Visitors to Barton's Point Coastal Park at Sheerness could have been forgiven for thinking they were dreaming when a fully-rigged schooner sailed into view on the boating lake.

The vessel was owned by pensioner Andrew Kennedy, 77, from Packer Place, Chatham, who was taking his late father 's yacht for an outing on Friday.

He said: "I often come here when the wind is right. The ship is at least 70 years old. I remember sailing it when I was a little boy."

His dad, known as Big George, built it while at Chatham Dockyard. The scale model is based on a 1903 American president's yacht and boasts a stars and stripes flag on the back.

The boat was 'lost' for many years and only rediscovered recently packed away at the back of his son's garage. It has no motor but is totally wind powered. The four-channel remote-control operates the rudder and the sails.

Andrew, who retired as a day centre officer in 2006, also paints marine pictures and exhibits them at Chatham Dockyard.