Overfalls featured in documentary
Thomas Lynskey of Historical Films and Experiences was in Lewes at the Lightship Overfalls March 3, filming scenes for a documentary on the history of lightships.
On March 3, he filmed a reenactment scene to tell the story of the most tragic incident in lightship history. On May 15, 1935, the 900-foot ocean liner RMS Olympic, sister ship of the ill-fated Titanic and Britannic, ran over the 130-foot Lightship Nantucket and split the ship in two, killing seven of the 11-man crew. Of the four who were rescued, the captain died four days later from injuries he sustained. The Nantucket had been on station 50 miles southeast of Nantucket Island, Mass., near a dangerous shoal in the trans-Atlantic shipping channel.
White Star Line, owner of the Olympic, built a new lightship for the Coast Guard to replace the Nantucket, which was in service from 1931-75, the longest of any lightship; it was also the largest lightship.
The restored Nantucket is docked at the East Boston Shipyard and Marina, and serves as a museum, as does the restored Lightship Overfalls.
HFX Studios has produced a wide variety of historical documentaries primarily dealing with maritime and railroad history. The films have been shot in 20 states and two Canadian provinces.
Lynskey, of the Cape May, N.J. area, also has work posted on his Part-Time Explorer YouTube channel and provides virtual museum experiences. Contact him at TLynskey@HistoricalFX.com.
