This, the largest Oertz schooner remaining, was originally named 'Xenia' and was built for a Greek owner. He enjoyed sailing her in the Aegean and then undertook a circumnavigation.

'Xenia' "was found by myself and my cousin Jasper advertised by Peter Gregson of Wooden Ships in Kingsweir having been a house boat since the early 1950s. 'Xenia' was then on a mooring, fixed fore and aft not drying and was owned by a local gentlemen. We bought her in 1983 and I spent 3 years trying to raise the money to rebuild her including writing the basis for a novel and working with Mervyn Haisman (Script Writer for Onedin Line) and Producer Jo Waters to persuade the BBC to make it into a major TV series that would have funded Xenia's reconstruction. Unfortunately budget cuts put this on hold. In 1984 I charted Tug Company Mainpull and we took 'Xenia' from Salcombe round the Lizard under tow to Yeard Building J Hinks and Son of Appledore. Unfortunately her mooring there was not secure and when the BBC project fell through I again hired the tug and we took her to Bristol Docks.

Jasper and I carried on trying to raise funding to rebuild her until in 1987 when Cameron Chilston approached us. With a heavy heart we decided we should let him buy her because he had the money she needed. Cameron did a fantastic job and I am grateful that we found her, that we saved her from the fate that befell other big yachts in Salcombe that were put on the mud to rot. I am only sorry I never did get to sail her before Cameron died".

Information courtesy of Symon Blomfield, August 2010.

Chilston undertook an extensive restoration project in Bristol and since her relaunch 'Aello' has enjoyed cruising and racing on both sides of the Atlantic. She participated in the 1997 NYYC Atlantic Challenge with fellow schooner, Adix, and then went on to race further in the Mediterranean.

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