Thursday, 10 June 2021

An English Summer 10

 


The Emsworth Harbour travel hoist is busy. Lifting boats, for a scrub, at the top of the tide.


It is a still and tranquil summer's day. Perfect for a paddle.

The lightest of sea breezes, pads stealthily across the glassy sea, on cat's paws.

I seek out Bath Road (see Steve's comment on Tuesday's post). For most of its length, it is cut off from the sea, by the Slipper Pond and its retaining wall. But at its head, there is a slipway, direct into the harbour, and a recently built (in the last twenty years, say) clubhouse, belonging to the Emsworth Sailing Club. Could this be the elusive site, of Crab Searle's Sailing School? 

On the Slipper Pond, model yachts dice and duel, remotely controlled, by their owners, who stand in the Bath Road car park.

The final contestant is readied. . . .

. . . .and launched.

The diminutive fleet forms up.


The race begins. 'Bigfoot' and 'Orange' tack immediately, onto port. Breaking clear of the pack, still on starboard. Giving no quarter. Sailing in clean air. Covering one another, tack for tack. Leading, up to the windward mark.






2 comments:

  1. Love those model yacht races.. I often stop on my way home to watch... fascinating.. they even have this electronic starting gun thing...

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    Replies
    1. Certainly looks like fun. I was quite engrossed, for an hour or more.

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