At last two major names have joined the Lively Lady Project as sponsors adding great prestige - and finance - to this laudable and worthwhile venture. Now known as the Raymarine Lively Lady Project the founders and initiators had the vision, imagination and energy to take on the restoration and refitting of this historic yacht to carry out the wishes of Sir Alec Rose, namely, to give disadvantaged youngsters the opportunity to learn new skills and see something of the world. The other major sponsor is Stratos Global Corporation.
Raymarine of course, are well known in the marine world, and have provided all the new navigation and autopilot gear for the voyage. Their title sponsorship sees them taking on a much greater role as, among other things, as Lively Lady and her crew travel round the world they will be hosted by Raymarine dealers world wide.
Stratos Global Corp. is the leading global provider of advanced Inmarsat mobile satellite services, and, as the communications partner for the project,, Stratos will provide equipment, 0StratosOne messaging software, and airtime for use by the crew for voice and data services onboard Lively Lady.
For those who don't know…and there can't be many, Sir Alec Rose was the 'Portsmouth greengrocer' who sailed round the world in 1967/8 almost entirely due to his own efforts, with only a little help from local business people mainly in the way of supplies.
Lively Lady was far from being a new yacht having been built in 1948 in Calcutta. There are of many us who feel a deeper admiration for Sir Alec as compared to Sir Francis Chichester, because the latter had massive backing from the big companies plus a brand new yacht specially designed and built, Gipsy Moth 1V. This is not to take anything away from him because he still had to do the job - that was in 1966 - but Sir Alec had greater mountains to climb. (I thing that's a metaphor for oceans to sail!)
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was another man of that ilk who circumnavigated in 1968 being the first to do so non stop, as did that great Frenchman Bernard Moitessier. This group were approaching a time when sailing and sailors were heading for a change, a change that would see giant electronic yachts being sailed around for records and races… or pure stunts.
In my view, the Raymarine Lively Lady Project is well worth supporting; they set off on their circumnavigation on July 28th this year with a change of skipper and crew on various legs.
If you wish to become a member of Supporters of Lively Lady with all its benefits including a regular newsletter giving details of the project and following the voyage around the world write to; Supporters of Lively Lady, Portsmouth Enterprise Centre, Quartremaine Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire. PO3 5QT
Further info can be found on page 2 of the website www.offshore-expeditions.com
Their own website is in preparation on www.livelylady.net
