….and, as you can see, he’s not even been able to have a shower!

The Raymarine Lively Lady had a passenger on her long voyage around the world; the only one who has actually stayed on board for the whole of the journey and even looked after things in the down time as well.

Sir Alec had Algy.

Alan and his team had Skipper who has been stuck in the corner keeping an eye on everyone as they enter and leave the cabin; the stories he must be able to tell!!!

I think he needs to be seen but is a bit camera shy, who else would like to see a picture of Skipper?? Maybe you had spotted him and already have his photo!!

Let us know

Carol

There is never a dull moment on the Raymarine Lively Lady Project. When most people would expect me to be taking it easy, that couldn’t be further than the truth!
For the past 15 years, the Rotary Club of Southsea Castle has run a Christmas Short Story competition for school children from the Portsmouth area. Last year, because I was away on Lively Lady, the winning entry asked if we could delay the prize giving until Lively Lady was safely back home. So this week I attended Edward’s school assembly to award him the first prize he won in 2007.
Who said life is dull?
Cheers
Alan - still trying to find the time to do the gardening!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today would have been Sir Alec Rose’s 100th Birthday. Born in Kent on the 13th July 1908 Sir Alec went on to be one of the greatest sailors on this century.
If you are having a drink today, please raise a glass to our hero. I will.

Cheers
Alan

Has Lively Lady really been home a week, I thought I would share with you some of the comments that have been sent from friends we have made all around the world.
Thanks
Carol

Comment:
Lively Lady Team,
Well You’ve done it!!!
We watched your voyage from our armchairs and felt that we were out there with you all…except when we tucked into our warm beds each night! Thank you all for sharing your journey and stories with us. It has been a magnificent trip. Congratulations from your San Diego stopover!

Comment:
Please accept Jean and my congratulations for a worthy and epic circumnavigation. From the Med

Comment:
To all the INTREPID SAILORS
Congratulations.
After two years and including under nine months of actual sailing
YOU HAVE DONE IT
I knew you COULD and WOULD
And Congratulations to the ‘OLD LADY’ better known as “THE LIVELY LADY”
She has certainly lived up to her name.
A Dream has been realised for you all.

What a wonderful idea from Alan and what a wonderful achievement. Congratulations to all the young people. I enjoyed reading all your logs altho’ some did scare me!! So pleased that you are all home safely and you will all have some wonderful (and frightening) memories.

I wish you all - Alan, Skippers, Co-Skippers and Young Adults the best of luck and best wishes for the future.
Keep up the sailing!

Janet - Andy Reid’s Mum (Kent)

Comment:
From my part I would like to say what a pleasure it was to be involved with the stop over of Lively Lady and her crew in Guernsey. Celise and Kat were the most polite and well mannered girls I have met in a long time and it’s a shame that they missed the final party all though we did all enjoy a bbq (and Colin) a few evenings before.

It was also a pleasure to meet the new crew and they did an excellent job representing the whole project at the reception.

A lot happened in a short time in Guernsey but I will leave that for the crew to report.

Dom

Comment:
Congratulations Alan and Colin and all the young adults involved. We met you in Vuda Point Marina, Fiji and have followed your progress ever since. An inspiration to all youngsters. We can also see the fantastic support from the shore team - well done Carol!

Comment:
What a tremendous achievement for all those who took their part in crewing Lively Lady on her epic journey. Everyone on the Island is very proud of you all and you deserved the accolade you were given. Slightly closer to home The Isle of Wight

Comment;
To all the young crew members of The Lively Lady - Congratulations on your great achievement in taking part in the circumnavigation of the world and not foregetting the skippers who took part.

It was great to go onboard again in St Peter Port - Guernsey as it was nearly 50 years to the day that I crewed on her around the Channel Islands, Jack Cambridge being the skipper who was quite a character, it still had that teak smell when you went below.

It was a pleasure to meet the two young lady crew members Kat and Celise who were so pleasant and chatty.

Cheers and all the best to you all from and old crew member.

Norman

Well what a great time the Young Adults and crew have been having since Lively Lady returned back home on Saturday.

