In the 1930s, the English middle classes embraced elegant leisure pursuits, exemplified by the commissioning of Alusia, a 45-foot motor yacht built in 1938 by Rampart Boat Builders in Southampton. Named after Mrs. Louisa Alexander, the yacht was regarded as both luxurious and innovative for its time.

Unlike typical designs that provided access amidships via a narrow side deck, Alusia was designed for boarding aft through the cockpit. This entrance led directly into the saloon, tiled galley, and heads. The raised wheelhouse offered excellent all-round visibility and effectively separated the public and entertaining areas from the forward stateroom.

The forward stateroom was elegantly finished in varnished mahogany and featured two comfortable berths with deep-sprung mattresses, a large wardrobe, and a full-length mirror. It included a private heads and washbasin. Oak flooring throughout the vessel provided both durability and an air of refined elegance comparable to a country house. Forward of the stateroom, the foc'sle contained an additional guest or crew berth and a large locker.

Alusia was robustly constructed and powered by twin Morris Commodore petrol engines, enabling an easy cruising speed of 9 knots. One engine was equipped with a powerful pump that could function as an efficient bilge pump or as a saltwater power wash for the decks. The engines were well insulated to ensure quiet operation, and space was allocated between them for a mechanic’s workbench.

The yacht’s strong davits supported a notably fast 12 ft 6 in dinghy fitted with an Elto outboard motor, reputedly capable of reaching 27 knots, making it suitable for water skiing. Mrs. Louisa Alexander expressed satisfaction with Alusia’s performance during South Coast trials conducted in the year prior to the outbreak of World War II.

With sleek lines that gave an impression of greater length, the owners intended to navigate through France to the Mediterranean. However, the Alexander family had only a few months of use before the war intervened. Alusia completed just one season as a pleasure cruiser in French waters before being requisitioned for wartime service as a patrol boat.

In late May 1940, under the command of Gunner A.J. Northcott RN and operated by a civilian crew, Alusia participated in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Following the war, the Alexander family repurchased the yacht from the Admiralty.

Since then, Alusia has changed ownership five times. In 1958, her original petrol engines were replaced with twin BMC diesel engines.

As of April 2018, no further information regarding this historic vessel has been documented.