The naming of a boat or yacht can be an emotive process. It can capture the reasons behind the project or shed light on the past history of the continuing venture.

In our case, the story starts in 1966 at Itchenor, near Chichester. Dinghy sailing lessons were undertaken and it wasn't long before something larger with longer legs was sought. After some research, a red Swiftsure 33 foot sloop, was acquired, which could cope with our needs. In the process of registering the vessel with Lloyds it became apparent there was a small snag... The boat was named "Ole", a Spanish gesticulation, but, someone had already registered that name! (and this is well before internet domain names were even thought of) So, what to do?
Food for thought... out to lunch at an Italian restaurant, we ask a waiter what is the Italian equivalent for "Ole", he replies "Ecco", which means, "Here it is", "why, what is it for?", "It's for a boats name", we said, "Oh, then, "Eccola", meaning "here she is". So "Eccola" it was and she was kept initially on pile moorings near Emsworth then moved to Chichester Marina.

Many nautical miles later (and statute miles, but that is another story) a larger vessel is on the cards, well actually on the grass, in a garden in Bognor Regis. This vessel started with a blue Moody 44 (designed by Angus Primrose) hull and deck moulding and was fitted and completed in Bognor. It was ketch rigged in Southampton and moored at Moodys Marina on the River Hamble. Now, what about the name? back to the Italian restaurant..."Another boat?" much discussion and debate, arriving at "Eccola Ancora", meaning "Here she is, again". Sorted (and registered).
"Eccola Ancora" covered many thousands of miles and provided much valuable experience for many who knew her, but, all things move on.

Our ties with the Moody group were now firmly established and a white Moody 47 designed by Bill Dixon hove into view. This was a different type of vessel to the 44 and was more spacious and faster. The boat was ketch rigged and still required a name... Several Italian meals later, it was decided "Eccola Terza" meaning "Here she is, for the third time". This yacht covered most of Europe's oceans and revisited favourites such as South West England, the Channel Islands, Western Scotland, Southern Ireland and the Western Med.

Many years later, at a meal of, shall we say, international cuisine, the subject of sailing comes up. "A larger boat?", "Off the shelf?" or "Custom build?", "Charter requirements?", "Safety equipment and limitations?". Many hours of discussions followed and eventually a deal is made to acquire a Moody 58 hull and deck moulding (again designed by Bill Dixon). A shipwright and a team of joiners and craftsmen is assembled and Lansbury Marine is formed to project manage the build on the Lansbury Estate in Knaphill near Woking.

The yacht is launched in 1991, is rigged by Spencers in Southampton and moored at Moodys. A launch party is held at the Royal Southern Yacht Club on the Hamble. The boats name? well, various contenders were suggested including "Eccola Quatro" and "Eccola 4", but therein lies a problem... Apparently, you cannot register a name and a number unless you still own the original name. Well, the outcome was "Eccolan", which could hold all kinds of links, "Ecco" and "Lan"(Lansbury), but if you look at the logo, you will see "ECCOLAIV", where the "N" is a number 1 and letter V, a Roman 4.

The boat is still registered as "Eccolan" and has its own website at www.eccolan.com and is available for corporate charter.