian Dr Edward Smalley said: “It's a key moment in the Second World War. It keeps Britain in the war.

“It allows them to rescue an army from the jaws of catastrophe.

“Even though France surrendered, Britain is able to keep its army, defend itself from invasion and then go back four years later and help liberate the continent.”