AT LAST ... up she rises!
The German warship stuck fast on her side in a Severn creek for 11 years has been righted.
The job most people said was impossible was finally achieved last week much to the delight of the team of mudlarks led by Dale Marshall of Newnham.
"It has taken a year to find our feet. She's twisted and bent but she's up," said Dale.
With fellow river enthusiast Titch Murray, also of Newnham, Dale and his team have spent months removing tons of mud from the former E-boat.
Mud, blood and sweat were the orders of the day as the team worked at Collow Pill, near Newnham, to bring the 115ft-long boat – complete with torpedo tubes – back on an even keel.
Launched in 1945 for Hitler's navy, the E-boat did not see any action and had a chequered history before ending up on her side in the Severn.
Brought to England from Copenhagen, she was used as a floating club at Barry from the late 60s to the mid-70s. Previously named Samantha she took the name Lucky Lucinda while in South Wales.
She was later converted to a motor yacht at Saul on the Gloucester to Sharpness canal and was in Gloucester docks before ending up at Collow which many believed would be her final resting place.
Dale and his crew now plan to carry out essential repairs to enable the boat to float again and she will be taken out of the pill and moored alongside the riverbank to enable a complete washdown to take place.
Dale plans to advertise the E-boat for sale on the internet.