Ocean Princess Cruise

August 2003 Ocean Princess Successfully Completes South Coast Circular Cruise

Ocean Princess canal boat built by The Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd crossing Loch Ness, Scotland

It is with great pride (and even greater relief) we are able to report the safe arrival of Ocean Princess at Bristol docks on Thursday 7th August at 1530. Altogether, Ocean Princess covered 650 nautical miles at sea, with overnight stops at Queenborough, New Haven, Yarmouth (Isle of Wight), Mevagissey, Falmouth, Hugh Town (Isles of Scilly), Port Quin Bay (at anchor), Bude and Portis Head (at anchor), before entering the sea lock at Bristol docks.

This was by no means an easy passage due to unsettled weather resulting in difficult seas and fog. Below is a brief 'log' of the voyage at sea and I hope you will find it of interest.

About the Crew
The crew of four consisted of James Griffin (Skipper and Managing Director of narrow boat hire operation 'The Wyvern Shipping Co. Ltd.'), his sons Philip, 22, and Robert, 19, and John Chapman, the ship's navigator. Relief crews on the K&A and GU.

About the Boat
Ocean Princess was built in 1999 by the Wyvern Shipping Company, for both inshore and offshore cruising, and is fitted out as a luxury 6 berth. Special features include a 75 bhp Beta Marine Kubota diesel engine with a  cruising speed of 6 knots, a bow thruster, dual steering fore and aft, satellite navigation, an echo sounder, radar reflector, mast with anchor and steaming lights, port and starboard navigation lights and anchors fore and aft. Plus many other items of necessary safety equipment.

The Purpose of the Trip
James Griffin, as a Committee member of the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, is to publicise and promote the building of the first entirely new canal for 100 years. This broad canal, which will be "a waterway for all", will create a twenty mile link from the canal network to the eastern rivers and Fens of East Anglia. The new waterway, promoted by a widely based Project Partnership, aims to open in 2010, 200 years after it was first mooted by Samuel Whitbread, then MP for Bedford and son of the famous brewer.
'Ocean Princess' aims to raise awareness of this great 21st Century opportunity for engineering and landscaping that building the canal will provide in the way of associated waterside developments and parks, together with the economic and social benefits that the new waterway will bring to the local communities.

Further information:

Talks and Slide Shows:
If you are a member of a boat club or social group and would like a first-hand account with slides of the voyage and preparation of Ocean Princess, we are pleased to offer talks of between one and two hours. These talks are very popular and excellent entertainment, as well as being most informative.
Minimum Audience 40.
Cost: Traveling expenses plus a minimum £25 donation to the B&MK Trust.

Talks and Slide Shows:
James Griffin, The Wyvern Shipping Company Ltd
Tel: 01525 372355
Email:
Website: www.canalholidays.co.uk

The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway:
Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust,
www.b-mkwaterway.org.uk