What does the Mary Rose and Jimi Hendrix’s guitar have in common?! 

In June this year a very unusual boat will set sail on its maiden voyage to towns along the south coast of England during the Olympic Games to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

A year ago artists Gregg Whelan and Gary Winters asked members of the public to donate wooden items along with their own personal stories behind each of them for their Boat Project. More than 1,000 objects were donated, ranging from original parts of the Mary Rose and HMS Victory to a little cocktail stick!

Musical instruments, an old tennis racket, a Victorian police truncheon and even a little bit of rock legend Jimi Hendrix’s guitar, have also all been used to create the hull of the 30ft boat, constructed by boatbuilders that include British Olympic silver medalist and America’s Cup sailor, Mark Covell, and yacht maker Simon Rogers.

The boat is one of 12 public art commissions across the UK and will be accompanied by a book that includes the stories behind all the donations.

The volunteers who help create the boat, donators, boatbuilders, crew and even a celebrity or two were asked suggest a name for the boat. And now you can pick your favourite! Just visit www.theboatproject.com and vote before 7 April.

The name that gets the most votes will win and will be revealed at the boat’s launch.