He pulled off the greatest rock concert ever staged. But charity champion Bob Geldof's idea for an “armada” of British vessels bringing French passengers to Britain to join in anti-poverty demonstrations this week was a damp squib.
A total of 73 boats registered to cross from the French coast to British shores today, the day after more than 1 million people heard Live 8 concerts in 10 venues worldwide.
In the end, only four boats arrived in the port town of Portsmouth, and not a single passenger was on board.
“We're happy that the event has gone off,” said Don Brind, putting a brave face on the turnout and naming the poor weather as a factor. “It's helped with the publicity effort for 'Make Poverty History', which is the key thing,” he told Sky News.
Live 8 was staged in partnership with Make Poverty History, a campaign that aims to halve world poverty by 2015.
Geldof had been expected at the event to welcome the flotilla, but publicists said he was too exhausted from the exertions of Live 8 the day before.
But there is some consolation for the four brave crews. They will be invited as guests of honour at another rock concert planned for Edinburgh on July 6.
