Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this update on the PSP Southampton Boat Show. In their own words. Ed
Boats built on the Isle of Wight are featuring at this year’s PSP Southampton Boat Show (14th-23rd September).
Launched last year Geoff Holt’s Wetwheels is gradually becoming a firm favourite with wheelchair users and others with disabilities.
Geoff knows about these things and although sailing boats were available to people with disabilities he hit on the idea of having a boat that travels at some knots.
Fully wheelchair accessible
Built for Geoff at Cheetah Marine, Ventnor this boat is fully wheelchair accessible and the 9m Cheetah catamaran is powered by two of Suzuki’s flagship V6 300hp outboard engines.
If you are interested in going out on Wetwheels from the Show, we would recommend that you register your interest prior to the show so that any specific requirements can be catered for. You can do this by emailing [email protected].
New fleet for Police
Hampshire Constabulary has invested £1.2m in a new fleet for the Marine Unit to replace its ageing vessels. Costs have been largely met through a central government grant of £500,000, with the constabulary investing the remaining £700,000 from its budget.
These new vessels are a Lochin Marine International Ltd all-weather launch, a 12m GRP catamaran, built by South Boats at Cowes, and two Ribcraft 7.9m Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) – one designed to carry seated personnel and the other to carry equipment. They will begin service soon and will be used for counter-terrorism work, serious organised crime operations, searching and surveying and general maritime policing in and around the Solent area.
Detective Inspector Dave Jackson from Hampshire Constabulary’s Marine Unit said: “A new fleet is essential if the Marine Unit is to run effectively. We have a duty to protect all maritime vessels in our waters and when you consider the British cruise industry is largely based in Southampton, and the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, the equipment we use to police it needs to be fit for purpose”.
Mission for Brit to win the Vendee Globe
Although not built on the Island, Gamesa is soon likely to be a frequent visitor to Island shores as the skipper is a regular visitor to Cowes. Mike Golding on board his newly modified IMOCA Open 60 yacht, Gamesa, will soon once again take part in racing round the world, solo and without stops in the Vendee Globe.
For approximately 90 days, Mike will be racing Gamesa, a 60ft, 8 tonne, hi-tech yacht at significant speeds through some of the world’s toughest oceans. His mission: to become the first Briton to win the Vendee Globe – the most challenging, single-handed, non-stop round the world race.
Mike Golding is one of the world’s most accomplished and successful offshore sailors with over 250,000 sailing miles and podium success in many of the world’s toughest and most extreme yacht racing events. He sailed at Cowes in the Extreme 40 series and has often taken part in the JPMAM Round the Island Race.
He has held and holds several world records, including the first person to have raced round the world in both directions. He is known as the ‘King of the South’ having set many speed records in the Southern Ocean. In 2007, Mike was awarded the OBE for services to sport (sailing).
Check Website for special boats
There are a number of special boats visiting this year’s show but please be aware that not all of these special boats are on show for all the days of the Show and it advisable to check on the PSP Southampton Boat Show website.
For those interested in the Navy or history is HMS Medusa. Originally ML1387, it is a Harbour Defence Motor Launch built in 1943 at Poole.
She is now the last original and operational example of nearly 500 that were built to protect ports and anchorages from incursion by German submarines. As this threat did not materialise, the admiralty used this class of vessel for many other duties including convoy escort, offensive patrols and landing agents onto enemy soil.
Medusa most notable exploit was when she sailed for D-Day to be a marker at the entrance to the channel through the minefield.
Racing boat made entirely of wood
For something unusual there is the Boat Project to see The Collective Spirit – an amazing, custom built 30ft racing boat created entirely out of donated wood.
Throughout 2011 the public donated wood to this project. Donated items included exotic Zebrawood, familiar pieces of pine and a rare Jimi Hendrix guitar! Every piece had a story behind it. Donations arrived in their thousands, from the highly personal to pieces of national importance including pieces of wood from HMS Victory, the Cutty Sark, the Mary Rose and Lively Lady. All of these donations went into the construction of a state-of-the-art 30ft seafaring open sportsboat.
A living archive
On May 7th 2012 this remarkable boat was launched from Thornham Marina, Emsworth. It was designed by Rogers Yacht Design and crafted by a team of boat builders and volunteers led by Mark Covell (Olympic Silver Medallist, Star Class, Sydney 2000). It is a living archive of people’s stories and lives.
When Mark won his Silver Medal he sailed with Ian Walker who won two Olympic silver medals and also coached Shirley Robertson OBE and her Yngling Team to gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
