Monday, 26 May 2025

Slippper Spirit

Members from the Emsworth Slipper SC launching the Slipper Spirit Celtic longboat, taken the week before the Hamble River Raid guessing it may have been a training session especially given the matching green polo shirts.

 Looks like a fine boat for rowing around the harbour.
 

Friday, 23 May 2025

La basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Délivrande de Douvres-la-Délivrande

Built in the late 19th century as a replacement from the previous Norman chapel that server the village previously. Clearly the then replacement with a significantly larger modern church wasn't considered as an act of vandalism.

That said the church demonstrates it's affinity with the nearby coastal villages and the importance of fishing.


The church is richly decorated which speaks in part of the wealth of the town presumably the masonry is in the local Caen stone.

The carving on these pillars is so delicate and exquisite as this close up shows. The definition on the faces of the figures is incredible.


 

Monday, 19 May 2025

Interesting Tender

Interesting tender, probably doesn't need those davits,  hence parking on the swim platform.


 

Friday, 16 May 2025

Rocket ship

Three of the guys at Weston SC had their 18 foot skiff out at the weekend, and what a beast, there's enough exotic composite in there to qualify for carbon capture. 😂


 Note the interesting launching trolley absent wheels, the crew just picked it up and carried it into the water.

The conditions were a bit breezy, the day started off at a gentle 5 to 8 knots, but kept building steadily up to 24 knots.

I was busy preparing our boat when the skiff got away, and by the time I'd got my camera and down to the slipway they were almost out of sight.

Monday, 12 May 2025

Counter Stern

Spotted his counter stern, traditional day boat, in the yard recently. 

Clinker built with a very pronounced sheer and some lively lines strongly defined by the planking

With both a bowsprit and bumpkin, the sail area is very well spread for and aft, presumably with a relatively short mast. There's a long boom which doesn't quite extend beyond the stern, so perhaps there's a mizzen hiding somewhere?


 

Thursday, 8 May 2025

Victory in Europe - 80 Years

 80 years ago following long years Britain and the free world celebrated the end of the war in Europe.

For some reason the celebrations appear to have been somewhat more modest than during the 75 year celebrations during COVID when socially distanced street parties were encouraged.,  It hasn't prevented from some of the good people of Sarisbury putting on a fine display by the green with these fantastic knitted (probably crochet) figures of the three services.

The newly planted display dinghy decked out with bunting and thetelephone box book swap suitable decorated.

 


 Opposite the war memorial at St Paul's.

the Imperial War Museum carries a good summary,

8 May 1945 – VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) – was one that remained in the memory of all those who witnessed it. It meant an end to nearly six years of a war that had cost the lives of millions; had destroyed homes, families, and cities; and had brought huge suffering and privations to the populations of entire countries.

Millions of people rejoiced in the news that Germany had surrendered, relieved that the intense strain of total war was finally over. In towns and cities across the world, people marked the victory with street parties, dancing and singing.

My mother was then a 19 year old serving in the WAF,  I remember her stories of celebrating in London, my dad who she hadn't even met at that time was serving at sea in the Adriatic, sadly there are all too few left today who remember those days first hand but we can carry on those memories, it's important that we should not forget.

 

Monday, 5 May 2025

Normandy Dory

I wrote about traditional Dory type from the Normandy coast back in 2012  and it was nice to see another example, sadly behind a closed compound limited opportunity for a photo, in what appears to be the diving club (Association Plongee)  Lion Sur Mer


 Absolutely typical dory type, wooden planked with flat bottom and tomb stone transom, ideal for beach launching from the gently sloping sandy Normandy beaches.