Sir Alec Rose World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Naval History by Country :

ROYAL
NAVY

US
NAVY

GERMAN
NAVY

FRENCH
NAVY

*VIEW ALL OF OUR CURRENT ART SPECIAL OFFERS ON ONE PAGE HERE*
NAVAL ART	AVIATION ART	MILITARY ART	SPORT ART

ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :

20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS

BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS

FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

Sir Alec Rose World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Sir Alec Rose

Posts 1 to 6

[B][I]In response to a post by Ednamay on the Pompey thread... whilst she awaits the installation of a plaque on his little ship (possibly in vain) we can at least record his achievements here:-[/I][/B] [B]Sir Alec Rose: Solo yachtsman[/B] The exploits of Portsmouth greengrocer Alec Rose captured the imagination and curiosity of the world when he attempted to circumnavigate the globe single-handed. The exploits of Portsmouth greengrocer Alec Rose captured the imagination and curiosity of the world when he attempted to circumnavigate the globe single-handed. It's 40 years today since he sailed into Melbourne, the halfway point, after 14,500 miles and 155 days at sea. Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt drove with his family to Port Phillip Bay, south of the city, to watch Rose complete the first leg of his voyage. He then went for a swim and was never seen again. Rose spent a whole month in Victoria - he'd a son there - then headed home. More than 250,000 people watched as Rose sailed into Portsmouth on July 4, 1968, escorted by two naval warships and a flotilla of small craft. He was knighted the next day by Queen Elizabeth, just as Sir Walter Raleigh had received a knighthood from Elizabeth I on his return from the Carolinas in 1585. Rose was born in Canterbury and [B][I]had served during World War II as a diesel mechanic on an Atlantic convoy escort ship, HMS Leith[/I][/B]. He'd had nothing to do with the sea until then, but though he suffered ill-health as a result of his experiences, they did nothing to quench his love of the ocean. He cruised in a converted ship's lifeboat, and became an enthusiastic amateur yachtsman. He then bought a second-hand 36-foot cutter, Lively Lady, and after doing some modifications, he managed to finish fourth in the single-handed transatlantic race. When adventurer Francis Chichester announced his intention of attempting to sail round the world, Rose determined to make a race of it. He modified the boat again, but he'd barely started when he had to put into Cremyll, near Plymouth, with mechanical, electrical and rigging problems. Then he had to return after being struck by a freighter off Ushant. While Lively Lady was back in the yard she toppled in her berth. Rose had no sponsor, and by the time repairs were effected it was too late to follow Chichester. His rival proceeded to complete the voyage in Gypsy Moth IV, first to conquer the clipper route single-handed, and in a quicker time than these huge craft. He was also honoured. The Queen used the same sword with which her namesake had knighted Sir Francis Drake. Rose's progress was tracked by his wife, Dorothy, who kept family finances afloat, running their fruit and veg stall. At the back of the stall was a map of the world on which Alec's journey was charted. When he arrived home, nine days before his 60th birthday and after an absence of 354 days, Dorothy was on the quayside for an emotional homecoming. Sir Alec died aged 82, in 1991. He bequeathed the boat to his native city. She is still sailing, and today is back in Melbourne, halfway round the world once again, just as she was 40 years ago. She looks much the same, but on board, much has changed. Current electronic navigation and communication technology was not even dreamt of then. A Portsmouth firm, Ray-marine, is title sponsor of The Lively Lady Project and has completely refitted the vessel. The latest high-tech navigation and communication equipment provides information on boat speed and water depth. There is a chart-plotter, radar and a global positioning system, with electronic maps of the sea and coast to show the vessel's position at all times, plus an autopilot, which Rose never had. When Rose raced in the 1964 Single-handed Transatlantic race, he could not communicate with other vessels. Only when he finished did he discover he was fourth. Now the yacht not only has VHF radio, but a high speed data connection that allows internet access. Lively Lady's durability is is due to the strength of her original build, from paduak, steadier and more robust than teak, though that made drilling for the electrics very difficult. Sir Alec's son, also Alex, said when Lively Lady left Portsmouth for Melbourne that the project was "the ultimate expression of my father's wish that the boat should be used in youth development through training." The project aims to help disadvantaged young adults to change their lives for the better. A total of 54 are completing various stages of the sail with ocean adventurer Alan Priddy. DOUG GILLON Published on 17 Dec 2007 Saturday 12 December 2009 Herald Scotland .....

and a link to the [B][I]Lively Lady Project [/I][/B] to which there is a reference made in the Obituary above:- [url]http://www.livelylady.net/[/url] Little h

Arriving home escorted by HMS LETTERSTON
Attachments :

Thanks very much lads; we had returned to Pompey in December 1967 so we were there, especially as my late husband was a member of Portsmouth Sailing Club whose members were all rooting for Alec Rose. I am delighted to have news after so long. Have printed off for my son, who used to 'help' paint our boat at the club boatyard !! Edna

This is a very interesting thread because of a possible link between Alec Rose and Harold Holt. Harold was staying the weekend at his holiday home in Portsea where his neighbour was a Mrs McKenzie and the story goes that in Harold wife's Zara absence in Canberra, Harold and Mrs Mc were more than very close neighbours. Harold and Mrs Mc walked along Cheviot Beach to the entrance of Port Philip Bay, the 'Rip' and watched Alec Rose sail through. The theory is that Mrs Mc was very impressed by the relatively frail Alec Rose and his single-handed voyage from England, so Harold felt he needed to impress her with an exploit. On the way back along the beach, he entered water quite unsuitable for scuba diving (flippers only, no tank) as an act of bravado and after a few minutes disappeared in the waves and the kelp. You might recall someone wrote a book claiming Harold was a spy for the Chinese and swam out to a waiting submarine, that theory a little less believable than mine. My family and I were on another beach nearby that day, listening to the radio and watching the helicopters buzzing around. Rob T

Well. thanks, that one leaves me dumbfounded !!!! Edna

Everything we obtain for this site is shown on the site, we do not have any more photos, crew lists or further information on any of the ships.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE. ALL IMAGES DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW, AND ARE OWNED BY CRANSTON FINE ARTS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. NO REPRODUCTION OR COPYING ALLOWED ON OTHER WEBSITES, BOOKS OR ARTICLES WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT.

Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com

Return to Home Page