Lively Lady

Unassuming little craft sitting in the marina at Port Solent but looks can be deceptive.

Sir Alec Rose bought Lively Lady from Mr S.J.P. Cambridge in the spring of 1963 with the aim of taking part in the 1964 Single-handed Transatlantic Race. He went to see her lying at Yarmouth off the Isle of Wight and was impressed by the look of her and by her buoyant-looking stern, although he knew the sails would need some work.

Captain John Illingworth of Illingworth and Primrose designed the new sail plan and Lucas Sails of Portsmouth was commissioned to make them up. A doghouse was added to her flush deck and a new metal mast by Proctor Masts was fitted, slightly aft of the original. Sea trials took place in February 1964 and, after a few adjustments, Sir Alec felt Lively Lady was ready to take on the Atlantic.

Despite the lack of practice Sir Alec made it to the start line on May 23rd and after 36 days at sea he crossed the finish line in fourth place. This was a considerable surprise to him as he'd hardly seen any of the fourteen entrants during his time at sea and had no idea where they might have been in relation to him! He'd had no contact with home for the entire time - an incredible thought in today's climate of GPS and instant global communication.

After that, Sir Alec scouted around for ideas for another single-handed voyage and when Sir Francis Chichester announced his plans for sailing to Australia, Sir Alec decided to make a match of it and to visit his son in Australia while he was at it. Thanks to the generosity of a group of Portsmouth businessmen he was able to re-fit the yacht and order some new sails ready for her mammoth voyage. Sir Alec left Portsmouth on August 7th 1966 but damage to Lively Lady in the first days of the journey meant he had to put in to Plymouth for repairs and then watch as Chichester set off from Plymouth without him on August 27th.

For the second attempt, July 16th 1967 was the chosen start date. Things went without a hitch and Lively Lady and Sir Alec Rose were off on the ultimate test of man and yacht. Five months later they arrived in Melbourne. They'd survived gales, been becalmed and had twice almost lost the mast but they had made it. After a well-earned rest Sir Alec set about readying the boat for the remainder of the trip and January 14th 1968 was set as the return date.

On July 4th 1968 Sir Alec Rose and Lively Lady sailed back into Portsmouth to a hero's welcome. Hundreds of boats, including HMS Whitby and HMS Letterston, had sailed out to escort them into harbour and thousands had crowded onto the beach at Southsea to catch a glimpse of them. Also there to greet him were the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir John Frewen and the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth. From Southsea it was on to a civic reception at the Guildhall and then home. Crowds lined the streets along the way as all of Portsmouth came out to welcome Sir Alec home.

Pasted from http://livelylady.net/livelylady/alecrose.php

(Back blipped 11th June 2012)