Burial of the Sardine

 February half term found us in Barcelona and coincided with the start of Lent for which is celebrated at local events around the city, when we arrived there was a street party in the adjoining street with around 150 families and children sitting down to a feast of meats and fish cooked over open fires.

The18th Feb marked the end of celebrations and the beginning of Lent, hich is marked by the "Burial of the Sardine" ("l'enterrament de la sardina), apparently after days of feasting which often included a large catch of sardines, it was thought to bury the remaining sardines as 40 days of fasting for Lent began rather than let them rot and to honour the noble fish.

 

Our fist sight was at the local market where this lady had turned up in suitable mourning attire, she had also set up a little coffin and a cross on her fish counter

 Later outside the Parroquia de Sant Miquel del Port in Barceloneta as suitably decorated for the event

and an area where the fish was laid to rest in an open coffin and places were set up for mourners to pay their respects during the service.

Apparently such events take place all over Spain in local communities rather. than big orgainsed events.

 

 

Black swan event

 The definition of which is an unpredictable, rare, (and high-impact) occurrence that defies conventional forecasting - which probably doesn't really describe another back swan sighting, this time in Emsworth, but acknowledging that they are quite rare birds.

 Of course the bird may have just moved down the coast a few miles from Hamble to Emsworth where a local man Gordon has been feeding and leading Swan welfare activities.

Busy start

 Caught the start of one of the model races at Slipper millpond in Emsworth which washeld in almost idea conditions.

The walkway was crowded with competitors and spectators both old and young.

It's easy to see the appeal at this time of year, a couple of quick races and then back to the club house rather than being out on the water.

Rainbow

 Looks like a diamond in the rough, a varnished clinker built SCOW being used as a yacht tender.

 Not a bad boat to use as a tender, but without regular attention those lovely varnished planks are probably not up to the use and  abuse of the dinghy pontoon.

USV

 Which might stand for unmanned surface vehicle or unmanned surface vessel or un-crewed surface vessel appears to the the collective noun for self driving boats . And distinct from self drive hire boats, USVs are boats which operate autonomously without a crew.

I'm pretty sure this is one such USV and that I posted about it back in 2024 and thanks to eagle eyed friend Greg we have some much better photos.

The hull form is quite narrow, almost like a rib without the tubes and the tumble-home above the hull deck joint seems to speak of a mostly low profile above the water which is probably good for military purposes.

 Difficult to tell from the pictures but using the car in the background seems to be 25 to 30 feet.

Folk boat everyday

 When you have a house like this Folk boats are not just for Fridays.

 Not sure if this is exactly a folk boat, but certainly looks like a derivative, not a Marieholm as it doesn't have the distinctive M.

Frostbite Sailing

Crews gathering for a frostbite race.

Keelboat racing is probably more appealing than dinghies at this time of year especially with a cool northerly wind running.

Nice to be out on the water in winter but tactician and navigator installed below at the chart table sounds like a good position.