Collective Spirit was launched in Emsworth this weekend
A 30ft boat made from 1,200 pieces of donated wood, including pieces from HMS Victory, the Mary Rose and Jimi Hendrix’s guitar, has been launched in Emsworth.
People were invited to donate items that could be used in the build, providing they were made from wood and had a story behind them.
The idea came from artists Gary Winters and Gregg Whelan, known as Lone Twin, who built her with the help of Olympic silver medallist and boat-builder Mark Covell and designer Simon Rogers. She was named Collective Spirit at the launch, after a public vote decided the winning name.
Collective Spirit was launched in Emsworth, Hampshire, this weekend, where she was built as part of a series of art commissions celebrating the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, and will sail along the south coast of England from July in the run-up to the Olympics.
The boat will arrive at the Olympic sailing venue in Weymouth and Portland, Dorset, for the start of the Games in August.
You can watch a video of the team working on Collective Spirit below: