An unusual wooden boat that will play a role in next year’s Cultural Olympiad requires a skipper for its maiden voyage.

The boat is currently being built in Chichester from donated, wooden items that have an interesting tale behind them and next May it will sail from Weymouth to London, linking the two Olympic venues.

It will stop in Brighton, Portsmouth, Hastings and Margate en route, where arts and community events will mark the boat’s arrival and departure.

The team behind The Boat Project has joined with the RYA to recruit a skipper for the voyage. They say that the ‘ideal candidate must be a team player, capable of being a project ambassador and confident in presenting the project to the media.

‘In addition they will have an array of essential skills and qualities including excellent seamanship skills, first-hand experience of an asymmetric sports boat as well as excellent leadership and communication skills.’

Assisted by local volunteers, boat builder and Olympic silver medallist Mark Covell is leading the construction of the Simon Rogers-designed boat.

After the Olympics and Paralympics the currently-unnamed asymmetric day-sailer will be used as a space and resource for both artists and sailors.

Gwen Van Spijk, project manager, said: ‘This is a tremendously exciting opportunity to captain a unique modern sports boat and to take an active part in the nation’s 2012 celebrations.

‘It offers the successful candidate the opportunity to get involved in a once-in-a-lifetime project and to fast track their career through developing their leadership skills and their media profile.’

Applications forms for the role are available at www.theboatproject.com in the About The People section or from jessica.beecher@rya.org.uk.

Deadline for applications is 1700 on October 28.

Boat Project wins £500k grant.