Last weekend was spectacularly busy on Southampton Water; Ocean Village in Southampton was host to the start of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race (10 ocean-going race yachts set off from the Solent to take part in the world's longest yacht race - 31st July 2011 to 22nd July 2012 - twelve months at sea!).
On Friday HMS Illustrious arrived in port (the Royal Navy helicopter carrier). On Saturday morning the racing yachts started to arrive, along with three cruise ships (MSC Opera, Ventura & Celebrity Eclipse). On Saturday afternoon the three cruise ships left port and made lots of lovely noise with their whistles. On Saturday evening there was a fabulous firework display. On Sunday morning the cruise ship Aurora arrived, along with dozens of small boats, lining up to watch the parade. On Sunday afternoon the Parade of Sail set off down Southampton Water to the race start in the Solent - the 10 ocean-going yachts, followed by HMS Illustrious and surrounded by support vessels and every kind of small ship imaginable. The sun shone, the wind blew (a brisk south easterly), the water positively boiled with boats jostling for position, helicopters buzzed in and out, the marina was stuffed with sightseers, Hythe foreshore was humming, people standing, sitting, watching, talking, clicking cameras, pointing, training binoculars, children playing, gulls squabbling, the world was abustle. And then they were gone, silence, as though it had never happened, water lapping at the shore, a tern diving, the pier train rattling, Aurora still in her berth, Sunday afternoon at home, and just these pictures to remind me.
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