Watton man builds boat from a ShelterBox to sail the Norfolk Broads
He's going to be taking on the challenge for charity this weekend.
Paul Weatherill, 67, and a team from the Rotary Club Watton & District will be sailing 40 miles in three days this weekend for the Shelterbox charity.
They’ve built a boat from a green ShelterBox, which is 3’6 ft long, 2 ft wide, naming it Green Light.
The survival kits usually contain and emergency shelter kit and other essential items for people experiencing a disaster.
Paul Weatherill told us: “We are always trying to raise funds and awareness for ShelterBox, and we thought this is a good idea to do something different and get people interested in what’s happening.”
The team will be starting out from Great Yarmouth on Saturday 7th August, making their way across Breyden Water, before arriving in Norwich on Monday 9th August.
They'll be chatting with local residents and holidaymakers along the way, raising awareness and receiving donations for ShelterBox.
Paul Weatherill added: “We have a lot of Rotarians along the route who are going to support us, and we are collecting, hopefully, donations on-route and making awareness to people of what ShelterBox is all about.”
ShelterBox patron The Duchess of Cornwall has shared her support in a handwritten letter that she sent to the Rotary Club
The Duchess said: “This project will make the most enormous difference to people who have, tragically, been made homeless by disaster and conflict and I should like to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart.”
The design and build plans of the boat were developed by 83-year-old ex RAF engineer Nigel, and it took the team seven months to build it.
The boat will have a small electric engine to promote green energy.
Paul said: “A lot of boats are Diesel-powered, so we want to try to encourage people to go green by using electric propulsion.”