Sundance (charter vessel)
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Sundance is a charter vessel owned by Capital Pleasure Boats and operating on the River Thames. Former names are Gay Enterprise and Solent Enterprise.
[edit] History
The vessel was built in 1971 for the Gosport Ferry service by Vosper Thornycroft of Woolston, Hampshire, primarily for cruising Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent. Originally called Gay enterprise, the name was later changed 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 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 operates on the River Thames in London as a charter vessel catering for parties, corporate entertainment, weddings and other functions.
