The temperature is soaring to scorching degrees, so some would say it's a perfect day to cover your skin in animal print and glitter, sail out into the middle of the Mediterranean sea and rave until you can no more - and that's exactly what around 50 of us did, on the aptly named Noah's Ark by the Zoo Project. Sat in Rio taking advantage of the pre drinks, there's a buzz in the air. There's a clear difference between the workers and the holidaymakers - those brave enough to do the season paint their faces the cheaper way, with lipstick and eyeliner - old school, while the fresher-faced pay for a full arm and face paint, transformed into butterflies and neon lions.
Boarding the boat I'm greeted with plates of fresh fruit and two glasses of that Ibiza special - sangria. The top deck is already buzzing with energy - inflatable bananas are hanging from the speakers and after a quick speech on how to not kill dolphins with litter, and how jumping into the sea will have serious consequences, the boring bit is over and we set sail.
The sound of Richy Ahmed's ‘So Good' fills the air and the dance floor becomes quickly packed. Any attempt to dance only ends in laughter because the waves make it hard for us to groove without swaying into each other. But it's a quick way to make friends with the boat family. Zoo Project resident, Michael James takes it easy on the oscillating crowd with a smooth bassline. James is the perfect example of a DJ's DJ - christening our ears with rare tracks such as Doublet's ‘Room Mush' as two performers wearing oversized Panda costumes start to throw shapes amid the whooping crowd.
The party is in full swing, everyone is together, a dance off is born at the back of the deck, and there's a pit of tigers doing the worm as upcoming DJ, Al Leahy, takes over. He's left to follow on from David Morales', ‘Needin' U' - a hard task that's mastered perfectly by the man. All attention is on him and almost everyone is dancing as he intrigues the crowd with Mark Henning's ‘You're Digging Into Me'. Leahy has given the party a techno twist, taking in the vibe and matching it immaculately with his mixing - I expect big things from him in the future. We reach the island and clamber from the boat, still swaying from the motion of the sea and sangria. And now it's time to continue the party at The Zoo Project opening…
WORDS | Ruby Munslow
