French Fancies

 We stumbled upon a classic car rally at St Aubin Sur Mer while on hols and it was very interesting to contrast the French event with our own Locks Heath classic car club.

As you would expect there was an eclectic mix of France's automobiles, above with the bonnet up I think was a Panhard, alongside the Citroen Mehari which was probably the perfect transport for a beachside town in the heatwave we were experiencing. The Fiat seemed to be as well appreciated as it's French neighbors.

 Probably a Light 12 and almost certainly a Traction Avant, looking great and sightly sinister with the matt paintwork.

 Fantastic camping rig, 2CV with matching teardrop trailer, this was one of two at the rally.

More than a few Brit cars on display including this immaculate Morgan with a few sophisticated French touches.

Wild racer is a SECMA about two thirds the size of a Lotus Elise, I was able to talk to the owner a couple of days later while waiting at the local pizza van, it's powered by a 1.6 liter Renault engine and sounds like a lot of fun.

The rally was held in a park so we left to find some refreshments on the sea front, only to be amazed as most of the cars did a cavalcade right past our table.

So no cycling or scooters on the parade, but it was ok for a bunch of classic cars, very French and great to see, even if one of WW23 jeeps almost knocked out umbrella over with it's massive radio antenna. 

 

Albacore

Designed by legendary Uffa Fox the Albacore is a 15-foot, two-person dinghy very much is the tradition of fast  planning dinghies from thre1950s and which have passed the test of time. The design brief came about through a collaboration among Solent-area dinghy sailors for a sturdy, versatile 15-foot boat capable of handling the steep chop and high winds of the coastal

This example was sailing nicely in circa 15 knot winds in Southampton water.

 

Keyhaven classic

 I've seen and written about this lovely double ender previously, she was alongside the quay at Keyhaven recently and I thought it was worth a couple more photos

Super little boat for day sailing and the occasional weekend exploring down and around the western Solent.

 

Fast Cats

Fast cats were out at Weston SC on a fine day

The club has a long standing reputation for catamarans and there are normally a few in the fast fleet on club race days.

Due to illness I was single handed in the safety boat which was  OK while the winds were light and it was relatively east to hold station and keep an eye out for the Lasers etc in the slow fleet as well

But when the winds got up with some afternoon breeze the fleets got very spread out and keeping out of the way of the fast boats was important, on moment they were almost out of sight and the next....

 

Early morning up the creek

 Earle morning HW neap, Mrs BB dropped me off at the old wharf in Botley, no one around and not a breath on the water

Quick trip upstream nothing stirring.

And then down river which was like glass before it got busy with other kayaks and paddle boarders, a few of whom were still blowing up their boards back at the dock at Fairthorne Manor dock as I went past, then back hoe for breakfast.

 

Cormorant - old geezer boat

Early 1980's advert from Practical Boat Owner magazine for the Cornish Cormorant which is described as "....safe, simple and eminently sensible  ...Swallows and Amazon boat"

And sensible they are, our very own Tosh is sitting in the driveway, slightly neglected but nothing that a good clean and tidy won't put right. 

I spent much of 2025 learning or rather re-learning how to sail a Laser, not having been on one for 30 years or so, and while they are fast and fun at times I came to the conclusion that I just don't really like them. I want a boat that's steady, easy to handle, will heave-to while I pour a cup of tea or unwrap a sandwich, the Cormorant has all that and more.

 

I'm pretty similar with motor cycling, I rarely go much over 60 mph, just enjoy pottering around the famously bendy English country lanes - definitely an old geezer thing.

Hamble Village past time

The current waterfront in Hamble is still recognisable from this picture taken it looks like some time in the early 20th century.

The building center is a currently closed restaurant/bar, in fact it's had so many  openings and closures over the past 20 years it could probably have done with revolving signs like James Bond' car in Gold Finger, it's also looking a little the worse for wear these days.

 To the right is the Royal Southern YC which now extends well out into the river on a reclaimed waterfront.

To the left is now a gallery selling nautical  artwork and paraphernalia.

 The photo was taken from the town quay, below the more or less same view today