As we come to the pointy end of the Undine’s restoration, there has been considerable talk about what colour she should be! Here we go on a colourful argument.
Should it be reflective of her mythological name? Should it match the other Derwent Class boats? Who should choose the colour? This month, we’ve written down all of the arguments for and against, perhaps you can decide what colour she should be?
I have a few reasons for thinking our beaut little D Class should be painted a shade of purple. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the term Undine means: A supernatural female being, imagined as inhabiting the water; a nymph. In my mind this brings some words to the notepad; spirit, elegance, uniqueness, feminine, diversity.
So my reasons for choosing a shade of purple are below:
Above all, I think my argument for a shade of purple accurately reflects the AWBF’s Plan – see here.
Undines of all shapes, persuasions, and temperaments are peppered through the legends and myth of cultures across the globe. From sirens tempting Odysseus onto the hazardous reefs of the Mediterranean, to seductive Mo’o luring lovesick Hawaiian voyagers from their vaka into the deep Pacific — where there is water, it seems there must be water nymphs.
The most well-known such creature today is surely Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid. And the most popular rendition of this protagonist is without a doubt the one animated by Mr. Walt Disney. So, what choice do we have but to be inspired by this iconic character, known and loved by so many?
Exhibit 1:
But how to transpose this gaudy palate onto the hull of a boat? Like so many of life’s problems, this can also be solved with racing stripes. From the gunnels down we have the bright red (Ariel’s hair); this then is intercepted by a thin dark purple line (seashell bikini); and we have Ariel’s tail, which photoshop tells me is the colour chinook, down to the waterline.
This would seem to me the only practical solution which remains true to the subject matter.
That or pitch black.
Roscoe says Vintage Green because “he likes it, it’s noice”. He suggested the Norglass Vintage Green specifically.
*Feature Image: Credit: AWBF/Mark Chew