ORGANISERS of a poetry quest hope that the romance and nostalgia of a Coniston Water cruise on the historic steam yacht Gondola will have you bursting into verse.
The boat's crew want visitors to have a poetic outlet to describe the sailing experience and this week marks the start of a poetry competition which will run until the end of the 2016 season.
Bill King, Gondola operations manager, said: "When we ask people what they love about Gondola , it is evident that their cruise is very special to them in different ways.
"Passenger comments are often wistful and poetic and it seems that we should provide a creative opportunity for them to tell us about their personal Gondola journey."
The poetry quest is being kick-started on Saturday, June 18, by Geraldine Green, writer-in-residence at Brantwood, the former Coniston home of writer, artist and social visionary John Ruskin.
She said: “What a gift for writers, to spend the morning, sailing down Coniston Water on the steam yacht Gondola , enjoying spectacular views of the Coniston fells, absorbed with peering down underwater, or hearing the sound of a swan’s wings beating as it rises up from the lake, or imagining the Gondola’s own Phoenix-like story, rising not from fire but from water.
"I feel a poem coming on already!
"And I know I’m speaking on behalf of my writing group when I say we are all thrilled by our upcoming adventure!"
The Gondola team would like to send out a request to all passengers past and present, tourists and locals alike to put their experience in a poem.
The team will share poetry, with the writer's full permission, on their website and social media channels and look at other ways submissions could potentially be showcased for the 2017 season.
Writers who submit a poem will be entered into a free prize draw to win a 'Steam and Cream' experience, giving them a taste of life as a crew member with time in the engine room and helm, as well as a cream tea on board.
To find out more go to http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola/features/an-ode-to-gondola
The Gondola was launched in 1860 and rebuilt in Barrow in the late 1970s, having been rescued from the bed of Coniston Water by National Trust volunteers.
It was relaunched in 1980 and has cruises daily.
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