As much as Saturday was mind blowing and the Rotary Presentation on Sunday made them feel that someone outside of the project appreciated what they had done, nothing could have prepared them for what happened on Tuesday. At 1740 the were put aboard the Open Top Bus for a hero’s tour of Old Portsmouth and Southsea. As they turned into Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square they were all singing at the top of their voices, egged on by co-skipper Andy Reid (who is well versed in motivating Young Adults due to his roll Sea Scout Leader).

The press were on hand to make their arrival even more special and then, after a short photo session with the Lord Mayor, it was time to go up the Red Carpet (that had been put out especially for them) and inside to the Mayor’s parlour for drinks and more photos. I have to say, they all looked rather different to how we first met them nearly three years ago and they each took it in turn to go up and collect their medal and certificates of appreciation from the City of Portsmouth.

A truly memorable night for all and even the rain held off, and it’s not over yet!

We have only been back three days and Lively Lady and her crew are hot property and in demand. We have been asked if we will take her to the Isle of Wight for Cowes Week in August, from there she is one of the opening stars of the 40th anniversary of the Southampton Boat Show. Then she has to go to the Earls Court Boat Show, where she will be afloat in the main pool inside. And I’m sure that won’t be the end of it either! So please keep looking at the website just to keep up with what is happening.

Oh, and don’t forget the “Big” home coming party the young adults are organising on the 12th September. Black Tie, buffet and disco and all for £12

More later
Cheers
Alan

….you can see the BBC News report here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/7491785.stm

Well, we have done it and the only hitch was that the weather had not read the script that I prepared! But it could have been worse. Lively Lady was greeted by a flotilla of about thirty boats all crammed with spectators and film crews who had brave the force 6 winds to come and see us home. The conditions meant that HMS Mersey had to stand off further than everyone had hoped and after the spectator fleet was safely in harbour she steamed towards Lively Lady for her final 500 yards into Portsmouth Harbour. It has to said that it is not often you will see a warship speeding into any harbour at 15 knots and it was a spectacle to see. After a few heart stopping moments when we came into Gunwharf when the wind and tide got behind us and pushed us too fast ( I had the engine in full reverse and she was still doing 5.5 knots!) Lively Lady spun on her keel and slid into her berth. I am sure the crowds of thousands of people thought it was a brilliant piece of berthing but I was slightly worried to say the least and so was John Blake from Hayling Yacht Company whose boat was directly in front of us.

Anyway, the sun was shining, the PannJaz band were playing, the pipes were being blown and the cameras were flashing. The young adults were being interviewed by just about all the media you could think of and it was all rather hectic to say the least. All my friends and supporters from Rotary International were on hand to help out and we had a full and steady flow of people who wanted to look over Lively Lady. During the evening the pace slowed down and so did the crew and the party finished by 9.00 pm with all of the young adults worn out but knowing that it all had to be done again the next day.

Sunday dawned and the weather forecast was grim, but in true “We Can Do It” fashion everyone turned up and even the sun shone, literally, on our parade. With more presentations by Rotary International for everybodies achievements (more in a later journal because this story is huge!) and a trip up the Tower for a photo session, it wasn’t long before the tiredness set in and we all needed to go home.

Over the coming days, there is a lot going on and I will do my best to keep you updated as events unfold. In the meantime, I am already enjoying being home and spending time with Woody my 8 month old Grandson who probably had more photos of him taken than me!

I think. It was Jimmy Hill who said ” They think it’s all over, it is now”.

I am going to say “So you thought it was all over. It has only just begun”

All the best and thanks to everyone

Alan

Just in case you were unable to join us and missed it in the press

Lively Lady is safely tucked up in Gunwharf.
Some might have missed her actually coming in to harbour as due to the weather we arrived a little early,

But We Did It

The Young Adults and co-skippers have made sure of it, and should feel very proud of what they have achieved.

A big thank you to everyone that gave their time, people on the water, the classic car owners, rotary stands, all the musicians and everyone else the list goes on & on, your help was greatly appreciated.

Carol

Hi to all our friends, families and supporters of Lively Lady and her Team

We look forward to seeing you all at Gunwharf about Midday, Although you should be able to see the Lady as she makes her way into the Solent and towards Southsea Castle for 1100.

So give her a cheer and a wave, whether you are lining the route along the sea front, the round tower or down at Gunwharf, All the Young Adults involved will be out on the water.

Ports cheered one good team in earlier this year now lets see if we can do the same for this Young Team.

Thanks Everyone for your support.
x
Carol