Saturday Seagull

Seemed perfectly happy way out in the middle of a very dry stretch of the Emsworth channel on Chichester harbour.

V for Varnish?

What a fantastic boat, the photo doesn't do justice to the varnished topsides which were positively glowing in the evening sun and reflected ripples off the water.

 

Details - Sunmaid V is a Sparkman and Stephens One Ton Cup design. Built in 1967 of mahogany by the Clare Lallow yard of Cowes.

LOA 36′-11″, LWL 26′-8″, beam 10′-2″, draft 6′-3″, and sail area 530 sq ft.

Low low water

I timed my rowing trip perfectly riding the last of the ebb tide down river and then back up on the flood.

 

It was one of the biggest spring tides of the year and didn't work out so well for everyone.

Just curious

 There's probably a perfectly rational explanation.

Caption anyone?

Seagull Saturday

I pretty sure it's a tern, but I couldn't think of a good alliteration.

 

 I was just floating by on the tide and he or she was resting and taking in the rays, but wanted to keep an eye on me as I passed by.

It was just one of those chill'n kind of days and this pic summed it up perfectly.

Ready for the season

 Taken earlier in the year, it was a busy day down at Itchenor getting these classics launched on a big tide.

Above pretty sure that's a Swallow, the two handed class at the 1948 Olympics, a thoroughly modern classic with the main fleet based at Itchenor.

 

In red or varnished the XOD's always look great.

I think this is a Tofinou with that floor and tight turn of the bilge it would be a very stable and comfortable day boat.

 On a different tack the Hamble Lifeboat looks like it is more ready for take off.

How am I doing

Always a slightly dangerous question to ask.

 

Not sure about the driving but parking definitely has room for improvement.
 

Hamble Aligators

Trip to the upper reaches of the tidal Hamble at Botley on what was a huge tide. Mrs BB dropped me off at the old wharf for a paddle down river to Swanwick Hard and a short walk home.

The upper reaches are narrow and the banks are dense with vegetation and flora, I had seen this sign warning of dangerous local wildlife so it pays to keep an open eye.

But until now had not managed to spot them in the wild or get a close up photo.

 The search continues for the notorious and fabled Hamble giant squid
 

New gaffer

This new gaffer appeared on the river in late spring.

 

 

Very cute and well turned out little double ended cutter.