Dudley town parade plan for record-bid powerboat

A £1.3 million powerboat being built in Dudley for a round-the-world record attempt will be paraded through the town's streets once it has been made.

Adventurer Alan Priddy has promised to put on a party and show off the 90ft long and 16ft wide boat, called Accomplish More, in return for the support he says he has received from the community.

However, the finishing time for the boat has been delayed following a suspected arson at the factory where it is being built in Brierley Hill on May 22.

Although the boat was not damaged in the blaze, Mr Priddy and his staff have been unable to work for two weeks while police carry out forensic checks at the six-storey high building, owned by steel firm Micklewrights Structures.

It is now thought the boat, which is hoped will break a 61-day record, will not be ready for at least another eight weeks.

Mr Priddy said: "With every day which goes by without us working on the boat I'm getting more and more anxious, we have a schedule to stick to and it will mean us working twice as hard when we get started again. Our plan is get the boat ready in time to throw on a party and parade it through to the streets of Dudley before taking it to London to display at the Olympic Games.

"It would be my way of saying thank you to the town for all the great support I have received."

Mr Priddy plans to take the boat on a 4,000 mile return voyage from England to Canada ahead of attempting his Global Circumnavigation Challenge from Gibraltar on November 3.

The vessel, which is completely hand-made, has an estimated top speed of more than 45 knots and will weigh about 15 tonnes. It will be powered by jet-style engines. The challenge will be Mr Priddy's second attempt at the record.