USS George H.W. Bush arriving Saturday in the Solent.

[ecsrobin]

So rumours are flying around that the Nimitz class carrier will arrive Saturday 22nd until 29th July.

Luckily I’m out sailing Sunday (although out with North to test the new sails so may not be able to head that way if conditions don’t allow)

[ecsrobin]

Seems your date is more accurate. Gosport ferry is running trips. http://www.gosportferry.co.uk/summer-cruises/uss-g...

[ecsrobin]

Cold said:

Remind me to charge up the battery on my camera.



I see you’re going for a Bush Cruise

Does anyone know what time she (or I guess it’s a he) rocks up on Thursday? I’m also assuming it will have to come in via the nab anchorage?



Is it wrong that find amusement in the name of the cruise as it sounds like something I did when I was a teenager?

[ecsrobin]

[ecsrobin]

Some more from me:

[ecsrobin]

shouldbworking said:

What are the X 'kill' markings on the F18? operational missions flown or something?

They are tomahawks instead of the usual bomb symbol.

[ecsrobin]

El Guapo said:

She looks a bit tatty; a lick of paint wouldn't go amiss.

She has been at sea since January! I’m sure she’ll get a lick of paint when she’s in the states over winter.

[ecsrobin]

Hard-Drive said:

Some pics from the weekend. Not great, but only from an iPhone 5 on a moving deck!

The thing is COLOSSAL. Turning out of Portsmouth Harbour, the top of the superstructure was immediately visible above Gilkicker Fort. And a bit like walking up to a casino in Vegas, you think "we're nearly there" as it's so huge, but you're actually still miles away. I'd love to know the size of the radar scanner too which was turning away...looked the size of a house in it's own right.

Plod came over for a very good-natured chat asking us to keep our distance, however I'm sure they realised that if we were terrorists, we'd have chosen something a bit better then a 45 year old 27 foot yacht to deliver the package in. However when three jetskis, riders in crash helmets, screamed around Gilkicker Point mostly airborne, looking very much like a scene from Waterworld (the Kevin Costner film, not the canal programme!) they were off like a shot to stop them and ask a few questions.

Well worth the trip out, an awesome piece of hardware.

Did you offer them a cuppa?

Having dealt with a few police officers in my time I find the maritime branch some of the friendliest guys out on the water.

[ecsrobin]

The ship is showing on MarineTraffic and is departing the Solent.

[ecsrobin]

SeeFive said:

The big grey one at the back has a number on, although to me it looks like it could be a bit of a handful in the turns.

However, given all the spikey bits on it, in a race if he said he had won, I would not be arguing.

It can just about turn!

[ecsrobin]

Huntsman said:

ecsrobin said:

It can just about turn!

You not Fastnetting?

Sadly knot...

The yacht is, however team Israel are the crew for this years event. The weather was looking promising for them at the start but now with light winds they’ll be struggling against the rest of IRC1 in their lighter yachts.

Hopefully the winds will pick up and a heavy sea forms and then they’ll fly through the pack.