New boat service from Audlem

A new attraction linking Audlem, the Overwater marina, the Secret Bunker and Nantwich is being planned and will be launched in the Spring.

Sea trials of the 16ft long whaler are already underway with coxswain Rod Cottrell. Rod is photographed here with Janet Maughan of Overwater Marina.

A team of volunteers has been recruited to help operate the attraction. With funding assistance now confirmed from Visit Chester & Cheshire, the boat is to be purchased by Rod. Sea trials of the borrowed 16ft whaler continued over the winter and the boat will now be be fitted out with seating for twelve passengers, weather proofing covers, safety equipment and a new engine.

It is expected that the boat will go into service after Easter. The question is, what should the vessel be called?

Audlem Online launched a competition last month to find a name – all suggestions are welcome. The prize will be a ride on its maiden voyage – which may rule out Titanic from the likely winners!

Thomas Telford and Shroppie Flyer or Fly are likely to feature in the early runners and, given that the launch may coincide with the Royal wedding, Princess Kate or, with due deference, Princess Catherine could be topical. Queen Camilla might have to wait for a sister ship to be launched sometime in the hopefully distant future.

Given the onerous Health & Safety considerations involved, Overwater may be preferable to Underwater!

Suggestions, please, to editor@audlem.org">editor@audlem.org or to the Chatbox. Already, a good number of suggestions, ranging from the obscene to the obsequious with much of merit between, has been submitted. A distinguished local panel of experts will be assembled to assess the entries over a drink or three.

One downside of the waterborne attraction is that the sea plane service from the marina to Audlem, announced on 1st April 2010 on Audlem Online, will be ditched. We are told that a good number of parties visited the area in the hope of using the service – or at least meeting the pilot, the legendary Avril Foulière!

The new boat will, it's thought, attract school visits throughout the year as well as appealing to many other visitors to the area. More on this exciting development in the coming weeks. But, in the meantime, do let us have your suggestions for the boat's name.

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