MY BLUE HEAVEN

Determined owner navigates restrictions to ensure launch

- ADAM PORTER

When the Coronavirus lockdown was imposed in late March, all sort of events were postponed: weddings, birthday parties, concerts, festivals – and boat launches. And this was bad news for Angie and Glenn Willis because their new boat, Sacre Bleu, was finished and was due to go in the water in the same week Boris Johnson made his televised address to the nation, announcing the lockdown.

They had to wait a couple of months,until lockdown was eased slightly, before arrangements could be made to launch the boat. Even then, Glenn had to make sure everything could be done within the remaining rules. The boat was launched at Overwater Marina in Cheshire, where the manager came up with a plan to ensure that social distancing was maintained. The builders, Bickerstaffe Boats, the transport company and the crane operator all had to agree. Glenn says it was an odd day, without the usual celebrations you’d expect for a launch.

And even then, the couple weren’t allowed to stay on board until their house was sold and they were officially liveaboards.

Exterior

The most striking thing about this boat is the colour. You can see why the owners have called it Sacre Bleu. Bickerstaffe Boats have become well known for the wide range of colours they use, and the fact that it’s metallic paint. The firm shot blasts all the shells they use and then put on a first sealing coat of zinc rich epoxy resin. Then comes the full 2K metallic paint, which is sprayed and has a clear coat to protect the colour. This boat is Montecarlo Blue, but if you follow Bickerstaffe Boats on Twitter, you’ll see boats painted in metallic red, orange, silver, grey – and virtually every other colour you can think of.