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Ocean going yachtswoman to name new Celebrity ship
Saturday, 13 Apr, 2010
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An unsung heroine has been chosen as the godmother of new Celebrity Cruises’ ship Celebrity Eclipse in Southampton.
Hampshire ocean going yachtswoman Emma Pontin was diagnosed with breast cancer prior to skippering a yacht in a transatlantic race in 2006.
She had to return to the UK for a mastectomy, which culminated in a double mastectomy for precautionary measures.
The US cruise company said it selected Pontin, who began her racing career in 2002, to serve as godmother in recognition of her positive and empowering fight against the disease, from which both her aunt and grandmother died.
Throughout her chemotherapy and radiation treatments, she continued to sail, instruct and race, and went on to skipper several major races over the following 12 months, including the Fastnet and the Sydney-Hobart race.
Pontin will name the 2,850-passenger ship in Southampton during the formal naming ceremony on April 24, which will conclude with a magnum of champagne, custom-made by The Corning Museum of Glass, crashing against the hull.
Her next big challenge is a full 30,000-mile circumnavigation of the world with a planned departure from London in October 2011 to raise funds for, and global awareness of, breast cancer.
The sailing team will be comprised of a small number of experienced sailors, combined with a crew of 42 selected members of the public, all of whom have had personal involvement with breast cancer.
As part of thenaming celebrations, the first Celebrity Sunwalk sponsored by Celebrity Cruises will see thousands of people walking through Southampton in decorated bras helping to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.
The walk will begin and end in Mayflower Park where Celebrity Eclipse will be in dock.
Pontin said: “I look forward enormously to taking up my duties in presiding over and naming this ship during what is one of the most important dates in a ship’s life.
“It is extremely flattering to be recognised for what came naturally to me when fighting breast cancer and I hope that through this association with Celebrity Cruises, I will continue to inspire and encourage many others.
“I feel very blessed and privileged to be able to name Celebrity Eclipse in one of the UK’s sailing capitals.”
Celebrity chairman Richard Fain said: “Emma is an outstanding individual with an incredible zest for life, and is an inspiration to women from all walks of life.
"Her determination to make every day count, her courage, and her positive attitude amidst challenging sailings, even during times of adversity, is tremendously empowering for other women and their families who are, or have similarly faced this disease".
Celebrity Eclipse enters service on April 26 from Southampton on a three-night sailing to Le Harve for Paris cruise, then returns to embark on an official maiden voyage departing April 29 with a four-night cruise to Cork.
The vessel will run a series of Mediterranean and Russia and Scandinavian cruises throughout the summer, and will offer Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the winter.
by Phil Davies
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