Sadly not a single super yacht took up our invitation but nevertheless an armada of vessels is preparing to set sail for the North East coast to take part in a trailblazing concert in celebration of the foghorn.
More than 50 craft – from a 162m long cruise ferry to traditional, Northumbrian fishing boats – are due to anchor off the coast at South Tyneside on Saturday June 22 for the Foghorn Requiem, created by artists Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway.
The Requiem is a tribute to lighthouse foghorns, which are gradually being decommissioned, and at 12.30pm the vessels will sound their horns in time to the musical score by renowned composer Orlando Gough.
Thousands of spectators are expected to line the shore at Souter Lighthouse on the South Shields coast for the free event, when three North East brass bands will lead the ships horns and the Souter lighthouse foghorn for the 50 minute performance.
The Foghorn Requiem is unique in that it will use pioneering technology to conduct and control ships horns – some of which will be more than a mile out to sea – to a musical score that will take into account climatic conditions, the landscape and distance from the shore.