Sailing Trust loaned Olympic boat for Portsmouth pupils

An Olympic boat created from donated wood - including from one of Jimi Hendrix's guitars - has been loaned to a sailing trust.

Collective Spirit, a 9m (30ft) vessel is to be used by Portsmouth Sail Training Trust.

Timber from the Mary Rose and the Ark Royal was also used to build the vessel which celebrates the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

The trust gives sail training and qualifications to secondary pupils.

The trust, based in Portsmouth Dockyard, has recently completed its first full academic year, said more than 100 young people had taken part in its programmes.

It said it planned to allow pupils to sail onboard the vessel as a reward for completing their qualifications.

The unique sea-faring vessel was built by Mark Covell, a Portsmouth boat builder and Sydney 2000 silver medallist.

Mr Covell said: "I'm delighted to see that Collective Spirit will have a new lease of life, working in support of local children on local waters."

The racing vessel is made from everyday wooden items donated by the public including a 15ft mast, a paddle, a house sign, a bread board and a spoon.

Artefacts used include a section of Brighton's West Pier, a plank from the London 2012 velodrome, a piece of Sir Edward Heath's yacht Morning Cloud and a hairbrush used by a make-up artist at Pinewood Studios in the 1960s.

The craft first set sail in July 2012 covering 600 nautical miles along the south coast of England in the run-up to the Olympics.

The boat then sailed into Weymouth and Portland in time for the Games in August.

After completing the Round the Island Race in 2013 it was stored while a permanent use could be found.