Words and photos by Mike Daish.
On Monday I visited the Southampton boat show. As soon as I stepped out of my front door, the heavens opened, and I did wonder if it was wise to be going. I got a little damp, but luck was on my side, and the weather improved as the day went on. I am glad I carried on, as I had such an interesting time at the show. I saw some fabulous boats and chatted with many friendly and informative people.
I was interested in the little selection of Navy craft there, which included a landing craft used in the Falklands conflict,a high-speed rescue boat first made in 1936 that could reach around 36k fast even by today’s standards and last but not least, there was an impressive old gun boat that had duel Lewis machine guns mounted on either side. They are all based at the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard. A more modern Navy vessel was on display as well, HMS Exploit, which is a fast patrol boat and is based just down the road in Portsmouth as well.
The tall ship Thalassa was probably the largest vessel on show and looked very grand in the background. I thought it was older than it actually is; the ship was built in 1980.
I was surprised at how busy it was for a Monday, plus the weather was not ideal in the morning. There was such a vast variety of craft on display, both big and small. It is always a treat to see the sleek lines of luxury yachts such as the Sunseekers that are built in Poole, just a short drive down the coast.
If you are into boats, then it is well worth a visit, and even if you are not, it is still a great way to spend a few hours.
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