Projects: Lively lady to arrive at Port Solent this Saturday!
After an extensive refit, the iconic sailing yacht Lively Lady will be sailed back to her berth at Port Solent Marina, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, at around 1500h on Saturday 28th July 2018.
Hundreds of well-wishers are expected to attend the event, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Alec Roses’s triumphant homecoming after his 1968 circumnavigation. Marina staff will welcome the fully restored yacht back to her berth alongside the Weatherspoons pub named in Sir Alec’s honour.
The refit has taken over 18 months and seen the teak-hulled 36-footer completely stripped out before receiving brand new iroko decks. A long list of other vital repair jobs have been done inside as well, bringing the yacht back from a derelict to one that is fully seaworthy.
The group in possession of the yacht, led by Portsmouth adventurer Alan Priddy, plan to use her for a third circumnavigation, repeating the 26,000-mile trip in 2006 in which a relay of local disadvantaged youngsters were able to crew her around the world. This was a sobering trip for many of them as the yacht lacked most creature comforts and passed through some of the more deprived and poverty stricken areas along the Panamanian route. For most of the crew, the trip was transformative, and made them realize their own potential.
The yacht’s arrival will depend on everything on board working as it should and the tide in the muddy waters of Hayling Island reaching its anticipated height. The sea level has been held down recently by the dominant high-pressure system that brought the UK its long spell of hot weather.