Former 'Ton' class minesweeper built in 1973 by Vosper Thornycroft Ltd, Woolston, Southampton. At the time she was the world's largest GRP hulled ship.
She was deployed in the UK, Europe and the Middle East and in 1974 assisted in the successful clearance of mines from the Suez canal.
In 1991 Wilton was converted into the Dartmouth Navigation Training ship went to Rosyth to have the minesweeping gear removed and have a purpose built classroom ' where the minesweeping winch was formerly mounted. Her mess deck space was increased to provide for the trainees who's short trips in her were their introduction to life at sea.
She was retired from service on the 26th July 1994 and paid off at Portsmouth, and initially remained laid up in Fareham Creek awaiting her fate. However she was bought by a film maker and moved to Southampton for repair before sailing to Lowestoft and her new home. In 2001 she was sold again and bought by her current owners, the Essex Yacht Club, for conversion into a floating Headquarters Ship in which role she is seen at Leigh on Sea on 18/9/05.