Took a motorbike ride up the top of Portsdown Hill, a chalk ridge which looks over spectacular views of Portsmouth and Langstone harbours.
Above the view of Portsmouth Harbour with the Solent and the Isle of Wight in the distance.
The creek leading up to Fareham on the right and the peninsular leading down to Gosport and Lee on the Solent at the rear which is the western boarder of the harbour.
Close up of Portsmouth and the Spinnaker Tower, Port Solent marina in the foreground.
Appreciate this is repetitious but I can't go to Fowey without admiring the Fowey River fleet which create such a colorful spectacle on Wednesday, Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
As well as the normal summer weekly racing I like the sound of the Special races to Golant and Polkerris which end up in the pub at each of these two picture postcard waterside villages. Who says sailing isn't a very good spectator sport?
Wanderer Dinghy - Now Sold
Gone to a good home in Brittany, apparently British cruising dinghies like this are popular in France.
Good example of this popular Ian Proctor designed boat. Built Anglo Marine – Number 558
Cream hull and deck, grey floorboards. Good Sails both main and Jib. Jib on roller furling, sheets and halyards in good condition.
Combi road trailer and launching trolley with detachable jockey wheel for launching. Trailer road wheels new in 2022.
Rudder, tiller and center board all in good condition. Mast up cover in good condition. Detachable outboard bracket.
Boat is in all around good condition, stored in garage over winter, currently in commission at Weston SC near Southampton. Ready to sail, good cruising boat.
Email Max at Bursledonblog@googlemail.com - more pictures and information - also advertised on Apolloduck
A nice cruising dinghy easy to sail easy to keep.
There was a "shout" when we were in Fowey recently, Joseph and I were out rowing and the first sign was the harbour patrol who stopped by to warn us that the lifeboat was being scrambled and to expect some wash.
Sure enough a few minutes later the lifebat went past, keeping speed down in the harbour it was still kicking up a significant wash.
Once clear of the harbour the engines roared and it took off, the casualty was a small boat that had got into difficulty, fortunately help was on hand and the danger was quickly and safely resolved.
A few classics seen out and about on the Solent over the summer.
Without my glasses when I took this photo I thought it might be West Solent One design, but clearly not, from the sail number it seems to be Uandi a Belfast Lough Class - Fife design built in 1897.
Between that lovely counter stern and the bowsprit somewhere around 40% of the mooring fees must be taken up just casting a shadow on the water, modern marina charges probably didn't figure highly in Mr Fife's design brief back in those days.
Jolie Brise out on a fine day, dropping the main before heading back up the Hamble
There seems to be quite a few boats around called Volante, this one has the look of an S&S design and looks gorgeous all varnished, credit to her owner the upkeep must be significant.
The one of the Daring one design racing class on a mooring in Cowes - there's a great video of what it's like to sail these boats in the Solent on the class site.
I never tire of Cowes waterfront, there's so much going on it's always a pleasure to see the easily recognisable icons as you approach, the Royal Yacht Squadron being first and fore most.
A summer visitor, but one which which nicely characterises the history and spirit of Cowes.
Former weekend residence and now the Sir Max Aitken museum the Prospect off the High Street is an old sail makers loft, well worth a visit.
The Island Sailing Club, home to the Around the Island Race and many other local sailing events, had a open air visitors bar for the summer, great spot to watch all thecomings and goings on the river.
Further upriver past the chain ferry on the East shore East Cowes Sailing Club is tucked away between tow industrial buildings. Nice Cornish Crabber in the fore ground.
Back on the west side and before the chain ferry, Clare Lallow boat builders was established in 1867 and has built so many famous boats over the years.
Walking through the local car park when a couple came speeding in on these two Sinclair C5's, they lined up for a photo with the Citroen AMI electric micro car owned by a friend of theirs.
Anyone who's too young or too old to remember the Sinclair, it was introduced in 1985 as a personal electric vehicle. There are some similarities to the AMI which has a top speed of 28MPH,v's the Sinclair's 15MPH, and range AMI 47 miles v's Sinclair 30 miles.
The AMI is only about 18" longer than the Sinclair but does have the advantage of seating two people and keeping them dry when it rains, which is probably good progress for the near 40 year elapsed time between them and makes the AMI a much more practical transport for UK, although apparently there's no heater (too much capacity drain one supposes).
The Sinclair did have the advantage that it was considered a bicycle so could be driven at 14 years of age.
The other drawback of the Sinclair was the recumbent driving position, putting the drivers head roughly at car bumper height.
The Sinclairs are collectors items, talking to the owners (who's names I forgot to ask - apologies) they are also active in the local classic car scene driving V8 powered cars, clearly not sold on the electric alternative quite yet.
Posts
All Comments
