With an hour or so to wait to pick Joseph up in Portsmouth, I took myself down to Eastney at the entrance to Langstone harbour for a cup of tea and watch the coming and going of boats in the entrance.
The tide was more of less slack so with little current boats were taking the opportunity to sail both in and out.
There's an interesting and amusing dedication on the table where I was sat:
"In loving memory of Ralph Plumpton, skipper of the charter fisherman Lady Tina - One Sugar Please"
Friend Greg sent me some old photographs of Netley foreshore, which has changed somewhat.
Below sadly no drone footage, but looking back in the direction of that triangle created by the foreshore and Victoria Road. Currently retirement cottages and then the Netley Cliff SC, the aerial view is probably 1930s and shows the boatyard which had a slipway a jetty and moorings both drying and deep water.
Painting of a more interesting view, which is probably the old coastguard lookout that closed during the 1920's
And a photograph, the lookout station had commanding views of Southampton water.
Below the same view today looking south to the entrance to Victoria country park
Low water view of the coastguard station
The Vctoria park entrance entrance and a nice viewing spot on the foreshore
Entrance to Netley Cliff SC
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.
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.
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 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....
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.
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