Sundance (charter vessel)
Encyclopedia
Sundance is a charter vessel owned by Capital Pleasure Boats and operating on the River Thames
. Former names are Gay Enterprise and Solent Enterprise.
service by James and Stone of Brightlingsea, primarily for cruising
Portsmouth Harbour
and the Solent
. Originally called Gay Enterprise, the name was later changed in the winter of 1979 during her stand by ferry duties to Solent Enterprise. It had a similar design to the company's two 1966 Queens (Portsmouth Queen
and Gosport Queen) but the interior was more comfortable because of its different duty. It was painted in later years in a blue livery
with a large Solent Enterprise banner on its side barriers. In its later years of service, it was regularly used on ferry
duties between Gosport
and Portsmouth
when either of the Queens were out of service. In 2001, Gosport Ferry Company
purchased a new ferry, the Spirit of Gosport
, but the company also wanted to replace the Solent Enterprise in its cruising role. Both Queens therefore stayed on, and the Spirit of Gosport
only had a few ferry duties in its first few months. In 2005, another new vessel was purchased, Spirit of Portsmouth
. This was fitted out with a covered top deck and a bar and to suit its cruise duties. This meant that Solent Enterprise was no longer required by the Gosport Ferry
service and she was sold to Capital Pleasure Boats in 2005. Her new owners renamed her Sundance and she operated on the River Thames
in London
as a charter vessel catering for parties, corporate entertainment, weddings and other functions. She is now in Denmark
destined to be a Houseboat
.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. Former names are Gay Enterprise and Solent Enterprise.
History
The vessel was built in 1971 for the Gosport FerryGosport Ferry
The Gosport Ferry is a ferry service operating between Gosport pontoon and Portsmouth pontoon in Hampshire, southern England. It is currently operated by Gosport Ferry Ltd, a subsidiary of the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company plc, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Falkland Islands Holdings,...
service by James and Stone of Brightlingsea, primarily for cruising
Cruising (maritime)
Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
and the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
. Originally called Gay Enterprise, the name was later changed in the winter of 1979 during her stand by ferry duties to Solent Enterprise. It had a similar design to the company's two 1966 Queens (Portsmouth Queen
Portsmouth Queen
The Portsmouth Queen was a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd. It was built by Thornycroft of Woolston, Hampshire.-History:The vessel was built in 1966 to the exact design to the Gosport Queen and was delivered in a green and white livery. Later, it was repainted into the now standard...
and Gosport Queen) but the interior was more comfortable because of its different duty. It was painted in later years in a blue livery
Livery
A livery is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in...
with a large Solent Enterprise banner on its side barriers. In its later years of service, it was regularly used on ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
duties between Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
when either of the Queens were out of service. In 2001, Gosport Ferry Company
Gosport Ferry
The Gosport Ferry is a ferry service operating between Gosport pontoon and Portsmouth pontoon in Hampshire, southern England. It is currently operated by Gosport Ferry Ltd, a subsidiary of the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company plc, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Falkland Islands Holdings,...
purchased a new ferry, the Spirit of Gosport
Spirit of Gosport
Spirit of Gosport is a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd and built by Abels Shipbuilders in Bristol. -History:Spirit of Gosport was built in 2001 to replace the Portsmouth Queen on ferry duties. However, the company also wanted to replace the Solent Enterprise, which operated cruise...
, but the company also wanted to replace the Solent Enterprise in its cruising role. Both Queens therefore stayed on, and the Spirit of Gosport
Spirit of Gosport
Spirit of Gosport is a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd and built by Abels Shipbuilders in Bristol. -History:Spirit of Gosport was built in 2001 to replace the Portsmouth Queen on ferry duties. However, the company also wanted to replace the Solent Enterprise, which operated cruise...
only had a few ferry duties in its first few months. In 2005, another new vessel was purchased, Spirit of Portsmouth
Spirit of Portsmouth
Spirit of Portsmouth is a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd and built by VT Halmatic Ltd of Portchester. It is the company's newest vessel.-History:...
. This was fitted out with a covered top deck and a bar and to suit its cruise duties. This meant that Solent Enterprise was no longer required by the Gosport Ferry
Gosport Ferry
The Gosport Ferry is a ferry service operating between Gosport pontoon and Portsmouth pontoon in Hampshire, southern England. It is currently operated by Gosport Ferry Ltd, a subsidiary of the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company plc, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Falkland Islands Holdings,...
service and she was sold to Capital Pleasure Boats in 2005. Her new owners renamed her Sundance and she operated on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as a charter vessel catering for parties, corporate entertainment, weddings and other functions. She is now in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
destined to be a Houseboat
Houseboat
A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a human dwelling. Some houseboats are not motorized, because they are usually moored, kept stationary at a fixed point and often tethered to land to provide utilities...
.