Lazy day back in summer

Spent a fine and sunny, lazy day with Mrs BB sailing out to the spit in Keyhaven.
 

The wind was light but enough to enjoy sailing the club SCOW AMY, but light enough for us to linger for an extended picnic lunch and a swim.

It's what summer is all about.

Folk Boat Friday collection

A small collection of Solent Folk boats

Above on a mooring in the Hamble

Above and below heading out of the river

Not a typical racing Folk boat, set up with a self steering wind vane.

 

Down towards the western Solent going really well downwind

Budget Bimini

 Lets face it in the UK keeping out of the sun is only a problem for a few days a year, this looks like a great solution and something that easy to stow down the back of the quarter berth for those days when the sun does make an appearance.

 Colour co-ordinated to match any boat.

Classics out on the water

Some interesting classics seen out in the Solent recently.

Don't know what this is perhaps 8meter, it had a support rib just out of shot or could have been a photographer or both, by the time they got the sails up we were sadly too far away to take a photo.

Presume this gaffer was racing in the Sunday Bursledon Regatta off the Meon shore.

 I've featured this classic motorboat before,  nice to see her out on the water.

Nice no nonsense sloop, typical of the 50's and 60's, I really like the raised cabin roof aft, Mrs BB would say it's my kind of boat.

 Open gaff rigged day boat/racer, according to the sail number UANDI,  a Belfast Lough class 2, another Fife design. LOA 24', built in 1897.

 By the time we got close enough for a picture, this classic had sails down and was motoring toward the Hamble entrance, perhaps another Fife?
 

Snakes and Ladders

Probably not ideal for a crew returning back to the boat after a night in the pub.

 

D Day Beaches - The Struggle for Europe, thoughts for Armistance

 I picked up a copy of- "The Struggle for Europe" by  Chester Wilmot, first impression 1952 in a secondhand bookshop over the summary which is remarkable and highly readable account of the events leading to, during and at the conclusion of WW2 in Europe. Mr Wilmot was a correspondent reporting on those times and had access to and refers frequently to very detailed documentation from both the Allies and Axis Powers military, political and bureaucracy.

Coincidentally as we're again visiting the Normandy beaches I'm currently reading the chapters of D-Day landings so the references are very real, standing on the exact places as described in the text.

Chester Wilmot sadly died when the BOAC Comet he was traveling in crashed in 1954.

In Chapter 11.  Assault from the Sea, there's an exert form Winston Churchill's broadcast to the French people made on October 2nd 1940. 

"Remember, we shall never stop, never weary and never give in, and that our whole people and Empire have vowed themselves to the task of cleansing Europe from the Nazi pestilence and saving the world from the new Dark Ages.... Good night then sleep to gather strength for the morning. For the morning will come." 

D Day was that morning.

While we were in Normandy for half term we visited the British Normandy Memorial at Ver Sur Mer which overlooks the very beaches where the allies landed to begin the liberation of Europe.

 He chose to wear his Sea Scout uniform as a sign of respect and was clearly moved with an appreciation of the enormity of the events and the sacrifices that were made.

Locally St Paul's church where the fence around the War Memorial was badly damaged by a car crash has this rather lovely memorial of poppies around the entrance which were knitted by a team of parishioners.

Whoever decorates our local post box has excelled with this armistice tribute

In the shadow of recent events lets hope for a peaceful day so we can reflect and honour those who gave their lives in our defense.

Under the rainbow

 Which is to here the river path leads.

 On the basis that we live at the end of that path, I would say that we've already hit the pot of gold.

Gaffer going well

Passed by this gaffer surging down wind on a blustery day to the west of Cowes.

We were beating to windward, heeled over on a fast modern yacht in contrast to their very civilised down wind course.

 

Smart Art Car

 Came upon this delightful Mondrian inspired Smart Car, decorated with the artist's most famous work "Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red" 1937-42

As I was taking photos the owner came up expressing her surprise that I recognised Mondrian. She explained that she applied the design to the car some 7 years ago using black tape and coloured film

Inside there was a matching cushion in the same pattern. I didn't ask her name but have to say thanks for bringing a little joy to our day.